The troops overseas need to know they are appreciated no matter what time of year it is. The knitters and members of Operation Holiday Stockings have just stuffed 67 stockings to send to the troops in a mortuary unit in Afghanistan in time for Armed Forces Day. They are looking at providing at least 3,300 stockings for Christmas. Their story and stocking directions can be found at www.operationholidaystockings.com.

 

I spent the afternoon with these folks and what a feeling of purpose and caring for our troops! They have collected articles to put in the stockings: candy, lip balm, razors, toothbrushes, gum, tubes of drink mixes, little toys, etc. They get people around the U.S. to knit the stockings. Money is collected for postage; it takes about $1.50 to mail each stocking. They do boxes of 30 that cost about $40 to mail.

 

At Christmas they also include a Christmas card with a note — so they can use any cards you have lying around! If you have any yarn you are trying to find a home for, give it to them! The stockings do not have to be red and green — any and all colors of yarn are great. If you would like to donate any of these items or money for postage, e-mail Sue, the coordinator, at ramsddj@aol.com or me at cdrlgilchrist@gmail.com. It is not too early to get knitting so the troops have something from home for the holidays!

Services in Sequim

I invite all of you to the Memorial Day service at Sequim View Cemetery at 11 a.m. Monday, May 28. VFW Chaplain Dale Butler has the lead this year. Bring a chair and water. After this service the American Legion will conduct services at Jamestown, Dungeness and Blue Mountain. The VFW will go to Gardiner.

 

Sunday morning flags will be placed on the graves marked as being service personnel. The flags will remain until Monday afternoon. If you would like to help place/pick up flags or have questions about the services, call me at 683-6419. The families appreciate your show of respect for their service person, as do the living veterans who attend. Please take an hour to honor the men and women who served your country.

Sarge’s sees surge
Sarge’s Place, the transitional facility for homeless veterans in Forks, is up and running. You have been most generous in your support. They have a contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs to aid in the housing of homeless veterans, but they have no transportation to get the veterans from Forks to the Port Angeles VA Clinic, the Seattle VA Medical Center or American Lakes VA Medical Center in Tacoma for their medical appointments. Currently staff members are using their own vehicles for this purpose. They are now trying to secure donations to aid in the purchase of a used vehicle. Any donation is greatly appreciated and is tax deductible — or you could even donate a vehicle! E-mail Cheri Fleck at cherif@forkshospital.org if you can help.

History project returns
After taking a couple years’ break, Tom Cox has advised me he is ready to start working on the Veterans History Project again. The VHP of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center primarily is an oral history program that collects and preserves the first-hand interviews of America’s wartime veterans. Tom is a volunteer who does these interviews. The VHP was created by Congress in 2000. To read more about it, go to www.loc.gov/vets/. If you would like to be part of this project, e-mail Tom at TomCoxWCG@msn.com or call 582-0560.
 
Contributors: DAR, Regent, Patricia Graham, pattyg@wavecable.com; American Legion and MOAA, Lorri Gilchrist, cdrlgilchrist@gmail.com; VFW Commander Roger Padie, commander@vfwpost4760.com; Marine Corps League, Terry Roth, mroth@olypen.com; Korean War Veterans, Jerry Rettela, eletteor@msn.com; Fleet Reserve Association, Tom Flanik, gunny@sos.net.