Seeking volunteers and providers for the upcoming Coos-Curry Veterans Stand Down at Pony Village Mall on August 19th! This is the best-attended (largest) Stand Down in Oregon! Everyone is welcome! Please contact our Lead Carol Elderkin Gardner and Committee Volunteer Jane Mathews for more info.
Register here: https://forms.gle/U19Zump4uG7V6oBp9
After celebrating a 10-year run, the Coos Bay Stand Down was felled for two years due to the pandemic. Come join in for the return of the Coos-Curry Stand Down.
Pointman Ministries – Outpost 101 of Coos Bay is looking for assistance with mowing and weed eating at the David Dewitt Memorial. Must have own tools. They are also looking for an aluminum fabricator to design and install a locking system on flag poles to deter future theft of flags. If you can help, contact Ron at 541-756-2118.
Join the Oregon National Guard in a Run to Remember on May 21, 2022, at the Salem Riverfront Park.
The run is to remember fallen service members from all branches of the armed forces. Additional race information can be found at http://oregonmilitaryfamily.org/R2R.html.
The next meeting of the Advisory Committee to the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs will be held Wednesday, June 1, 2022, via Zoom. The meeting is being held virtually and begins at 9:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend.
The committee is made up of veterans appointed by the governor to provide counsel on veteran issues and represent veteran concerns across Oregon. Its nine members serve in a vital advisory role to the director and staff of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Pre-registration is required. Once pre-registered you will receive the meeting link.
Join by Zoom via Telephone: Dial 1 (253) 215-8782. When prompted, enter the meeting ID: 883 2131 2686 # and password/participant ID: 708263#
You will be prompted to state your name. State your first and last name.
Town Hall:
There will be a Town Hall at the end of the business meeting in which we invite you to ask questions of the committee and director. This time is set aside for individuals to bring up broader veteran community issues. Members of the community are also invited to submit written public comments to the Committee at the following email address: vaac@odva.state.or.us
Published annually by the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the 2022 Veteran Benefits Magazine introduces readers to the services and benefits available to veterans and their families in Oregon. Free, confidential services are available through Local Veteran Service Offices located in all 36 Oregon counties, two Tribal Veteran Service Offices, or five National Service Offices to file claims and connect to other local, state, and federal veteran benefits and resources.
Copies are available at the Coos County VSO office (Next door to SOVO offices in Suite 213), North Bend VA Medical Clinic (2191 Marion St.,North Bend), and Southwestern Oregon Community College.
A retired Tuskegee Airman who is coming up on a huge milestone birthday has decided to celebrate by getting birthday card from people across America. Retired Sgt. Victor Butler is turning 100 on May 21, 2022 and is believed to be teh last surviving Tuskegee Airman in the State of Rhode Island.
The Tuskegee Airmen were part of what was known as the Tuskegee Experience. The name comes from the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama where the first Black Army Air Corps fighter pilots to fight in World War II were trained. The tails of their planes were painted red, earning them the nickname “Red Tails.” At the Tuskegee Army Air Field, 932 pilots were trained but there were thousands of others trained as mechanics, cooks and assistants who were all part of the experience. Eventually the U.S. military was desegregated in part due to the encouragement received after the phenomenal efforts of the Red Tails during the war.
Butler was trained as a mechanic when he took part in the Tuskegee Experience and recounted some of his experiences when speaking to WJAR saying, “Being in Tuskegee, Alabama, it wasn’t very acceptable to white people for Black soldiers to be walking around.” People were able to get a glimpse into the training, treatment and heroism of the historical group of airmen in the movie Red Tails that was released in 2012.
If you would like to send a card to Mr. Butler, you can send them to:
Victor W. Butler
C/O Gary Butler
P.O. Box 3523
Cranston, RI 02910
For more of Sgt. Butler’s Story go to UpWorthy at https://www.upworthy.com/retired-tuskegee-airman-asks-to-mark-his-milestone-birthday-with-cards-from-across-america
(SOVO) helps bridge the gap between what is available and what is needed to assist in meeting the needs of our veterans and their families. SOVO helps ensure that veterans receive the benefits they are due for their service to our country. Coos County, Oregon has approximately 6000 veterans and one County Veterans Service Officer.
Last Updated: by Leave a Comment
Largest Stand Down in Oregon to return after two years – August 19, 2022
Seeking volunteers and providers for the upcoming Coos-Curry Veterans Stand Down at Pony Village Mall on
August 19th! This is the best-attended (largest) Stand Down in Oregon! Everyone is welcome! Please contact our Lead Carol Elderkin Gardner and Committee Volunteer Jane Mathews for more info.
Register here: https://forms.gle/U19Zump4uG7V6oBp9
After celebrating a 10-year run, the Coos Bay Stand Down was felled for two years due to the pandemic. Come join in for the return of the Coos-Curry Stand Down.
Last Updated: by Leave a Comment
Volunteers wanted for Dewitt Memorial upkeep; also an aluminum fabricator
Pointman Ministries – Outpost 101 of Coos Bay is looking for assistance with
mowing and weed eating at the David Dewitt Memorial. Must have own tools. They are also looking for an aluminum fabricator to design and install a locking system on flag poles to deter future theft of flags. If you can help, contact Ron at 541-756-2118.
