Bangor marines, sailors enjoy a Merry Christmas

Silverdale Military Affairs committee provides $500 worth of food

By Andrew Fickes on December 31, 2015

While family and friends gathered to celebrate Christmas this season, a large number of marines and Masters at Arms sailors at Naval Submarine Base Bangor were tasked with providing security for the U.S. Pacific Fleet of submarines.

The group makes up the Marine Security Force Battalion and is attached to Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific (SWFPAC) at Bangor, which numbers more than 1,000 personnel.

On the morning of Dec. 23, Jason Selby, a retired Marine master sergeant, joined members of the Silverdale Military Affairs committee in greeting the marines and sailors of the battalion with some Christmas cheer. The committee members brought $500 worth of food to the battalion galley, located in a highly secure area on base known as The Wire.

"The committee decorated the galley, along with the wives of marines and sailors, with Christmas-type decorations," Selby said. "We brought along cookies and energy drinks. This is something to brighten up their holiday to let them know the community cares."

Many of the marines and sailors are married and away from their spouses and children. Others are single and away from home for the first time.

"We try to make them feel at home," said Selby, who retired last April after serving in the battalion for five years.

Prior to that assignment, Selby completed 23 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and was based at Camp Pendleton, California. He made several tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. Four years ago, Selby joined the Silverdale Military Affairs committee out of a strong desire to give back to the military community.

"I enjoy doing it," Selby said. "Anything I can do to give back to the marines and sailors is huge for me."

The committee is comprised of 16 members, many of them business leaders wanting to show appreciation to the military community at Naval Base Kitsap and Bangor.

Selby said the committee has a fund set up at the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce.

"We raise money from different events that we do during the year," he said. "We donate money to The Wire tour, Toys for Tots, and some of our local schools that serve predominantly military."

These are Central Kitsap and South Kitsap kindergarten through 6th-grade schools that are located near the base and serve students from military families.

The next major event on the committee's calendar is Military Appreciation Day, which will be held April 16 at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.

At this annual event, local Kitsap-based businesses gather at the fairgrounds to give thanks to the military community.

For more information go to www.silverdalechamber.com/committees.