GRANITE FALLS – Breanna Fjerstad looked at herself in the reflection of someone’s eyeglasses. The 11-year-old from Bothell wanted to see how her face looked with an American flag painted on it.
Sitting nearby, the 13-year-old artist, Brooke Madigan of Granite Falls, let slip her secret.
“I’m just winging it,” she admitted.
The kids were among hundreds from Boys &Girls Clubs in the area at the third annual All-Star Barbecue Thursday at Jim Holm Park.
Susan Goettsch, director of the Granite Falls Boys &Girls Club, explained why she named it the All-Star Barbecue.
“Because our kids are all stars,” she said.
This year, the kids shared the spotlight with other featured guests: military families.
“We have several Navy families that live here in Granite, and we know the sacrifices they have to make,” Goettsch said.
Capt. Brian Bennett of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station attended and spoke briefly to the kids in the morning. He asked them to raise their hands if they had a relative in the military. Dozens of kids, perhaps a third of the group by that point, raised their hands.
“Wow,” Bennett said. “Give yourselves a hand.”
After Bennett spoke, kids scattered in a mad scramble for two special attractions that aren’t normally at the park – an inflatable slide and a “bouncy house” inflatable obstacle course.
“I like the bouncy house,” said Katlyn Hall, 6, of Edmonds.
The event has grown. Last year’s barbecue drew about 500 people, and Goettsch said she expected more than that on Thursday. This year’s event included a tug of war, an appearance by Seattle Storm star Michelle Greco and a group photo.
The Granite Falls Boys &Girls Club spent about $500 to host the event. It would have cost much more, but local businesses pitched in, Goettsch said.
Flipping burgers and hot dogs on the barbecue, Jerry Tighe, 40, of the Mukilteo Boys &Girls Club, praised Goettsch.
“What I really like with Susan is she gets the community so involved,” Tighe said.
The kids at the Granite Falls club have fun helping Goettsch plan the event each year.
“They’ll be asking me tomorrow, probably, ‘When’s the next one going to be?’” Goettsch said.
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