PORT ANGELES — Betsy Reed Schultz marked the fifth anniversary of her son’s death by hosting a Memorial Day ceremony Sunday at the house that bears his name.
Capt. Joseph Schultz was killed May 29, 2011, while serving as an Army Green Beret in Afghanistan.
“This is not just about Joseph Schultz. This is about every man and woman since our country began and we’ve lost — men and women who stepped out to serve to honor their country, to protect, to give us the freedoms that we enjoy,” Schultz said.
Schultz and a team of volunteers is converting the former Tudor Inn bed-and-breakfast on Oak Street in Port Angeles into the Captain Joseph House, a refuge for Gold Star families.
Gold Star families are parents, siblings, children and spouses of service members who died while on active duty during wartime in the military.
The nonprofit Captain Joseph House Foundation is creating a first-of-its-kind refuge for grieving families of fallen service members.
“Every day, that number of Gold Star families grows,” Schultz said.
“It’s not ending. It’s not stopping. We have more families today than we did five years ago, more families than we had two days ago.”
Schultz encouraged the nearly 100 attendees at the ceremony to remember this Memorial Day that wartime casualties are “on the shoulders” of surviving family members.
Sarah Vargo said she was lucky to spend time with her best friend at a house on Whidbey Island after husband, Jason, died on May 23, 2012 after serving multiple tours in Iraq.
“It was my Captain Joseph House,” Vargo said. “I was able to break away and to take that deep breath.”
Vargo, survivor outreach services support coordinator with the Washington National Guard, was the featured speaker at the ceremony.
She encouraged Gold Star families to “share the story, not just the sadness” this Memorial Day.
Vargo said she continues to honor her husband every day by living life to its fullest.
“To truly honor the sacrifice of our fallen heros is to continue to live,” Vargo said.
The service included a flag line by American Legion Post 29, a color guard by Civil Air Patrol cadets, a rifle salute and taps by the Marine Corps League Honor Guard Mt. Olympus Detachment 897 and the singing of the national anthem by Port Angeles High School student Victoria Walkup.
The service was followed by tours of the Captain Joseph House and refreshments.
Remodeling of the Captain Joseph House began in June 2013. It is about 60 percent complete, Schultz said in a recent interview.
In the five years since her son’s death, Betsy Reed Schultz said she has learned that the community is supportive and “more than half full.”
“I look forward to every day to work with you, to work on Joseph House,” Schultz said.
“One of these days the doors will open. We will welcome our families throughout the country, every branch in the military.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
