Sean C. Morgan
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 585 will be the grand marshal(s) for the Sportsman’s Holiday Parade Saturday.
“Ric Olson and the VVA Mid-Valley Chapter 585 are an excellent choice for Grand Marshal at this year’s parade because of all they do on behalf of all veterans in getting the information they need to get any benefits they have due them,” said Don Gonzalez, a member of the parade committee. “They have been instrumental in the building of the new Veterans Home in Lebanon, where they purchased a new custom pool table for the recreation room.
“Locally, if it were not for them the new burnout pad that is now part of the Kiwanis Sweet Home Sweet Ride Charity Car Show for Kids might still be on their wish list.
“They are as involved as any group out there and are doing it all simply because they see a need and have an answer.”
Ron Morgan, Oregon VVA president, called the local chapter one of the “most active” in the state.
He said the main mission of the VVA chapters is to raise public awareness to issues related to all veterans, such as health risks to veterans and their offspring caused by Agent Orange, dioxin. Members help veterans and their families learn about their benefits and assist in issues they may be having in life matters. Chapter 585 funded a scholarship program at Linn-Benton Community College for children of veterans.
Chapter 585 includes 89 members from Mid-Valley communities, from Corvallis to Sweet Home, said Ric Olson, its president. Those communities include Brownsville, Albany, Lebanon, Halsey and Scio.
Morgan said members volunteer many hours of their time with community projects.
“One reason this chapter has been so successful with so many community projects and events is the capable leadership at the helm and members not afraid to roll up their sleeves and work. Associate members are a valuable asset to Chapter 585. Associates stand shoulder to shoulder with chapter members in every project and event they engage in,” he said.
Members of the local chapter helped a fellow veteran put siding on his house, Morgan said. The pool table provided by Chapter 585 to the Lebanon Veterans Home in Lebanon was custom-built, with a “beautiful” drawing of an American Bald Eagle in flight.
The chapter helped handle parking at the Lebanon Strawberry Festival and the Sweet Home Sweet Ride, Morgan said, and the chapter recently helped out a fellow veteran with cash to buy enough material to replace the plumbing under his house.
Active volunteers of Chapter 585, Morgan said, include Dave Olson, Gary Smith, Tony Tangermann, Carl Frank, Paul Nichols, Rick “Frenchy” Foshae and Chapter President Ric Olson.
Ric Olson said his group’s primary goal is helping other veterans, and the VVA’s motto says it all, recalling the treatment Vietnam veterans received when they returned from the war: “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.”
In addition to the chapter’s many activities, in cooperation with Smoker Craft, Inc., of Stayton, Chapter 585 built a floating dock on a private pond, Olson said. “We take vets out of the VA hospital for a day of fishing.”
Their involvement in the community also revolves around veterans, Olson said. When the Sweet Home Kiwanis Club was looking for help to build the burnout pad for the Sweet Ride car show, “they told us about 50 percent of the people that come out and show their hot rods are veterans.
“We do it to help veterans. We do it to give back. What better way to do things in life than to give to others when you can.”
The chapter doesn’t do it for the recognition, Olson said, but “to be recognized by the public, it is a great honor.”
Anyone interested in the VVA may contact Olson at (541) 401-4639 or visit http://www.vva-or.org/585.htm. Inquiries may also be directed to PO Box 293, Albany, OR, 97321 or by email at [email protected]. Veterans who did not serve during the Vietnam era are welcome as associate members, Olson said. The organization is always looking for younger members too.