The BREMERTON Monument team presented a display at theKitsap County Veterans Day celebration in Bremerton. We received our first brick order in honor of a former Cruiser BREMERTON crewmember.

Thomas Matthew “Matt” Ryan passed away on June 18, 2024. A retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander, Matt served his first year of commissioned service in USS BREMERTON (CA-130). A 1956 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Ryan served 20 years as a line officer, qualified for command of World War II-era submarines, and earned the Navy Commendation Medal during the Vietnam era. His naval career remained a defining influence throughout his life, later inspiring one of his novels, One Hell of a Shipmate. After retiring from the Navy in 1976, he built a successful career in insurance and public service, including terms as a Kitsap County Commissioner and chairman of the county Republican Party. He was a lifelong learner and community leader and is survived by his wife of 60 years, four sons, and extended family. Matt’s son, Eric, purchased a brick in honor of his father.