Events / News

Latest Articles on Memorial Project -  Local Newspapers

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081009/NEIGHBORS02/810080408/-1/NEIGHBORS 

http://presspublications.com/index.php/component/content/article/716-oregons-vietnam-memorial-will-be-dedicated-oct-18-

Note:  There is one typo in the story, in the second paragraph it should read [ formally ] instead of [ ormally ].

http://presspublications.com/index.php/from-the-press/660-bike-rally-will-benefit-oregon-vietnam-memorial-project 

( Note there is one slight error. The Honor Ride and Dedication Ceremony is October 18, 2008, not October 8th. )

 

Tammi Swartz, President of the Clay High Alumni & Friends Assoc. presents a check

to Bob Bodi & George Sternberg, (Clay grads who served in Vietnam) for the Memorial Project. 

On hand were numerous Veterans of the Vietnam War and Alumni Association Members.

Don Von Tress Lends a Hand & Bike Rally Planned

 

Don Von Tress, a 1966 Clay High School graduate and 101st ABN Vietnam War Veteran, who is a twice-nominated Grammy Award country music songwriter, has answered the call on behalf of Oregon & Jerusalem Township Vietnam Veterans.  A classmate and friend of several of the men who lost their lives in Vietnam, Don has supported this project both financially and in bringing WKKO's Cliff Smithers (K-100 radio on-air personality) on board.  Joining forces we are proud to announce a BIKE RALLY will be held on Saturday, September 27, at the Buffalo Wild Wings in Oregon.  See the 9/27 Bike Rally page on this web site.

Trivia:  Did you know Don Von Tress is credited with writing the Billy Ray Cyrus 1992 mega-hit "Achy Breaky Heart" ? Don toured with Bill Ray for seven years before leaving to continue his songwriting and recording on his own. ~ (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.)

Article appears in THE BLADE, Toledo's daily newspaper: (click on link)

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080731/NEIGHBORS02/807300333/-1/NEIGHBORS

More News:

The Oregon Board of Education voted to accept our memorial and allow for the placement of it within the Clay High School Memorial Stadium, at their meeting Monday, July 14, 2008.  The Oregon Vietnam Memorial Group has a design that is being finalized.  The monument will be of American Black Granite that comes from the State of Pennsylvania.  It will be five feet tall, have the country of Vietnam engraved into the stone along with a UH-1 Huey helicopter.  The names of each of the eight servicemen who lost their lives in Vietnam will appear on the monument with the branch of our military they served in. Equally important will be the inscription that the memorial is to honor all men and women, from Oregon and Jerusalem Township, who served in the Vietnam War.

Initially, the committee had sought to raise $3,000.00 to fund this project but are now in the midst of trying to raise $7,000.00 to fully fund the memorial and ceremony.  With the Clay High School Memorial Stadium location having been selected, the site allows for a larger memorial.  Being able to place a larger memorial is the reason for the fund raising goal being increased.  

Members of our group staffed a booth at the City of Oregon festival on May 18th. Dressed in army tiger striped uniforms, our Vietnam Veterans met with fellow veterans, family members of veterans, and citizens telling them of this project.  The response was overwhelmingly positive and some folks made financial donations to the cause, that day.  Family members of several of the soldiers who died in Vietnam stopped by to express their gratitude to the committee members and veterans working on this memorial. Their visit and kind words serve as an inspiration to the committee to continue this mission.

Call Out to All Oregon & Jerusalem Township Veterans

If you served in the Vietnam War or if you know someone who served in the Vietnam War, we would like to hear from you.  Please use our "Contact Us Page" and send us an email. 

This summer, our group will be assisting the Oregon-Jerusalem Historical Society ( www.ojhs.org ) in acquiring items for a Vietnam War Exhibit to compliment the military section of the local historical museum.  Local Vietnam Vets who have photographs of their service time in Vietnam or military portraits of themselves will be able to come to the museum and have the photos digitally scanned for the exhibit.  Family members of the veterans will also be able to do the same so their loved one is remembered as having served their country.  The historical society will also be accepting military items / artifacts from the Vietnam War for the exhibit.  Watch for further announcements on this web site and the historical society's web site as well as in The Press & The Blade newspapers, this summer.