SEQUIM — For all the soldiers and workers and others on the front lines striving to keep Americans safe, there often isn’t time to stop and hear “thanks.”
That’s where the Unity of Effort — Sequim’s annual community celebration recognizing and honoring military, law enforcement, first responders and security personnel — comes in.
“I think that people really feel our first responders are underappreciated,” said Joe D’Amico, Security Services Northwest president and host of Saturday’s free event.
“They have this job of 24-7, they’re out and about, totally scrutinized. This is an opportunity to recognize them for their hard work,” D’Amico said.
“The majority of people feel that way,” he added. “I certainly feel that — that’s why we do it.”
This year’s Unity of Effort, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 250 Center Park Way in Sequim, brings back a number of activities, displays, exhibitions and live music as in years past, plus a number of additions that D’Amico said will be crowd favorites.
This year’s lineup includes visits from nine helicopters and their crews — the most in the 20-plus years of the Unity of Effort — from the Washington Army National Guard and U.S. Navy to Department of Natural Resources’ fire protection aircraft, King County Sheriff’s Office, LifeFlight and others. Gates open at 10 a.m. and helicopters will land soon afterward.
“That’s big draw,” D’Amico said. “I enjoy the helicopter landing part because it’s so energetic. Close behind is the K-9 demonstration.”
Sgt. Kevin Miller from the Port Angeles Police Department will lead this year’s demonstration, with Sequim and Kitsap County units also on hand.
Also new this year will be the Bloodworks Northwest mobile unit, where attendees can give blood donations, along with representatives from Olympic Medical Center, the Seattle Police Department and Permission to Start Dreaming, an organization which provides veterans with “strength-based programs for mental, emotional and spiritual growth.”
The Unity of Effort this year also will feature Port Townsend authors Bill Collier and Michael Jacobson, active members of VFW Post 4760 in Sequim with backgrounds in aviation and security.
“[The event] grows every year,” D’Amico said.
The event also has children’s activities, including bounce houses, face painting, a ball pit and more.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a lawn chair and cooler.
Live music will include the National Anthem sung by Pearle Peterson, followed by a U.S. Army Rock Band performance at noon, the Buck Ellard Band at 2 p.m., Hairstorm at 4 p.m. and War Hippies at 6 p.m.
Rally to Unity bikers will arrive about 10:45 a.m.
Food vendors will open at 11 a.m. and include VFW Post 4760, 7 Cedars Resort, Southern Nibble and Boobadoo’s Kitchen. The 7 Cedars beer garden will open at 2 p.m.
Other military, law enforcement and emergency response entities also taking part include the Clallam County and King County sheriff offices, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Patrol, U.S Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Marine Corps, LifeFlight, Airlift NW, Washington Army National Guard, Lower Elwha Police Department, Department of Natural Resources, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Port Townsend Police Department.
Other community booths and vendors featured include Piedmont Ridge LLC, Palmskirts Entertainment and the Burned Children Recovery Foundation.
For more information, go to unityofeffort.org or facebook.com/unityofeffort.
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Michael Dashiell is the editor of the Sequim Gazette of the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which also is composed of other Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News and Forks Forum. Reach him at michael.dashiell@sequimgazette.com.
