Cheri Fleck from West End Outreach (left) and Kat Scanlon talk over life at Sarge’s Place during the West End  Veterans Stand Down held Thursday, May 3 at the Forks Elks Lodge. Fleck led the years-long effort to establish the veterans transitional, and permanent, housing project for returning and homeless veterans located at 250 Ash Avenue. Scanlon lives at Sarge’s Place and is a veteran. She said she’s been greatly helped through the housing and veterans programs associated with Sarge’s Place. Fleck recently received a Clallam County Community Service Award for her work with Sarge’s Place.

The Stand Down ran Thursday morning and into the afternoon. The main hall in the Forks Elks Lodge was filled with tables of representatives of veterans agencies, local housing and social services agencies. Free haircuts and medical screenings were offered, along with breakfast and lunch. A number of community members volunteered to help out at the event. 

Veterans organization leaders pointed out several new and updated services available to veterans that were represented at the Stand Down. They included information about an expanding Veterans Affairs website www.myhealth.va.gov. New online services aimed at streamlining veterans’ needs have been added to the website. Veterans can now refill prescriptions orders online. After an initial in-person visit to the VA office they can also be upgraded to an account where lab tests results and secure messaging to the VA on medical treatment issues can be sent. 

Representatives of Laurel Park, a senior living community in Port Angeles, were also on-hand. Affordable housing, and monthly pension payments, are available at the assisted living center for wartime veterans and for their surviving spouse. For more information contact Residence Sales Manager Renee Worthey at (360) 452-4051 or by email rworthey@alcco.com.