Jack Grennan American Legion Post 62 will host a Veterans Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, at 107 E. Prairie St., Sequim. This is a short ceremony conducted with the Michael Trebert Chapter DAR and will be followed by refreshments. The Legion Riders will provide a Flag Line.
If it is not raining it will be outside, if bad weather it will be inside the Post, so please bring masks just in case.
The guest speaker is county commissioner Mark Ozias. The DAR will conduct a three-part American People’s National Salute. There will be thank you notes given to the veterans by the Junior American Citizens, an after-school club led by the DAR.
The community is invited, but parking is limited so please park elsewhere and walk in if you are able.
The American Legion meeting set for Thursday, Dec. 9, has been canceled.
Kudos for the support
Many thanks to all who donated sports balls to the children of active duty troops at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The goal for the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America was 100 balls, and more than 120 were collected.
The Kindness Committee, headed by Sandy at the Sequim Civic Center, donated 43, while Doug and Tina donated 26 and money was donated by Tom and Annie and Fernellyn. Many single sports balls found their way to my front porch. Thank you to all!
Seeking art for Hobucket House
The North Olympic Regional Veterans Housing Network (NORVHN) is asking for original works of art to place in Hobucket House, the home for seven permanently disabled veterans in Forks.
The home is built, the site is being prepared and then the home will be placed on the foundation and finished in the near future.
If you would like to donate artwork for the rooms, please call 360-374-5252. The 10 veterans at Sarge’s Place can use the following for the holidays: gift certificates for haircuts in Forks; gift certificates for a sandwich at Subway, and money for bus fare.
Mail donations to: Sarge’s Place, 250 Ash Avenue, Forks, 98331. Thank you!
Toys for Tots
The Marine Corps League will be collecting Toys For Tots at the Sequim and Port Angeles Walmart stores from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Dec. 3-4, Dec. 10-11 and Dec. 17-18.
They will also be at the 7 Cedars Long House from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 11.
You can tune in to KSQM (91.5 FM) to hear the latest on Toys For Tots.
Thank you for helping the children of Clallam County have a Merry Christmas!
Wreaths for veterans
Michael Trebert Chapter NSDAR is busy selling wreaths to be placed on veterans graves at five cemeteries in the Sequim area following the ceremony at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Sequim View Cemetery, 1505 Sequim-Dungeness Way.
There are also volunteer opportunities: greeting the truck and unloading wreaths, laying wreaths, and picking up and recycling wreaths. Contact Judy at mtcwreaths@gmail.com if you have questions or want to volunteer. All children are welcome, but please leave dogs at home.
To purchase wreaths, go to wreathsacrossamerica.org/WA0153.
Thank you for honoring our local veterans during the holidays! I hope to see you at the ceremony; I have the honor of laying the Navy ceremonial wreath!
Help needed at veterans’ center
The Northwest Veterans Resource Center — the veterans’ center in Port Angeles — has nine electric wheelchairs; three are in working order with good batteries and six need new batteries which they can help buy if needed.
For more information, call 360-797-1791 or email to NWVRC@outlook.com.
Please reach out if you can use a wheelchair. They are just sitting in the garage. Every veteran deserves to be as mobile as possible!
Spreading holiday cheer
For more than 25 years, the American Legion Auxiliary has put on a Christmas Gift Shop for the residents of the Washington State Veterans Home in Port Orchard. All residents can pick out five presents for family or friends. They are provided with cards to write, then the presents are wrapped and shipped to the people the gifts are chosen for — all for no cost to the resident.
The Gift Shop is held the week after Thanksgiving. I will go and help set up on Sunday, Nov. 28. We need new gifts for men (wallets, gloves, small tools, car gear), for teenagers (sports items, jewelry, hat/glove/scarf sets) and women (jewelry, kitchen items, home decor). Generic items such as boxes of candy, puzzles, games and throws are also needed.
You can leave items on my porch at 538 N. Seventh Ave., or call me at 360-683-6419 for a pickup.
Many of the residents came from Sequim, Port Angeles and Port Townsend. Please help them have a more normal Christmas by providing them gifts for their family members. Thank you!
Contributors: American Legion, Paul Renick, grennanalpost62@gmail.com; MOAA and Voices For Veterans, Lorri Gilchrist, cdrlgilchrist@gmail.com; Marine Corps League, Mark Schildknecht, markisin2day@gmail.com; Korean War Veterans, Jerry Rettela, eletteor@msn.com; VFW 4760, Steve Henrikson, secretary@vfwpost4760.com ; VFW 6787, Joe Borden, borden@wavecable.com.
