The Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) applied for and received a community grant from national MOAA to purchase a set of living room furniture and a commercial freezer for Sarge’s Place in Forks. The original furniture was 10 years old. The living room is where meetings are held, TV is watched, visitors can come.
The residents needed to be proud of their home just as we are proud of ours. The household freezer could not handle the quantity of food required for the number of people living there.
There is now room to accept donated harvested deer and elk.
MOAA membership is for any officer serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. If you are interested in learning more about the local chapter, please contact me (cdrlgilchrist@gmail.com).
Special license plate possibility
There are plans to have a Washington state license plate for female veterans. It would cost $40, with renewals costing $30.
The Department of Licensing is working with the Washington Department of Veteran Affairs (WDVA) who will work with women veterans to create the design.
The money from the license plate fee will be used for activities that benefit women service members, women veterans or their families.
The Senate Bill is (SB-6422) and the House Bill is (HB-2187). Please encourage our representatives to support and pass these bills.
Stand Down down
The Board for Voices For Veterans has voted to cancel the Oct. 1 Stand Down in Port Angeles that was to be held at the Clallam County Fairgrounds.
If you have questions or need to get in touch with Voices For Veterans, please contact me at cdrlgilchrist@gmail.com.
Auxiliary seeking new members
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 U.S. 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 & rescue, navigation, weather, seamanship and communications.
If you are interested, please contact the commander at uscgamail@yahoo.com or 360-457-6644.
Pics for Ditchwalker
The Sequim Schools Alumni Association needs military photos of alumni for the fall Ditchwalker newsletter. The newsletter is honoring veterans for Veterans Day.
Please scan and send me a photo and description or call me at 360-683-6419 to discuss. There is a military monument on North Sequim Ave across from the school and there are many tiles there in honor of and in memory of people in the military.
For more information on how to buy a tile, email me at cdrlgilchrist@gmail.com.
Contributors: American Legion, Paul Renick, grennanalpost62@gmail.com; MOAA and Voices For Veterans, Lorri Gilchrist, cdrlgilchrist@gmail.com; Marine Corps League, Mark Schildknecht, marana-s@outlook.com; Korean War Veterans,Jerry Rettela, eletteor@msn.com; VFW 4760, Steve Henrikson, secretary@vfwpost4760.com; VFW 6787, Rod Lee, sealteam54@q.com.
