Vets Corner: Stepping up for the troops
By Ronald Verini
Friday, March 21, 2008 11:53 AM PDT
This week is the fifth year anniversary of the war in Iraq. Think about it and then pray.
What a wonderful community we have that supports so many people willing to give back and help others. Tim McBride, adjutant of the John Ogburn lll-VFW Post 12062 in Fruitland has sent packages to our troops. Tim also presented a certificate of appreciation at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to Albertsons, who helped with sending more than 500 care packages. And Larry Robb at Red Apple Market also received a certificate from Tim for supporting our veterans and troops.
As an example, they sponsored the drive to set up the John Ogburn scholarships at TVCC as well as supporting our troops and families by helping to feed them when needed and helping to gather food for packages being sent to our troops. Dolphies Pizza from Fruitland was given an award at the Fruitland Chamber of Commerce from Tim for all of their support since 2002.
What great people and businesses that support our troops, so please support their businesses and shop locally.
Bill Thomson, our local service officer for veterans, and Mike Jones, second vice commander, District 10, American Legion, both are representing the American Legion going to the schools talking about Boys State. Gaylene Dewey started a drive to collect pencils, pens, notebooks for the kids in Iraq and Afghanistan. Also Cali Burzota from B & B Printing spearheads a project to send treats for the troops in honor of Josh Brennan, the young man that was killed in Afghanistan serving our country and a well-respected man from our own community.
Chris Sandoval, the District 10 Commander for the American Legion, is working to help the local veterans of Vale fix up the building so the veterans will have a place that is safe and dry for their meetings. Any roofers or concerned citizens should step up to the plate and offer help; they need metal roofing material as well as paint and a host of other items. Please contact Chris at 473-4201.
Try not to be bashful with any of these projects and step up and pitch in. All the veterans and active members of the service need the community behind them, as we have been behind the community and our country in our times of need.
Chris also made a presentation at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to Douglas Dean of a certificate of appreciation and a commanders pin to honor his work for veterans’ causes. I was also very surprised to also receive this great honor at a private ceremony at home since I was not able to attend the luncheon.
This last Sunday at a town hall meeting at TVCC, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden mentioned he is working diligently to get the needed legislation to help our local National Guard units realize the same benefits as the regular Army. Sen. Wyden said if the Guard is good enough to serve our country in a war zone,it is good enough to receive the same benefits as the other servicemen/women. He also talked about the legislation that will help our troops coming back with injuries, such as PTSD. Since this war has gone on for a much longer time than anticipated, the senator is supporting legislation that will benefit all troops with this problem. Sen. Wyden has always stepped up to the plate when veterans needed their help, so please support his effort to bring legislation to the attention of the public and the Senate.
Please contact me with any question or comments at pencilsforpeace@q.com or (541) 881-8881 (Ronald Verini), or P.O. Box 933, Ontario, OR, 97914.
“In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed: it must be achieved,” Franklin D. Roosevelt.
