Ned Luce

Memorial Day was certainly memorable this year with opportunities to remember those who have given their lives for this country, be reminded of the terrible treatment inflicted on minorities here in the U.S. and in Canada and enjoy the unofficial start of summer. 

Regular readers of this space know that I am active in the East Jefferson Rotary Club, (EJRC). This week I am going to give a lot of information about Rotary in general and the local U.S. Flag project in particular with some fun things this past weekend. 

The signature project of Rotary International for the past 40 years has been the worldwide eradication of polio, a disease which had been affecting 350,000 people each year. Rotary has provided significant funding and manpower joining with major health organizations and foundations to attack this crippling disease with vaccinations all over the world. Because of these efforts the incidence of the wild poliovirus Type 1 has been reduced to two cases since New Year’s Day! 

There are lots of stories about how governments have slowed programs dedicated to abolishing this disease in children by claiming it is a CIA program designed to indoctrinate children. Sounds like the same “Microsoft chip” problems with the COVID-19 vaccines. Nonetheless, the success in this effort is astounding. 

You might have noticed the more than 300 U.S. flags flying over East Jefferson County last weekend. In fact, the Leader’s own Alli Patton covered the project and probably has a report elsewhere in this week’s paper. 

Last week she met with several of us in EJRC, club president-elect Pete Leenhouts, project chair Ed Davis, and me. Over coffee we discussed the project’s history and objectives. Ten years ago Port Ludlow Associates was the first local group to commit to the project with a plan to put 16 flags on the Oak Bay curve above the Port Ludlow Marina. 

Word of mouth and more solicitations by our club members got us where we are today. The net proceeds of the project go to support scholarships in the area for students going on to college or trade school. 

EJRC puts up the flags on five holidays each year and we try to organize the project so that we can get together for breakfast afterwards. We enjoyed Snug Harbor for many of these “post flag erection” events and were saddened when they closed. 

Alas, for several holidays El Molcajete opened an hour early for us to enjoy trading stories of the morning. Many passers-by greet us with a friendly thumbs up or a thank you. Others stop us, inquiring about how they can get in on the program. Some of the folks we suspect are also figuring out how to get a free flag. 

Actually, a recent “next door” posting thanked the volunteers for putting the flags up. Yep, we are volunteers and to get a flag you need to make a donation. Last Saturday saw many of the Rotarians involved in the project heading to the Dusty Greens Café at the Port Ludlow Golf Course for breakfast. 

It was a beautiful day and about 20 of us sat outside to eat and commiserate about the struggles experienced trying to find the PVC receptacles we use to hold the flags covered by winter’s growth over and around them. John Erickson always worries about the 10 flags we put up at Burner Point because they tend to be subject to more wind and thus potential for blowing down than many of the other locations. In addition, it seems as if we are constantly lacking the short PVC pipes we use for supporting the flag poles. 

We gave Alli much of this information so in exchange we encouraged her and her boss, Brian Kelly, to join one of the three Rotary clubs in the area AND to give us the names of at least 10 folks in the 30 to 40 years of age demographic. 

My friends, these clubs offer great friendships, opportunities for international to local community service and fun times. 

In addition, there are many of us who are increasingly subject to sore backs whilst engaged in these projects and we would appreciate some younger/stronger assistance! Be sure to check your own potential to help out. I mean I really don’t mind getting older, but my body is taking it badly.

Love a curmudgeon and have a great week. 

(Up-and-at-’em Ned Luce is a retired IBM executive and Port Ludlow resident. Reach Ned at ned@ptleader.com.)