The Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America is collecting sports balls — football, basketball, soccer and playground — for Santa’s Castle, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, to distribute to active duty military personnel’s children for Christmas.

Most of these go to families at Joint Base Lewis-McCord.

I am the point-of-contact and have committed to 200 balls this third year of collecting. Please leave balls on my porch at 538 N. Seventh Ave., or mail them to me from Amazon. I appreciate your support for the children of our active duty troops.

Any questions please email me at cdrlgilchrist@gmail.com.

USMC to celebrate No. 247

You are invited to celebrate the 247th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 7 Cedars Resort, 270756 U.S. Highway 101.

All veterans, guests and family are invited; cost is $45 per person.

There will be a social hour starting at 5:00 p.m., no-host; with dinner and ceremony to begin at 6 p.m. The Port Angeles U.S. Coast Guard will serve as the color guard.

There will be a silent auction. The host for this grand occasion is the Mt. Olympus Chapter Det. 897 of the Marine Corps League.

To RSVP or to get questions answered, contact Kathy at 360-460-2431 or knt@wavecable.com.

Pancake breakfast on the menu

In honor of Veterans Day American Legion Jack Grennan Post 62 will have a pancake breakfast from 8-10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Post home, 107 E. Prairie St., Sequim. Pancakes, sausage, orange juice and coffee will be free to veterans. Others are welcome and can pay by donation.

Super conversation

Sequim School Superintendent Nickels has invited veterans to join her in the conversation about the future of the Sequim School District. This focus group will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the Sequim High School library, 6021 N. Sequim Ave. To RSVP, please email to mlyke@sequimschools.org.

Here is your chance to let the superintendent know what you want to see the children learning, interacting with the community, etc. Please attend and make your voice heard. Children are the future of our country!

For the veterans

Michael Trebert Chapter-NSDAR is selling fresh balsam wreaths to be placed on almost 3,000 veterans’ graves in cemeteries in Sequim, Port Angeles and Forks. There will be a ceremony at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, at Mt. Angeles Memorial Park, 45 Monroe Road, Port Angeles.

You can sponsor a Clallam County veteran’s wreath at wreathsacrossamerica.org/WA0153. They are $15 each or 3 for $30. If you have questions contact us at mtcwreaths@gmail.com. You will be asked to place wreaths on graves after the ceremony.

We need volunteers to pick up and dismantle wreaths on Jan. 14.

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.