Stars of Blue and Gold

A family heirloom: This banner was used by author Joy Neal Kidney's family during WWI, then repurposed by her grandmother who added two stars and used it during WWII. You can read about it in her excellent book Leora's Letters. Many thanks to Joy for allowing me to use this image! One hundred and two…

A Stop on a Medal of Honor Highway

Unlike much of western Washington, the town of Sequim (pronounced "Squim") isn't surrounded by thick evergreen forests. Perched on the northern edge of the Olympic Peninsula, near the forrested and mountainous Olympic National Park, Sequim itself is only 184' above sea level—if it weren't for the saltwater on the horizon and the occasional herd of…