Last Updated: by Leave a Comment
May 25- Live Symphony Orchestra Rehearsal – Free in Eugene -RSVP required
Last Updated: by Leave a Comment
Reedsport Memorial Weekend – Sunday, May 29th – featuring Parade, Dinner, Concert, Show&Shine, more
Last Updated: by Leave a Comment
Free Golf Scramble for Veterans /Active Duty -May 28 – Forest Hills Golf – Reedsport
Last Updated: by Leave a Comment
Time Sensitive: Free Virtual Class, May 12, for Gulf War Veterans and Health Concerns
Free Virtual Class from VA
GULF WAR VETERANS: Sign up for VA’s free, virtual class Gulf War Exposures & Health Concerns: A Class for Veterans.
WHEN: Thursday, May 12, from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET. You can attend through your personal computer, smartphone, or tablet.
Sign up for free virtual class at < https://tinyurl.com/mtvf77cw >
Last Updated: by Leave a Comment
Run to Remember our Fallen Service Members
Join the Oregon National Guard in a Run to Remember on May 21, 2022, at the Salem Riverfront Park.
The run is to remember fallen service members from all branches of the armed forces. Additional race information can be found at http://oregonmilitaryfamily.org/R2R.html.
Last Updated: by Leave a Comment
Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs Advisory Committee to Hold Virtual Meeting June 1
Mark your Calendar!
The next meeting of the Advisory Committee to the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs will be held Wednesday, June 1, 2022, via Zoom. The meeting is being held virtually and begins at 9:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend.
The committee is made up of veterans appointed by the governor to provide counsel on veteran issues and represent veteran concerns across Oregon. Its nine members serve in a vital advisory role to the director and staff of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
ODVA’s Reports to the Advisory Committee are available to the public on the ODVA website: https://issuu.com/odva/stacks/38107bb40c054695831edf5634865ca4
To attend:
You will need to pre-register using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwudeirrzksEtLtNYa_M71dTFtv1n1qCONv
Pre-registration is required. Once pre-registered you will receive the meeting link.
Join by Zoom via Telephone: Dial 1 (253) 215-8782. When prompted, enter the meeting ID: 883 2131 2686 # and password/participant ID: 708263#
You will be prompted to state your name. State your first and last name.
Town Hall:
There will be a Town Hall at the end of the business meeting in which we invite you to ask questions of the committee and director. This time is set aside for individuals to bring up broader veteran community issues. Members of the community are also invited to submit written public comments to the Committee at the following email address: vaac@odva.state.or.us
More information can be found online at www.oregon.gov/odva/Pages/advisory.aspx or to contact the Advisory Committee, please email
Last Updated: by Leave a Comment
Updated 2022 Oregon Veteran Benefits Magazine Now Available
Copies are available at the Coos County VSO office (Next door to SOVO offices in Suite 213), North Bend VA Medical Clinic (2191 Marion St.,North Bend), and Southwestern Oregon Community College.
You can also order a copy of the Veteran Benefits Magazine to be shipped (for free) to your home. Go to <https://www.oregon.gov/odva/Connect/Pages/Publications.aspx>
You can read the magazine online right now at: <https://tinyurl.com/ycydbczv>
Last Updated: by Leave a Comment
Retired Tuskegee Airman is asking people to send him cards to celebrate his 100th birthday on May 21, 2022
excerpted from UPWorthy
by Jacalyn Wetzel
A retired Tuskegee Airman who is coming up on a huge milestone birthday has decided to celebrate by getting birthday card from people across America. Retired Sgt. Victor Butler is turning 100 on May 21, 2022 and is believed to be teh last surviving Tuskegee Airman in the State of Rhode Island.
The Tuskegee Airmen were part of what was known as the Tuskegee Experience. The name comes from the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama where the first Black Army Air Corps fighter pilots to fight in World War II were trained. The tails of their planes were painted red, earning them the nickname “Red Tails.” At the Tuskegee Army Air Field, 932 pilots were trained but there were thousands of others trained as mechanics, cooks and assistants who were all part of the experience. Eventually the U.S. military was desegregated in part due to the encouragement received after the phenomenal efforts of the Red Tails during the war.
Butler was trained as a mechanic when he took part in the Tuskegee Experience and recounted some of his experiences when speaking to WJAR saying, “Being in Tuskegee, Alabama, it wasn’t very acceptable to white people for Black soldiers to be walking around.” People were able to get a glimpse into the training, treatment and heroism of the historical group of airmen in the movie Red Tails that was released in 2012.
If you would like to send a card to Mr. Butler, you can send them to:
Victor W. Butler
C/O Gary Butler
P.O. Box 3523
Cranston, RI 02910
For more of Sgt. Butler’s Story go to UpWorthy at https://www.upworthy.com/retired-tuskegee-airman-asks-to-mark-his-milestone-birthday-with-cards-from-across-america
Read More
Don’t miss a thing! Sign up for our FREE newsletter
Recent Posts