Thank you to all for supporting the Marine Corps League’s Toys for Tots efforts. Thirteen thousand were distributed to 6,000 Clallam County children. We have a very caring and generous community.
Thank you also for sponsoring wreaths for the fifth year of Michael Trebert Chapter National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution holding a ceremony and placing more than 2,300 wreaths in Clallam County cemeteries to “Honor, Remember and Teach” through Wreaths Across America. Sequim View Cemetery and Dungeness Cemetery will be recycling wreaths on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Lazy J Tree Farm. Adult helpers are needed to take the wreaths apart. Please let me know if you can help by emailing me at cdrlgilchrist@gmail.com.
I hope in your New Year’s resolutions you have put down attend a veterans group meeting, thank a veteran for their service, attend Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies and help veterans in need. If you have questions please contact me and I will get you answers on what the organizations are doing, what/where help is needed, and best places to donate clothes, food and money.
Jack Grennan Post 62 of the American Legion announces a leadership change. Nancy Zimmerman became the post commander on Jan. 1. Carl Bradshaw is the first vice commander. They plan to continue with the Turkey Shoot and Veterans Appreciation Day at Home Depot this summer. Any questions can be directed to Nancy at nmtzim@gmail.com or 253-988-3466.
The VA is overhauling its online sign-in process. There will be two new secure options: Login.gov and ID.me. On Jan. 31, veterans will no longer be able to use MyHealthVet user IDs and passwords to sign in. The portal will remain available but users must adopt the new sign-in methods. Veterans need to create new accounts with either Login.gov or ID.me using a unique email address and setting up multi-factor authentication for added security. Please do this as soon as possible. For more information, to create your account or to find answers to frequently asked questions, visit VA.go/sign-in-changes.
Save the dates: The Voices For Veterans Stand Downs for 2025 are in Forks on May 1 at the Elks, in Port Townsend on July 28 at the Elks and in Port Angeles on Oct. 2 at the Clallam County Fairgrunds. Stand Downs are open to all veterans. Services provided include VA healthcare enrollment, employment services, benefits counseling, housing assistance, legal assistance, hot breakfast and lunch, haircuts, health screening and outdoor equipment.
Contributors: American Legion, Nancy Zimmerman, nmtzim@gmail.com; MOAA & Marine Corps League, Lorri Gilchrist, cdrlgilchrist@gmail.com; Voices For Veterans, Rita Frangione, rita.frangione@gmail.com; Korean War Veterans, Jerry Rettela, eletteor@msn.com; VFW 4760, Steve Henrikson, secretary@vfwpost4760.com; VFW 6787, vfwcarlsborg@gmail.com; Fleet Reserve, Paul Rogers, paul.rogers5@comcast.net.
