David Timmons may have his personal version of the history of Fort Worden PDA, but I submit that the Leader’s own historical archive (as published in last week’s Leader’s This Week in History Column tells the true story in reporting the impacts of COVID.

Headline -- March 2020: “Fort Worden scales back staffing services - Park amenities still available, restaurants closed”. From the story: “the FWPDA has reduced its operations placing the majority of its employees on standby status. Approximately 65 employees were placed on standby as of March 18, and 10 more were laid off because they were ineligible for standby”...”Both of the PDA’s restaurants -- Reveille and Taps at the Guardhouse -- are closed in the meantime”...”The PDA estimates it has already lost close to $500,000 in booked reservations due to the business downturn caused by the virus. And the PDA released a statement stating it further anticipates that ‘substantial’ revenue loss will continue, due to fewer leisure guests visiting the area as well as Gov. Inslee’s directives on closing restaurants, limiting social gatherings and social distancing” .... ”Governor Inslee orders citizens to ‘stay at home’. This is a human tragedy on a scale we cannot yet project, Inslee said on March 23.”

Who among us does not mark our own life story as “before” and “after” Covid? This history is important to remember if we hope to see another brave effort to save Fort Worden, a priceless asset.

Sheila Westerman

Port Townsend