The Port of Anacortes is looking forward to hosting the 2023 Veterans Day Celebration on Friday, Nov. 10 from 11 – 12:30 p.m. at the Transit Shed. This year’s event will honor the military men and women who have served our nation and feature local Veteran speakers and music by Skagit Swings All Star Big Band. We are excited to welcome the following speakers to this year’s celebration:

Commissioner Bonnie Bowers
First elected in 2019, Bonnie began serving in 2020. She retired as Anacortes Police Chief in 2017 after a 33 year career in Law Enforcement. She is deeply committed to the economic viability, and environmental sustainability of our community. She is a past president of the Anacortes Family Center Board of Directors and the Anacortes Rotary. She is an active volunteer with local charities, and Island View School. Bowers is a graduate of Washington State University and the FBI National Academy post graduate program.

Commander Matt Miller, USN (Retired) – Mayor of Anacortes
Mayor Miller is a native of Silver Spring, Maryland, graduating from the University of Maryland in 1988 with a BA in Government and Politics while enrolled in Navy ROTC at The George Washington University.

Mr. Miller served on active duty for 22 years; primarily as a Bombardier/Navigator in the A-6E Intruder, and as an Electronic Countermeasures Officer in the EA-6B Prowler, accumulating over 2000 flight hours in multiple aircraft types. He participated in three combat deployments and received numerous individual and unit awards. He finished his Navy career at NAS Whidbey Island, serving as Operations Officer and then Executive Officer. He retired with honors from active service in August of 2010. He is a commercial/instrument rated pilot and still actively flying.

He and his wife owned and operated Read Me a Story/Toy Stories, a children’s book and toy store for 15 years. He has served in many local capacities, including the Chamber of Commerce, Ferry Advisory Committee, Skagit Business Alliance, AHS Veterans Memorial, Rotary, American Legion, VFW, in addition to serving two years on the Planning Commission and eight years on the City Council before being elected to his current four-year term as mayor that started in January 2022.

He is married to the former Heather Hoak of New Canaan, CT. Matt and Heather have resided in Anacortes since 1999 and have two children Alex, 2012 AHS graduate, now a Naval Aviator flying the P8 Poseidon out of NAS Whidbey Island and Brittany a 2013 AHS graduate working at a top multi-national thoroughbred farm in Kentucky.

Captain David Harris, USN
A native of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Captain Harris graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1998 earning a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. He was winged as a Naval Flight Officer in January 2000.

In July 2004, Captain Harris reported to the Electronic Attack Weapons School where he was selected as the 2004 Electronic Attack Wing Pacific Prowler Tactics Instructor of the year. In February 2007, Captain Harris reported to the staff of Carrier Air Wing ONE at NAS Oceana, VA and deployed on USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. In July 2008, he attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS and earning a Master of Science in Adult Education from Kansas State University.

In August 2009, Captain Harris returned as a Department Head in the Rooks of Electronic Attack Squadron ONE THREE SEVEN deploying on USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and NEW DAWN. He was the USSTRATCOM JFCC IMD Field Grade Officer of the Year for 2012.

Following EA-18G transition training, Captain Harris returned to the Scorpions as the Executive Officer in May 2015 and subsequently became the Commanding Officer in July of 2016. Captain Harris reported to VAQ-129, the EA-18G Fleet Replacement Squadron serving as Commanding Officer from June 2018 to July 2020. In August 2022, he assumed duties as Commander of the Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Captain Harris has accumulated 3000 flight hours and 450 carrier arrested landings in the EA-6B, F/A-18F and EA-18G. His decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two), Air Medal Strike/Flight (three), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three) and various unit, service and campaign awards.  He is married to his beautiful and patient wife Monica where they reside with their three amazing sons; Thomas, Zach and John and energetic Springer Spaniel in Anacortes, WA

Commander Jack Curtis USN (Retired)
Commander Jack Curtis, USN (ret) is a 2000 graduate of the University of Florida. Upon graduation he was commissioned an officer in the United States Navy and entered flight training. After earning his Wings of Gold in May 2002 he moved to Whidbey Island, Washington where he began his operational career as an EA-6B Prowler pilot. In the ensuing years he served in various roles and positions at NAS Whidbey Island, culminating in his tour as the commanding officer of an EA-18G Growler squadron. Jack’s career took him around the world on multiple carrier-based deployments to include more than 50 combat missions in direct support of US and coalition forces in Iraq.

He retired from active-duty service in January 2021. Jack met his wife, herself a retired Naval Aviator, in Anacortes and has called it home since 2008. He now works as a consultant for a defense contractor. He’s previously served on the City of Anacortes Planning Commission, and now proudly serves on the Anacortes School Board.

Lee Schuirman, USMC (Retired)
Raised in Sedro Woolley, Lee Schuirman served in Marine Corps from 1965-1971, mainly in the Reserves. He is married and has two daughters and two grandchildren. Lee worked as a machinist and a farrier, and is now active in the Masonic Lodge, Marine Corp League and American Legion Honor Guard.

Colonel Christen Anderson, US Army (Retired)
Pastor Anderson has served as an ordained pastor with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (and its predecessor bodies) since ordination in February 1976. He graduated from Anacortes High School in 1962 and subsequent to that he served he served forty years with the US military. He was with the US Coast Guard from 1962 – 1964. He then served ten years with the US Marine Corps as a Marine Aviator flying high performance jet aircraft from 1964 to 1976.

Upon completion of seminary, he served three years as a parish pastor with Grace Lutheran and Community Presbyterian Churches in Potlatch, Idaho where he was a chaplain with the Idaho National Guard from 1976 – 1979. He returned to the active military in 1979 where he served as a supervisory chaplain with combat unit responsibility for the emotional and spiritual welfare of as many as 2800 soldiers plus family members.

From 1979 until retirement in 2002 he served as a supervisory chaplain for community and unit chaplain teams with as many as 22 chaplains and 30 full time support personnel assigned under his responsibility. During this period he developed training programs for counseling, and ministry under military conditions that were utilized at the National Training Center in California and European training center in Germany.

He finished his military career in January 2002 with the rank of Army Colonel and position as Command Chaplain in Huntsville, Alabama. Since retiring from active-duty Pastor Anderson has continued serving the church as interim pastor with the Pacific Northwest Synod of the ELCA. From January 2002 to July 2012, he has served churches in Silvana, Monroe, Camano Island, Trinity Lutheran Church in Everett, Fir-Conway, Christ Lutheran in Ferndale and since November 2012 as Pastor for Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Concrete where he retired formally in 2017.