BY Gretchen Harnack
FORKS — Civic leaders embraced the Coast Guard’s Quillayute River station Wednesday in a strong show of support to keep the base open.
“I’ve been here 4½ and have been thanked many times — but not like this,” Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan O’Meara, the station’s operations petty officer, said. “We are really honored.”
More than 60 guests and Coast Guard personnel attended the buffet lunch for Coast Guard Appreciation Day at the Vagabond Restaurant.
The station is currently being considered for closure and its 25 positions reassigned to other units in the Coast Guard Group Port Angeles, which also oversees installations at Port Townsend and Neah Bay.
The Coast Guard was to make its decision on Quillayute River last week, but has postponed it for environmental assessments and another public comment period.
The Coast Guard has already held a series of public sessions throughout the North Olympic Peninsula.
Details are in today’s editions of the Peninsula Daily News, on sale throughout Clallam and Jefferson counties. Or click onto “Subscribe” to get your PDN delivered to your home or office.