Many thanks to all of you who are dropping off toys and money for Toys for Tots. We want all the children of Clallam County to have a Merry Christmas. There are drop-off barrels in many businesses in Sequim. We appreciate their support of this program.

 

Many thanks to all who come to the bell-ringing ceremony at the end of the month to honor those veterans who have died. It is a fitting tribute and recognition for their service and sacrifice.

 

Many thanks to all who made stockings, stuffed stockings, gave stocking stuffers or gave postage money so Operation Holiday Stockings could send a small token of Christmas to our deployed troops. There were 256 boxes sent with 4,114 stockings to 45 units overseas. They need to know we care about them and want them to return home safely.

 

Many thanks to all of you who attended the Memorial Day and Veterans Day observances. We must not forget and the younger generations need to learn about the sacrifices these men and women and their families have made so we can be the “Land of the Free.”

 

Many thanks to all of you who gave money, gifts or time to make the Christmas store at the Washington State Veterans Home at Retsil possible. I was there Monday through Thursday (Nov. 26-29) and we helped many residents shop, we shopped for those who could not and then we wrapped and mailed all the packages to their families and friends — and even a beloved dog!

 

Many thanks to all of you who gave clothes, camping gear, money and time to help at the Veterans Stand Downs in Port Townsend, Forks and Port Angeles so we could get the homeless veterans of Clallam County information and support.

 

I have so many things to be thankful for because of your help and encouragement!

Think ahead

Now I would like to ask you to think of all these efforts as we get to New Year’s and make our resolutions. Please consider resolving to thank a vet, go to a program, give a toy, make a stocking, etc. There are many more efforts for veterans, troops and their families going on in our county and they also need you. If you are a vet, please consider joining one of the National Veterans Organizations so your voice can be heard.

 

Last, but not least, please consider buying a ticket to the Washington State Veterans Raffle. It costs $10 and there are only 200,000 tickets. First prize is $1 million! What a way to start 2013! The drawing is on Jan. 2, 2013.

 

Proceeds from the ticket sales go to the Veterans Innovations Program which provides support to Washington veterans facing financial hardships due to deployments.

 

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

 

Contributors: DAR, Regent, Joyce Stroeher,n7jpw@juno.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.