By ANGELA R. SMITH

Veterans advocate

PORT ORCHARD — Hair stylists from the Brass Ring Salon will be clipping plenty of hair on Sunday, June 3, to raise money as part of a community fundraiser for South Kitsap veterans.

They’ll also be clipping for Mike Licari.

Haircuts for Heroes is a family day fundraiser for VFW Post 2669, which provides resources and support to local veterans and their family members.

This event, which is open to the community, isn’t just about haircuts and fundraising — there will be plenty of things to do for all ages.

The Brass Ring, at 3980 SE Lovell St., is just up Mile Hill Drive from the VFW location. When Post 2669 members moved into a building they purchased last year to accommodate a growing membership, they discovered a need for more handicap parking.

Before its official opening, the post’s leaders were shocked to find they couldn’t open the new space because it didn’t have an alarm system, which the building needed to meet fire regulations.

Licari, the VFW post’s vice commander, and his family were family friends of the Brass Ring’s Becky Liles.

Liles knew how passionate the vice commander was for area veterans and recognized he would never allow the post to close its doors to area service members.

Licari gave credit to the VFW post for helping him get through a dark time.

A Vietnam veteran who served two tours of duty, the local Port Orchard resident struggled with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In the midst of his personal turmoil, Licari found a home among his fellow comrades.

After finding the help he needed, Licari wanted to expand the VFW’s reach into the community so other veterans and families needing assistance wouldn’t fall through the cracks.

His commitment was passionate. Haircuts for Heroes was a grassroots effort to make his vision a reality.

As a result, she and Licari combined efforts to create the first Haircuts for Heroes fundraiser to help the post buy a fire alarm system.

They soon were joined by Amanda Hughes, Charise Jappert and other stylists at the Brass Ring to be a part of the event. Knowing the VFW puts its resources back into the local community was a big reason the Brass Ring’s employees were enthusiastic about organizing Haircuts for Heroes.

“Being attached to something that touches the community we live in is important for us,” said Becky Liles, who operates Nailed by Perfection at the Brass Ring.

The effort last year raised money for a new alarm system, allowing them to finally open.

As they prepared for the fundraiser early this year, the organizers were overwhelmed with the community’s growing support for the event — and for the plight of many veterans.

Having been recently elected post commander, Licari kept the momentum moving forward by helping stage the Bowling for Veterans event alongside his wife Michelle.

It’s an event in which the money raised goes to providing holiday meals and assistance for veterans and their families in need.

But there was a sad development during Licari’s push to improve the live’s of South Kitsap veterans: he died unexpectedly last month.

His passing was poignant for many in the South Kitsap community. Known for his compassion for veterans, Licari had touched so many people’s lives in profound ways.

But despite the heartbreak with his passing, the Haircuts for Heroes volunteers, in honor of his work to bring like-minded people together with a common goal, has dedicated the June 3 fundraiser to Licari — a veteran who was looking out after others traveling a similar, dark path.

— Angela R. Smith is a Port Orchard resident and veterans advocate.