“Seems like every time we turn around, we’re saying goodbye to Leigh Kennel.Back when we moved to Bainbridge, lo those many years ago, the irrepressibly cheerful Kennel was among the first islanders we had the pleasure of meeting. She was a planner with the park district then, but soon after, we bade her a professional adieu of sorts as she jumped over to the city for a stint in the watershed planning arena. Then it was farewell again, as she moved on to work at the Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center, first as assistant director, then director. Now word comes to us that Leigh is off once more, leaving the center after three years of service. The Bainbridge Island Park District, which funds the Senior Center director’s position and works closely with that organization on programs and activities, last week honored Kennel for the excellence of her work. And because she’s one of our favorite people, we assume she’s one of yours. So we tracked her down – what now?Back to fish, Leigh told us drolly. Water’s where it’s at.Leigh is, she informs us, setting up a new regional office for the National Wildlife Federation, to be located over on Seattle’s First Avenue, west of the Queen Anne neighborhood. She and the staff will work on salmon protection and restoration, threatened habitat areas, and urban sprawl issues.Will she stay on the island?There was a terrible rumor that I wasn’t, Leigh told us, but I would never leave here.Good. We like having you in the community, Leigh, even if it’s no longer during business hours. The fish think you’re great, and so do we.Our saluteWe confess to having tarried at home Monday morning, lolling in front of the TV when we should have been working, so we could catch the last hour of Battleground and the first hour of Midway. But we’re pleased to say that Memorial Day meant more than old war movies. We had occasion later that morning to join the Colin Hyde Post of the American Legion for its observance honoring the nation’s fallen veterans. A group of 40 veterans, family members and local scouts gathered at the Bainbridge veteran’s memorial – now enjoying proud and prominent placement in the high school courtyard – and moved on to the Legion Hall on Bucklin Hill. There, the Rev. Doug Walton shared his vivid recollections of service aboard PT boats in the South Pacific.The morning’s theme was remembrance – not just today, but in years to come. Indeed, in an age when military conflicts have lost most sense of glory or purpose, and American interventions have as much to do with protecting economic interests as advancing freedom and democracy, we found ourselves wondering. As the nation’s World War II veterans themselves pass into history, who shall honor the fallen?Monday, we are pleased to say, we were reminded of an age when the cause was undeniably, unequivocally just. To all of those who served and who paid the ultimate price – and to those who keep their memory alive – our hats are off.”