The American Legion is hosting a Turkey Shoot for veterans (anyone who has served or is serving) only on Aug. 25 at the Peninsula Long Rifles Shooting Range on Slab Camp Road. Registration time is 10 a.m.

Weapons will be .22-caliber open-sight rifles. The rifles, ammunition and targets will be provided. There will be three prizes; first is a $75 gift card and a turkey, second receives a $50 gift card and a turkey and third place gets $25 and a frozen turkey.

For more information, call the Legion Hall at 683-5915.

Apply for vet benefits

Unemployed veterans between the ages of 35-60 now can apply for new benefits to cover education costs for up to one year through a joint Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Labor program that focuses on retraining 99,000 veterans for high-demand jobs.

As part of the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, the Veteran Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) allows qualifying veterans to receive up to 12 months of assistance equal to the full-time Montgomery GI Bill.

Assistance under this benefit ends March 31, 2014.

For more information on VOW, VRAP, high-demand occupations and how to apply, go to www.benefits.va.gov/VOW, or call VA’s call centers toll free at 800-827-1000.

 For more information about the DOL’s Veterans programs, go to http://www.dol.gov/vets/. 

NJROTC pride

On June 1, I was privileged to attend the NJROTC Awards Ceremony at Port Angeles High School and present the MOAA Leadership Medals to Cadets Aaron Dudley and Virginia Caynak.

The DAR Medal was presented to Cadet Tawny Burns. My medal, the Gilchrist Medal for Community Service, was presented to Cadet Jordan Johnson. 

Cadet Johnson requested that his monetary award go to the Wounded Warriors Project. For the seventh year in a row the Corps won the Navy’s highest award, the Distinguished Unit with Honors.

Only the top 10 percent of the JROTC units across the nation receive this distinction. Congratulations to Maj. Leo Campbell and all the cadets!

The Korean War Veterans are planning and sponsoring a fishing trip for 20 or so Wounded Warriors from Madigan Hospital in September. 

They need help with boats, logistics, lodging, meals, etc.

If you are interested in helping, e-mail Jerry Rettela at eletteor@msn.com.

Operation Holiday Stockings

On June 23, the Ladies of the Elks will be hosting a breakfast for Operation Holiday Stockings at Applebee’s from 8-10 a.m. Applebee’s will be cooking the breakfast foods (eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes), and the Ladies of the Elks and members of OHS will be doing the leg work of serving and bussing the tables. The tickets are $10 per person and OHS will receive 50 percent of that.

The money will be used to pay the postage to send the stockings to the troops.

If you would like more information or tickets, call David at 206-790-3416. There will be tickets available at the door.

Dispose your flag

The American Legion will be holding a Flag Disposal Ceremony at the Legion Hall, 107 E. Prairie St., on Flag Day, Thursday, June 14, at 11 a.m. 

All are welcome to bring unserviceable flags for disposal and to attend the ceremony. There will be coffee and cookies after.

Contributors: DAR, Regent, Patricia Graham, pattyg@wavecable.com; American Legion and MOAA, Lorri Gilchrist, cdrlgilchrist@gmail.com; VFW Commander Roger Padie, commander@vfwpost4760.com; Marine Corps League, Terry Roth, mroth@olypen.com; Korean War Veterans, Jerry Rettela, eletteor@msn.com; Fleet Reserve Association, Tom Flanik, gunny@sos.net.