The 2022 Wreaths Across America patriotic ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, at Mount Angeles Memorial Park, 45 Monroe Road, Port Angeles. All are invited to attend and following the ceremony to place wreaths on veterans graves to “Remember, Honor and Teach.”
You can get more information at mtcwreaths@gmail.com. You can also volunteer to help pick up wreaths and recycle them on Saturday, Jan. 14.
Toys For Tots
The Mount Olympus Chapter of the Marine Corps League has been collecting Toys For Tots at the Sequim Walmart (1110 W. Washington St.) and the Longhouse Market & Deli (271020 U.S. Highway 101) in Blyn. The last days at Sequim Walmart will be 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 16-17. There are also boxes around town to put new toys in.
Please, no food or clothes. Cash donations are also accepted at both in-person locations.
Thank you for your support of this important program that ensures all kids in Clallam County have a good Christmas!
PACT benefits under attack
Scammers are now targeting veterans who are eligible for PACT Act benefits. Please educate yourself on how to prevent being scammed. Call the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Administration (VA) directly at 800-827-1000 to confirm any correspondence, request for personal information, etc.
The VA only addresses personal information via mailed letters; they do not charge you for processing a claim. VA also does not threaten you with jail or lawsuits.
Be aware: scammers can change the phone number they are calling from to appear it is from a different person or place.
Most important: If you receive a letter from the VA notifying you that your direct deposit information was updated, or that your EBenefits account information was updated and you did not do this — immediately call 800-827-1000. Do not ignore the letter or email. It could be the first sign that your information has been compromised.
Please stop and think, call the VA, ask a friend, before giving any personal information to anyone calling, emailing, texting or writing to you. Stay safe!
License plate emblem highlights suicide crisis
The holiday season is very hard emotionally for some. Members of the public can help raise awareness for suicide prevention programs by purchasing a new suicide prevention license plate emblem.
All Washington state vehicle owners can buy the emblem for $18 that displays the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number and the message “There Is Hope.”
Ten dollars from the purchase goes to the Veteran and Military Member Suicide Prevention Account. I have sent my money in.
You can get the form online at Washington State Dept. of Licensing (dol.wa.gov), then search for “Prevent Veteran Suicide Emblem.”
VFW happenings
VFW Post 6787, along with VFW Post 4760 and American Legion Post 62, assisted North Olympic Regional Veterans Housing Network’s (NORVHN) Sarge’s Place, with the purchase of the old Forks VFW building.
The building is being renovated to become a Thrift Store and, eventually, a coffee shop. This will go towards making Sarge’s Place self-sustaining.
Post members attended Veterans Day assemblies at area schools. They were honored by the outpouring of support and appreciation for their service. As part of Veterans Day, the VFW Post 6887 Commander was asked to speak at the Port Angeles Soroptimists meeting. The topic was, “What is Veterans Day and what does it mean to you?”
The Post has donated to Peninsula Behavioral Health, the Food Bank, Toys for Tots and Wreaths Across America, as well as giving support for five families for Christmas. They assisted the food bank with Thanksgiving and Christmas food deliveries, too!
Please contact Rod at sealteam54@q.com if you want to be part of this active, involved VFW Post!
Clothes, carpeting for Sarge’s Place
North Olympic Regional Veterans Housing Network’s Sarge’s Place is seeking wool socks and wool gloves for the eight resident veterans for Christmas.
They are in need of new carpet and laminate flooring after 10 years of heavy wear and if folks can send them a $50 donation, it will pay for 10 square feet of flooring.
This would help to offset the cost of putting in new carpet at the first of the year throughout the shelter (4,000 square feet of space to be covered).
You can go online to donate at Sarge’s Place Shelter through PayPal or Amazon Smile or mail a check to NORVHN, 250 Ash Ave, Forks WA 98331.
Maintenance is not glamorous, but is always needed to keep the shelter in good condition for many years to come.
Contributors: American Legion, Paul Renick, grennanalpost62@gmail.com; DAR, 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, Rod Lee, sealteam54@q.com.
