Summer is coming and boats are on the water! The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is recruiting members for Flotilla 42 in Sequim led by Sylvia Oster Flotilla Commander. This is a uniformed volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard created by an act of Congress in 1939.
You do not need military service to be a member, but you must be a U.S. citizen, pass a background check and have an interest in supporting the Coast Guard in its mission of safe boating.
You would be involved in public education, vessel safety checks, operations and support, marine environmental protection and recruiting. You wear a uniform and are recognized for your efforts. Advanced training is available in patrols, search and rescue, navigation, weather, seamanship and communications.
If you are interested please contact the Commander at uscgamail@yahoo.com or call 360-457-6644.
USCG Exchange in PA
The Coast Guard Exchange at the Air Station on Ediz Hook Road in Port Angeles is open for all dependents, retirees and qualifying veterans from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on Fridays and 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays. If you have any questions, call the Exchange at 360-457-8600.
Tech upgrade at Sarge’s Place
The Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America applied for a $5,000 MOAA Community Outreach Grant to provide computers and iPads to staff and veterans living at Sarge’s Place and Hobucket House. The Chapter received $2,250 from the Grant, $900 from the MOAA Covid Grant program and the chapter members gave the remaining $1,850 so the entire list of components could be purchased.
The chapter has also given $1,000 to the NJROTC program at Port Angeles High School to support the program and cadets. The chapter has been awarded 5 Stars for it’s newsletter.
If you are interested in learning more about the chapter, please contact me at cdrlgilchrist@gmail.com. I am a past president and now secretary.
Scout of the Year
Jonathan T. Scott, an Eagle Scout in Boy Scout Troop 1460, has been awarded the Scout of the Year for the State of Washington Veterans of Foreign Wars and moves on to the National Competition.
He will receive a plaque, certificate and a $500 award. The top prize at the National level is a $5,000 scholarship. Jonathan was the Scout of the Year for Sequim VFW Post 4760 and also won the District 14 competition.
Congratulations to Jonathan and good luck at the National competition.
The VFW scouting award is an annual program for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Sea Scouts and Venturing Crews. To be eligible the Scout has to have achieved Eagle Scout or the equivalent in their troop.
Submissions are due by March 1 each year. For more information or an application contact the Sequim or Carlsborg VFW, email addresses are at the end of the column.
No Port Angeles ceremonies
I am sad to report that due to a lack of service organization members there were no ceremonies for Memorial Day in Port Angeles. There were no people there to pay tribute to the sacrifices of the veterans in Mount Angeles, Oceanview or Port Crescent cemeteries.
The flags were on the graves, but that is not enough. We must never forget the men and women who gave their lives for our country. The band of local veterans trying to keep these honors going is getting smaller and smaller.
We need help. If you served please consider joining a service organization to help us keep our veterans, their families and those who are serving in the public eye and make sure they are not forgotten. You can contact anyone at the end of the column and they will be glad to talk to you and help you find an organization that is a good fit for you.
Please seriously consider that someday not far away there may be no rifle squad to fire a gun salute, no veterans to do honors to a deceased veteran, no flag line to pay tribute to your family member who has passed.
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, Rod Lee, sealteam54@q.com.
