The North Olympic Regional Veterans Housing Network needs a Chevy Suburban or Yukon XL for transporting veterans to events (fishing and dinners). They also need a Ford Explorer for outreach in the woods and transport of veterans to medical appointments.
Both need relatively low miles (under 130,000) and need to be white. The Yukon XL that was donated many years ago is falling apart.
Please consider donating a used vehicle of your own or helping to purchase one. Contact Sarge’s Place if you have questions at ct.sargesplace@gmail.com.
Stand Down on West End
Voices For Veterans will be holding the in person West End Stand Down from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, at the Forks Elks Lodge, 941 Merchants Road.
All veterans are welcome to come and talk to the service providers, access the Clothing Room, get a haircut, have a hot breakfast and lunch and visit with fellow veterans.
Consider joining MOAA
The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is the nation’s largest and most influential association of military officers. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization.
Membership is open to active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retired and former commissioned officers and warrant officers of the following uniformed services: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Memberships also are available for surviving spouses of deceased officers. The Olympic Peninsula Chapter of MOAA is one of about 400 affiliates of the national organization. They are the only chapter on the Olympic Peninsula.
For more information about meetings and programs, contact me at cdrlgilchrist@gmail.com.
Honoring our Vietnam veterans
As a commemorative partner with the Department of Defense, the Michael Trebert Chapter of the NSDAR (National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution) will host a recognition and pinning ceremony for Vietnam War era veterans at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29, at the Clallam County Veterans Resource Center, 216 S. Francis St., Port Angeles.
This ceremony is for all living U.S. veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time from Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, regardless of location.
They will also recognize the surviving spouses of deceased veterans who served during that time. Anyone who would like to receive a commemorative lapel pin can contact Candace Gammel at 360-460-6478 or gammels@olypen.com.
Help prevent suicides
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 my sticker on my license plate!
You can get the form online at Washington State Department of Licensing website (dol.wa.gov), and then search for Prevent Veteran Suicide Emblem.
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.
