The largest of today’s Veterans Day observances on the North Olympic Peninsula will be at the Port Angeles Coast Guard station on Ediz Hook.
The program, conducted in the hangar at the base, will offer special recognition to Veterans of Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield.
Operation Desert Storm veteran Colleen McAleer, now a Sequim real estate agent, will present the keynote address at the program held in the helicopter hangar at the base.
McAleer was an electronic warfare platoon commander of a unit deployed to the front lines of Operation Desert Storm in 1990, the first woman to serve in such a position in combat.
Coast Guard Cmdr. Kevin Gavin will welcome the public to the ceremonies.
Some 150 people will perform during today’s program, including the Port Angeles High School Band, directed by Doug Gailey, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Because of limited parking at the base, ride-sharing is encouraged.
After the ceremony, a barbecue is planned at the Clallam County Veterans Center at 216 S. Francis St. in Port Angeles.
Hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad and baked beans will be served, with VFW Post 1024 and the Ladies of Auxiliary 1024 cooking the food.
Admission is free, but donations for the Veterans Center will be accepted.
For more information, phone 360-452-1135.
Entrance fees
All entrance fees will be waived on all federal lands, including Olympic National Park, today in observance of Veterans Day.
The fee waiver covers land managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service.
This is the last fee-free day the National Park Service will hold this year.
As an added incentive, Aramark Parks and Destinations will give away two free Olympic National Park water bottles with every $25 retail purchase at Kalaloch Lodge and Lake Quinault Lodge that day.
Other observances planned on the Peninsula are:
Free vets breakfast
Laurel Park Assisted Living residents will host a complementary breakfast for veterans and their families today.
The breakfast will be at 8 a.m. at the facility at 1133 E. Park Ave., Port Angeles.
“We wish to pay respects to all those who served our country and helped make this country strong and resilient,” said Walt Hatcher, sales manager.
Attendees should RSVP to Laurel Park at 360-452-7201 by noon today.
Remembrance set
The Navy Seabee Veterans of America will hold the 44th Anniversary Honor Ceremony and Veterans Day Remembrance program at Gardiner Community Cemetery.
The event honors Port Townsend native and Medal of Honor recipient Navy Seabee CM3 Marvin Shields.
Shields was killed in action in Vietnam on June 10, 1965.
The event is open to the public.
Because of limited parking on Cemetery Road, a shuttle bus will provide transportation to the cemetery from the Gardiner Community Center, 980 Old Gardiner Road, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
For more information, phone 360-681-2786.
Port Townsend
Port Townsend Police Chief Conner Daily will be the guest speaker for the American Legion Marvin G. Shields Memorial Post 26 observance of Veterans Day beginning at 11 a.m.
The service will be at the American Legion Post’s building on the corner of Water and Monroe streets in Port Townsend
Special recognitions for service will be given to long-time Legion member Bob Yarr.
The 36-member Port Townsend Summer Band will present a half-hour concert at 10:30 a.m.
A potluck lunch will be served following the ceremony.
The event is open to the public.
For more information, phone Post Cmdr. Joe Carey at 360-379-1839 or 360-385-3454.
Wold War II vets
Seaport Landing, 1201 Hancock St., Port Townsend, will hold a special Veteran’s Day event beginning at 2 p.m.
Four of the residents who are World War II veterans will talk about their experiences and music will be included as part of the program.
Cake and punch will be served, and the public is invited.
Forks concert
FORKS — A Veterans Day concert is planned at Cafe Paix tonight.
Sue Zalokar will perform from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the cafe at 71 N. Forks Ave.
Donations will be collected to Sarge’s Place, which provides transitional and permanent supportive housing for veterans living in Forks.
The concert is sponsored by the Soroptimist International of the Olympic Rainforest.
Hats given away
This End Up @ Laundry 101, 781 S. Forks Ave., will honor veterans by giving away red, white and blue custom-embroidered hats and visors to any current U.S. service member or veteran from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.
Donations also will be accepted for a list compiled by Pat Doyle of West End service members serving abroad.
The list is called “In Our Thoughts and Prayers.”
For more information, phone 360-374-2540.
Veterans forum on Friday
PORT ANGELES — A free forum, “Challenges for Returning Veterans and Their Families,” is planned Friday.
The forum will be from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Veterans Hall , 216 S. Francis St., Port Angeles.
Two Peninsula Community Mental Health Center counselors, Robert Perry and Katijean Thorpe, will speak at the forum.
The forum is sponsored by the mental health center and the Disabled American Veterans.
For more information, phone 417-9444.