Four Chaplains to be remembered
Jack Grennan Post 62 of the American Legion will hold a ceremony at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3 at the post, located at 107 E. Prairie St. to honor The Four Chaplains.
The chaplains from four different faiths were on the USAT Dorchester when it was torpedoed by a German submarine on Feb. 3, 1943. They gave away their life preservers and were last seen singing hymns as they went down with the ship. This ceremony honors them and their dedication to the servicemen on the Dorchester. They gave their lives so other military service members could survive.
All are welcome to attend the ceremony.
Disabled Veterans group at museum
Every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sequim Museum administration building (in the rear), the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 5 is available to help with VA claims. No appointments necessary, walk-in only. Service officers are available to help with claims and information. For further information, contact 360-775-6482. Messages can be left.
Military officers group continues to serve
The Olympic Peninsula Chapter, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), is looking forward to another great year serving all of our veterans and active duty personnel, regardless of rank. The new officers and board will be installed at the Jan. 21 luncheon (1 p.m. at the Paradise Cafe in Sequim). Visitors are welcome. Contact me if you have questions.
Gratitude from Toys for Tots
The basic mission of the Marine Toys for Tots program is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas. More than 9,400 toys were distributed to 2,668 children within Clallam County. We did all this with the support of 66 amazing volunteers (the majority from veterans organizations within the county) who went out to a total of 52 toy drop box locations hosted by local businesses. All toys, and monetary donations to purchase toys, stayed within Clallam County.
Huge thanks to the following agencies who received and distributed the toys collected: Boys and Girls Club of the Olympic Peninsula; Boys and Girls Club of the Olympic Peninsula-Turner Unit; DSHS; Dungeness Community Church; Fairview Bible Church; First Step Family Support; Lutheran Community Services; Sequim Community Aid; Serenity House of Clallam County; and Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Thank you to the Festival of Trees and Swain’s General Store for allowing us to stand watch at your locations; to Sequim Electronics and Harbor Freight for the batteries; to Frugals for another proceeds day and amazing burgers; to the Fraternal Order of the Eagles #483 and Iron Horse Band for the benefit concert and auction; and finally, to Dungeness Kids, Sequim Electronics, and Odyssey Bookstore for making shopping easy and finding so many beautiful gifts and books for our kids! As you can see it “takes a village” to put on this program.
I wanted to share with you how many folks and entities are involved to make it happen for the children of Clallam County. Many thanks to Kim, the director of Toys for Tots Clallam County. Thank you to all who donated toys.
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Contributors: American Legion, Nancy Zimmermann, nmtzim@gmail.com; MOAA & Marine Corps League, Lorri Gilchrist, cdrlgilchrist@gmail.com; Voices For Veterans, Rita Frangione, rita.frangione@gmail.com; Korean War Veterans,Jerry Rettela, eletteor@msn.com; VFW 4760, Steve Henrikson, secretary@vfwpost4760.com ; VFW 6787, vfwcarlsborg@gmail.com, Fleet Reserve, Mike Sieg, mybadfish@gmail.com .
