PORT ANGELES — Tammy Sullenger is rarely taken by surprise at veterans functions.
The Clallam County veterans coordinator works behind the scenes to help veterans get the services they need and plans out every detail of county-sponsored veterans events.
Sullenger was caught off guard Tuesday.
She received an Exceptional Service Award from Mike Gregoire — husband of Gov. Chris Gregoire — and state Department of Veterans Affairs Director John Lee at the weekly commissioners meeting.
“Very surprised,” Sullenger said of her reaction.
She added: “Thankful.
“It’s nice to be recognized, and I like the work.”
Sullenger has been the county’s veterans coordinator for 51⁄2 years.
She is also an administrative assistant in the commissioners’ office and the clerk of the William Shore Memorial Pool District.
Sullenger received the unexpected certificate for being the “go-to person for veteran groups and individuals.”
Headed to Forks
Gregoire and Lee attended the commissioners meeting on their way to Forks to meet with organizers of Sarge’s Place, which provides housing for homeless veterans in west Clallam and Jefferson counties.
“We’re very proud of Cheri Fleck and the work that she’s done for Sarge’s Place up there,” Lee said of its organizer and president of the nonprofit North Olympic Regional Veterans Housing Network.
Lee said the West End of Clallam County is one of the few places where “real, no-kidding, rural homeless veterans” are concentrated in the U.S.
‘Military-friendly’
Gregoire said veterans live all over the state, but the North Olympic Peninsula is particularly “military-friendly.”
“We are here today to honor your incredible veterans that served us, not just this part, but the entire state,” Gregoire said.
Also receiving certificates Tuesday were Clallam County Veterans Center maintenance volunteer David Kummerer and volunteer transportation coordinator Venay Money.
Kummerer received the Certificate of Excellence award but did not attend the informal ceremony because he was volunteering at Salt Creek Park.
Gregoire and Lee presented Money with the Extra Mile Award for helping veterans get to where they need to go.
“You go the extra mile in providing services from the heart, and we salute you for a job very well done,” the certificate reads.
Lee was appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire as director of the state Department of Veterans Affairs in 2005. He has worked in the department for 21 years.
Gregoire and Lee, both of whom are veterans of the Vietnam War, periodically travel to the North Olympic Peninsula to meet with Clallam and Jefferson County veterans.
Lee thanked Clallam County Commissioner Mike Doherty for his “continued years of support for veterans and their families.”
‘One of the first’
“This community was one of the first in any rural area to create a vets center,” Lee said.
“You guys are a great model for how you use your veterans relief funds and working with service organizations.”
Sullenger said the veterans in need of services should phone the Clallam County Veterans Assistance office at 360-417-2597.
The office is located in Room 059 in the basement of the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
It is open Mondays through Fridays from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
