OWVA's Veteran's Ball Deemed a Success

On Friday, November 16, 2007, OWVA held it's first Mayoral Veteran's Ball in the Salem Convention Center, co- hosted by Salem Mayor Janet Taylor.  More than 200 veterans, members and supporters attended the Ball and preceding VIP reception, despite a late winter storm and football related -I-5 Traffic jams.

The major sponsor of the event was TRIWEST Healthcare Alliance, whose president, Dr. Kenneth L. Farmer spoke to the group about their frequent partnerships with charitable organizations like OWVA and reflected on the family-support aspects of their organization.  Earlier in the day, Dr. Farmer presented the Oregon National Guard a check for $25,000.00 to be used toward their family support programs.

Executive Director, Greg Warnock agreed that while many of the people who said they would attend were not able to, the event was still a success, "especially since this was our first large public event," he said to members of the media who also attended, and "I already look forward to next year's celebration!"

During the event, Mayor Taylor shared her appreciation for the programs and projects OWVA has been involved with in the past several years, and then introduced Greg Warnock, who in turn surprised Mayor Taylor with their Citizenship Award, for her promotions of OWVA's charitable programs.

Warnock later reported to the OWVA board of directors that, "despite several last minute problems, what matters the most is that our guests had a good time, our awards were wonderfully received, and members of our community see that OWVA is making a real difference in the lives of thousands of Oregonians."

Two of the awards honored Jake DeShazer, Oregon's Doolittle Raider, who returned to Japan after being held as a POW during WWII.  OWVA's DeShazer award was given to Del Smith, McMinnville, OR (Evergreen Aviation International), and Dennis Guthrie of Redmond, OR (Oregon State VFW).  The DeShazer award is given to former combat veterans, who spend a significant amount of their post-war, civilian lives in some sort of charitable or humanitarian service. 

"Our commendations are more than superlative- they are sincere and represent the appreciation we feel for their dedication to those who suffer in the world," Warnock said to the group during his comments about the Award.

The DeShazer Award is custom crafted from Oregon Myrtlewood and includes a brass clock on the front and a bronze eagle mounted at the top.

Two other awards were presented during the evening:  OWVA's Military Leadership Award, given to Brigadier Generals Doug Pritt, of Oregon's 41st CIB (Afghanistan), and Mike Caldwell, Deputy Director of the Oregon Military Department.

OWVA's Exemplary Veteran Service Award was given to Jim Willis, Director, Oregon Department of Veteran Affairs, for his many decades of service to veterans and to Mac MacDonald, of the Unified Veterans Groups of Oregon, for his many years of dedicated legislative and patriotic services.

OWVA has partnered with We Care Oregon, a community based- charitable foundation to help them with next year's Veteran's Ball- to be held in October 2008.