Navy celebrates Earth Day

Herald staff

Sailors and civilian employees in Everett and Oak Harbor participated in Earth Day celebrations April 22. Naval Station Everett and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island each took part in the Department of the Navy’s 2016 Earth Day theme, “Creating Resiliency Afloat and Ashore.”

Activities included a “Dumpster Dive” contest. Trash teams, consisting of service members and civilian employees, tore through containers full of unseparated trash. The winning team was the one to separate the most trash from recyclables and find hidden pieces of mock personal identification information and other objects.

“Everything has to go somewhere,” said Lt. Cmdr. Brian Foster, public works officer at Naval Station Everett and a member of that base’s winning team, the Dumpster Dudes.

There also were base-wide cleanup efforts. Everett gave away small saplings to participants, and Whidbey held a tree-planting ceremony.

“Earth Day is really every day, and I think as citizens of the Northwest and as members of the Navy, we do that every day in our recycling, utility conservation, energy conservation,” said Capt. Geoff Moore, commanding officer of NAS Whidbey.

ACTIVE DUTY

Employers Support of the Guard and Reserves supports the men and women of the Guard and Reserves, including employer and supervisor awards programs, under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. For more information, call 800-336-4590 option 1 or go to esgr.mil.

Veterans news

Raffle for park: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8870 is holding a raffle to raise money to help finish the Edmonds Veteran Plaza, which is about $20,000 short of its estimated construction costs.

Two pieces of original artwork by Post member and Fallen Heroes Project founder Michael Reagan will be raffled. Both feature current and former Seahawks players and coaches, who also autographed the works.

A drawing will be held July 4 after the parade. Tickets are $5 each. Mail a check to VFW Post 8870, P.O. Box 701, Edmonds, WA 98020. Include your name, address and the word “raffle” in the memo line. Raffle tickets will be mailed back to you.

2nd Infantry: The Second (Indianhead) Division Association seeks anyone who served in the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division at any time. For information about the association and its 95th annual reunion set for Sept. 20-24 in Springfield, Missouri, contact Bob Haynes at 2idahq@comcast.net or 224-225-1202; or go to www.2ida.org.

Homeless, unemployed veterans can get help through Workforce Snohomish. Help includes employment assistance, support services, help with VA benefits and housing. Call Gordon Meade at 425-921-3478 or write to gordon.meade@workforcesnohomish.org.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars posts and auxiliaries of Snohomish County are looking for new members. Needed is your last separation certification or other proof of eligibility. Auxiliary members are wives, widows, mothers, etc. For more information, call 425-337-1559.

Veterans groups

Snohomish County Disabled American Veterans Chapter 13: 7 p.m. first Tuesdays, dinner at 6, at the Lynnwood Eagles, 19223 Highway 99. More info: 425-299-3373, davsnohomish13@gmail.com.

Fleet Reserve Association Branch 170: 5 p.m. second Wednesdays, 6802 Beverly Blvd., Everett. More info: 425-353-2600.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 12: 7 p.m. fourth Tuesdays, Lynnwood Elks Club, 6620 196th St. SW. More info: Dennis C. Adams, 206-280-0022.

Coast Guard Auxiliary: 7 p.m. second Tuesdays, Port of Everett Conference Center, 404 14th St. More info: Melin Ford, 360-794-1723 or melinford25@gmail.com

Fleet Reserve Association and Ladies Fleet Reserve Association Unit and Branch 18: Lunch noon, meeting 1 p.m. second Saturdays, 23003 56th Ave. W., Mountlake Terrace. More info: 425-771-2774.

Veterans: An unaffiliated group of veterans of wars in foreign lands meets at 1 p.m. second Wednesdays, Carl Gipson Senior Center, 3025 Lombard Ave., Everett. More info: 425-257-8780.

American Legion

Arlington Legion Post 76 and Auxiliary: Arlington Post 76 and auxiliary meetings, 7 p.m. second Tuesdays. SAL meetings 6 p.m. first Thursdays. All meetings are downstairs at 115 N. Olympic Ave. Breakfast is served from 8 to 10:30 a.m. the first Saturday of each month for $6 a plate. More info: 360-435-2492.

Arthur Kincaid Legion Post 58: 7 p.m. third Tuesdays, Brookdale Senior Living, 15465 179th Ave., Monroe. More info: Adjutant Bob at 360-863-3544, www.americanlegionmonroe.org.

