PORT ANGELES — The newly remodeled Clallam County Veterans Center will reopen by the end of this month, commissioners learned this week.
County veterans coordinator Tammy Sullenger said Tuesday that the first event in the spruced-up center will be the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day ceremony March 28.
The facility at 261 S. Francis St. in Port Angeles has been closed since November to allow Aldergrove Construction Inc. to install new flooring, lights, kitchen cabinets and appliances, and to paint the interior, in addition to other upgrades.
Commissioners Tuesday approved the fourth and final change order with the Port Angeles contractor to cover the cost of additional wood window wrap and filling, texturing and to paint parts of the wall where baseboard heaters were removed.
The $1,802 change order raised the amount of the contract from $123,336 to $125,138.
“The project’s really coming along great,” Clallam County Parks, Fair and Facilities Manager Joel Winborn told commissioners in their Monday work session.
“Hopefully, everyone’s going to be happy when they see what we’ve done.”
During the remodel, veterans groups have been meeting in the commissioners room at the Clallam County Courthouse.
Ceremony
The March 28 ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a coffee social for all veterans at the Veterans Center.
The Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day ceremony will begin at 1 p.m.
It will feature Port Angeles veteran Norman Goodin speaking about his Vietnam experiences.
Goodin spearheaded an effort to secure a 2010 proclamation from then-Gov. Chris Gregoire to declare March 30 as Welcome Home Veterans Day.
The day marks the anniversary of the end of American involvement in the Vietnam conflict, according to a proclamation that commissioners will present to Goodin on March 24.
Preparing center
Winborn and Sullenger have been working to prepare the Veterans Center for its reopening.
Furniture and pictures will be moved back into the facility beginning next week, Winborn said.
“We’re going to get everything back together, the chairs and tables,” he said.
“It’s going to be great. The folks using this room in the morning will be able to move back out there.”
In related news, the Northwest Veterans Resources Center will provide services to veterans at the remodeled Veterans Center beginning March 30.
Commissioners passed a memorandum of agreement with the Northwest Veterans Resources Center on Tuesday.
“This will provide full services when we open our doors,” Sullenger said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
