PORT ANGELES — Mike Gregoire, husband of Gov. Chris Gregoire, thanked Voices for Veterans Tuesday for “serving those who served.”

Gregoire presented a certificate of appreciation to the nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to helping homeless veterans on the North Olympic Peninsula during the Clallam County commissioners meeting.

“This is so impressive,” Gregoire told the group after hearing a summary of their efforts from president John Braasch.

Voices for Veterans is a “phenomenal example” of what veterans’ volunteers can achieve when they pool their resources, Gregoire said.

In his short remarks, the state’s First Gentleman said he is glad to “come back to a part of the state that our family loves.”

“Thank you for allowing us to come here today,” he said.

Gregoire presented the certificate to Braasch, with a handful of veterans and volunteers looking on.

“I have this certificate of appreciation that I’m so honored to read to you,” Gregoire said.

It read in part: “Thank you for meeting the growing needs of our veterans and their families. Voices for Veterans has made a profound difference in the lives of veterans.”

Organizes Stand Down

The group stages the annual Stand Down in Port Angeles, Port Townsend and Forks, where homeless veterans and veterans in need can go for fellowship, services and rest and relaxation.

“It’s an outreach thing,” Braasch said.

“It’s a fun event for us, and it’s quite a feeling to see veterans come in and say, ‘Nobody’s ever thanked me for my service.’ . . . If you can touch somebody like this, you’ll come back for more.”

The intention of the events is to help veterans get off the streets and out of the woods.

A Stand Down is planned for October at the Clallam County fairgrounds.

The region’s next Stand Down is May in Port Townsend.

There have been 11 such events since the tradition began in October 2004.

Voices for Veterans is keyed to the homeless, said Tammy Sullenger, veteran’s coordinator for Clallam County Board of Commissioners.

It provides food, clothing, camping gear, firewood, haircuts, social, medical, legal and employment services to the veterans, Sullenger said.

Donations come from local businesses.

“It’s such a huge venture,” Sullenger said.

“It really is a joint thing.”

Clallam County is home to one of the highest concentrations of veterans in Washington.

“We’re going to have over 700,000 veterans in our state,” Gregoire said.

“It’s an amazing number.”

Other stops

After the commissioners’ meeting, Gregiore and commissioner Mike Doherty toured the West End.

He was scheduled to stop at the Quileute Tribal School in LaPush, Forks Elementary School, the Forks Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center and the Forks Public Library.

Doherty and fellow commissioners Steve Tharinger and Mike Chapman joined Gregoire in thanking Voices for Veterans for their service.

________

Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com