Veterans Corner: Holiday dinners, to attend and to support!

The sixth-annual Veterans Holiday Dinner will be at Smugglers Landing, 115 E. Railroad Ave. in Port Angeles on Sunday, Dec. 17. This dinner is free to all veterans.

It is a traditional holiday dinner served buffet style. Reservations are required for the 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. seatings.

Please call Jeff Reyes at 360-797-1791 to make your reservations. Many thanks to owner Rick for recognizing and supporting our veterans.

Help out at Sarge’s

Sarge’s Place, housing for veterans, in Forks is asking for Costco gift cards to purchase food for holiday dinners for the residents. Please email ct.sargesplace@gmail.com for more information or send the card to: Sarge’s Place, 250 Ash Avenue, Forks, WA 98331.

Please help these vets who are working on getting back into society have a nice holiday dinner.

Stand Down a success

The Voices For Veterans Stand Down for homeless veterans at the Clallam County Fairgrounds in October was attended by 283 veterans, 50 of whom were women and 75 homeless. In all, 700 hot meals were served, 43 attendees received haircuts, 23 were helped with outdoor gear and 140 went through the clothing room.

Many thanks to all the providers for being there to assist the veterans, the personnel from the Coast Guard Base who helped the veterans “shop” in the clothing room and to Reath Ellefson who was in charge of the meals. It takes a team of caring volunteers to put these Stand Downs on. We can always use help setting up, directing veterans, serving food etc. The first Stand Down of 2018 will be in Forks on May 3. Let me know if you have questions.

Community breakfast with Mr. Claus

Jack Grennan Post 62 American Legion in Sequim is hosting a community Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 16 from 9-11 a.m. at the Post, 107 E. Prairie St. There will be pancakes, sausage and orange juice and small gifts for the children from Santa. Any questions? Email Commander Carl at thbkdragon@yahoo.com. All are welcome.

DAR meeting set

Michael Trebert Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will hold their Christmas meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 10:30 a.m. at the Veterans Center, 216 S. Francis St., in Port Angeles. A fundraiser bazaar and bake sale will follow the business meeting. Carols will be sung and stories of a favorite Christmas will be shared. For more information, email Regent Carol at cjwandgjw@gmail.com.

Learn eskrima

Exclusively for Veterans: Join instructor Kathrin J. Sumpter of Sequim Martial Arts/Sequim Doce Pares for free eskrima stick fighting classes exclusively for veterans. Classes are every Monday and Wednesday from 11 a.m.-noon and no experience is necessary. All ages and fitness levels are welcome. Learn this Filipino weapon art from Sumpter, a fourth degree black belt. Space is limited so please call 360-683-4799 to sign up or get questions answered.

Contributors: American Legion, Carl Bradshaw, thbkdragon@yahoo.com; MOAA & DAR, Lorri Gilchrist, cdrlgilchrist@gmail.com; Marine Corps League, Mark Schildknecht, markisin2day@gmail.com; Korean War Veterans, Jerry Rettela, eletteor@msn.com; Fleet Reserve Association, Marty Arnold, martinarnold2001@yahoo.com; Voices For Veterans, John Brasch, voicesforveterans@yahoo.com; VFW Neil Gamroth, sequimvfwpost4760@gmail.com.