Jerry Stewart - Keynote SpeakerHis message has always been simple - his love for America, his pride for our American people's grit and determination, and his tremendous respect for the great sacrifice made by those who have fought to keep us free, both past and present.
From guest hosting the local morning talk show on KGMI radio in Bellingham, Jerry began producing special holiday programs which became syndicated and air on approximately 400 stations across America and the world. Jerry is presently producing a daily nationally syndicated feature, "One Moment In America", and his book, "Saving America" speaks to what we must do now to save our great nation.
Jerry can be reached for appearances and interviews through his company, Vision Productions. His contact info is: visionpro@comcast.net (360) 961-5587
Debbie Chavez - EmceeLong-time Bellingham radio news anchor and talk show host. Now hosts a daily internet radio talk show heard by listeners in all 50 states and over 95 countries at www.debbiechavez.com. It is a faith-based show providing encouragement and advice for handling various life challenges.
“The annual Festival of the Flags event at Greenacres is truly a poignant tribute to our community’s warriors, who were willing to sacrifice so much to serve our nation. We all lead such busy lives that we need an event like this to remind us of the sacrifice others have made to keep us free and safe! I hope many parents bring their children.”
Paul Kuzina - National Anthem SingerIs a resident of Oak Harbor, where he resides with his wife Heidi. He is owner of Whidbey Memorial Funeral and Cremation Service, Inc., serving the islands and beyond, and “Putting Heart into Quality Service.” Paul has strong ties to Whatcom County, however, coming from a Blaine pioneer family, and his wife from Ferndale/North Bellingham. They raised three daughters in Ferndale, and have six grandchildren.
Music is at the core of Paul’s very being. As a tenor, he has sung for a variety of community events, and has performed as soloist in several community theater productions, including Billy Bigelow in the Wenatchee Music Theater’s “Carousel” and as the exuberant Russian “high-G singer” in META Performing Arts of Skagit Valley “Fiddler on the Roof”. Paul loves classical music, and has been a member of Cantabile (Skagit Valley), the Skagit Opera and the Whidbey Chorale. “Singing the National Anthem is always a high honor,” says Paul. “I thoroughly enjoy living in a military community, and am encouraged and uplifted by the presence of men and women in uniform, who currently carry on the valiant efforts of those who have served our Country.”
The Bellingham Youth Jazz Band
The band was started by local educator and musician Mark Kelly in 1997 in response to a need for a feeder program for the high school jazz bands in the Bellingham School District. The current band is made up of 24 students from 10 Whatcom County Schools (public, private, and home schooled) ranging in age from 5th - 9th grade, who meet every week at the Bellingham Senior Activities Center, which co-sponsors this band along with the non-profit Jazz Project. Learning jazz standards of the 1920's - 1970's is the core curriculum of this group, which features instrumental and vocal soloists in big band and combo formats. They plays about 25 free concerts per school year in the area, and the shorter-season Summer BYJB (with high school alumni joining the younger players) performs about 10 additional concerts in July and early August each summer. More information can be found at www.jazzproject.org; click on the 'events & concerts' page to find us.
Bellingham Pipe Band
We are celebrating our 50th Anniversary this year; making us one of the oldest continuing pipe bands in North America. We enjoy supporting our community and perform at many civic functions including” Veteran's Day, The Bellingham Highland Games and numerous performances at Navel Air Station Whidbey. The band is under the direction of Pipe Major Peter Rolstad and Pipe Sergeant Craig Wood.
The Heritage Flight Museum (HFM)
Has been established by the Anders family to help educate the public to understand and appreciate the contribution military aircraft, and the people that flew them have made to our heritage, national security and freedom. The primary focus of the HFM is on US Army Air Corps and US Air Force vintage "Warbirds": fighters, trainers, and liaison aircraft. Besides aircraft displays, HFM displays aviation restoration projects, models, and memorabilia. The museum plans to develop aviation education and youth education programs. HFM has re-opened in its new location at 4165 Mitchell Way in Bellingham. Open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 12-4 PM (Except on major holidays/holiday weekends) Flying Days will still be held on the third Saturday of the month. Phone 360-733-4422.
Dr. Mike Kirkelie - ChaplainChaplain Mike Kirkelie, Retired, U. S. Army, is a gratuate of Bellingham High School. He served in the Viet Nam war as an enlisted Army Soldier. He was assigned to a Combat Aviation Team in the Central Highlands. After the war, he accepted a call to Christian ministry and then entered the Army once again, this time as a Infantry Chaplain. He retired from the Army in 1995, and since then has assisted various local churches in Whatcom County. His wife of forty-five years, Kathy, and him make their home in Lynden.
Joe Moser - Burchenwald Survivor and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal-DFCJoe Moser grew up on a small farm in Ferndale, Washington. In high school he dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot and flying the fastest, most advanced fighter plane of that day - the P-38 Lightning. He realized his dream, was sent to Europe and survived 43 missions, earning some of his country's top honors for outstanding skill in dive-bombing missions - missions that contributed measurably to the Allied effort before and after D-Day. (He is a very humble man and does not brag about being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal-DFC - to him he was just doing his job and what he was trained to do.) He finally received the medal 64 years later.
But on August 13, 1944, on his 44th combat missions, his dream was shattered. He was shot down and his life became a nightmare. It is little known fact of history that a small group of Allied flyers were subjected to some of the worst of Hitler's demonic system. Scheduled for execution as "terrorfliegers", they were shipped in desperately over-crowded cattle cars to Buchenwald - the infamous Nazi work camp where tens of thousands died of cruelty, medical experiments and starvation. Joe was rescued just four days before he was scheduled for execution, only to spend over six more months in several POW camps. He was part of 2 marches - moving from one camp to another in below zero winter conditions. On these marches if you fell behind or collapsed, you would be shot on the spot. The last mile, he could go no further and fell, if the two soldiers in front of him had not picked him up and helped him the rest of the way - he would of been shot.
This is a quote from the book written by Dad as told to Gerald Baron. "I'm proud to have served my country, proud to be part of the quickly diminishing group of former POW's. If there is one thing to leave you with, it is that common ordinary people like you and just like me can once in a while be called upon to show extraordinary courage and strength. And many in those circumstances will have to pay the final price to serve our country and protect our freedom. Please do not forget these people and never, ever forget the price that many have paid to protect our precious freedom."
Thank you for visiting. We are in the process of updating our site with your invitation to the 2011 Festival of Flags. Our main page features an overview of the 2011 three part festival, but you will still see 2010 information at the top of the page (including last year’s date) and on our other pages until the conversion to 2011 is complete. In the meantime, please call us with any questions at 360-384-3401. Thank you, and hope to see you on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, 2011!