Bothell Legion Post 127: 7 p.m. second Wednesdays, 21920 Highway 9. Service officer available to help with veterans issues. More info: Cmdr. Burt Marsh, 206-999-3254.

Earl Winehart Legion Post 96: 7 p.m. second Tuesdays, Legion Hall, 1201 First St., Snohomish. More info: 360-568-5340.

Frank Freese Legion Post 66: 6 p.m. third Mondays, Post Hall, 117 S. Sixth St., Edmonds. Light meal served at 5:15 p.m. More info: Les, 206-546-6831.

Frank H. Hancock Legion Post 92 and Auxiliary: 7 p.m. second Mondays, 26921 88th Ave. NW, Stanwood. Prime rib dinner, 4:30 p.m. third Fridays. Service office open 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays. More info: 360-629-8021.

Lake Stevens Memorial Legion Post 181: 7 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, Lake Stevens Community Center, 1812 124th Ave. NE. More info: Tom at 425-314-5865, Tony at 360-631-3242, or Vern at 425-343-9637; info@post181.org; www.post181.org.

Lynnwood Legion Post 37: 7 p.m. third Thursdays, Lynnwood Elks Club, 6620 196th St. SW. More info: 425-585-0279.

Marysville Legion Post 178 and Auxiliary: 7 p.m. third Thursdays, Post Hall, Second Street and Cedar Avenue. Social hour at 6 p.m. Service officer hours are 12-4 p.m. fourth Mondays at the Post Hall. More info: 360-653-0155, legionpost178wa@gmail.com, americanlegion178wa.cfsites.org.

S. Al Wilcox Legion Post 234: 6 p.m. social hour, 7 p.m. meeting, second Mondays, Legion Hall, 22909 56th Ave. W., Mountlake Terrace. More info: americanlegionpost234.org, americanlegionpost234@gmail.com, 425-776-5490. Auxiliary: 7 p.m. second Mondays, Vineyard Park Retirement Community, 23008 56th Ave. W, Mountlake Terrace. More info: 206-369-7131, www.facebook.com/AmAux234MLT.

Sen. Henry M. Jackson Legion Post 6: 6 p.m. second Thursdays, Fleet Reserve Association Club, 6802 Beverly Blvd., Everett. More info: Marvin, 425-923-8172.

Veterans of Foreign Wars

Arlington Boyer-Daniel VFW Post 1561: 7 p.m. first Tuesdays. More info: 425-232-8453, 360-435-6677 or vfw1561.org.

Edmonds VFW Post 8870: 6 p.m. second Tuesdays, with a light supper at 5:15 p.m., Edmonds American Legion Hall, 117 Sixth Ave. S. More info: 425-245-8545, dennisvfw8870@gmail.com, www.vfw8870.org. Ladies Auxiliary: Noon second Fridays at the Edmonds Senior Center, 220 Railroad Ave.

Everett Old Guard VFW Post 2100: 6:30 p.m. third Tuesdays, 2711 Oakes Ave. More info: Don Wischmann, 425-760-9031, www.vfwpost2100.org. Auxiliary: 6:30 p.m. second Mondays. More info: 425-337-1559.

Gold Bar Martin-Osterholtz VFW Post 9417: 6 p.m. first Thursdays, 301 Third St. More info: Doug White, 425-870-7298. Ladies Auxiliary: 3 p.m. first Thursdays. More info: Arden King, 360-793-2786.

Lynnwood Walter A. Deebach VFW Post 1040: 7 p.m. first Thursdays, Alderwood Boys and Girls Club, 19619 24th Ave. W. More info: Frank, 425-697-4102. Ladies Auxiliary: Same as Post. More info: Myra Rintamaki, 206-235-0348.

Monroe VFW Post 7511: 7 p.m. second Thursdays, IOOF Hall, 610 Lewis St. More info: Ken, 425-315-3509.

Oak Harbor Whitehead-Muzzall VFW Post 7392: 360-675-4048 or vfwpost7392.org.

Snohomish Gay Jones VFW Post 921 and Auxiliary: 1 p.m. second Saturdays, Boys &Girls Club, 402 Second St. More info: 425-397-7111.

Sultan VFW Post 2554 and Ladies Auxiliary: 7 p.m. second Thursdays, Volunteers of America Community Center, 605 First St. More info: 425-870-0235.

To submit news for this column, contact reporter Melissa Slager: mslager@heraldnet.com.