Scrapbook Page - Photos and Highlights of Recent VVA 392 Events
Transition from Agent Orange Town Halls
The year 2025 marked a turning point for VVA Chapter 392. Prior to the Covid pandemic we had held one or two Agent Orange Town Halls a year. These were very successful, featured national and local speakers, and drew over 100 attendees per event. These events were canceled between 2020 and 2023 due to the Covid outbreak. Once Covid was over, we resumed having the town halls, but had poor attendance. When fewer than 10 signed up for the last event after Covid it was apparent that these had run their course. That's when we began thinking of other ways we could reach out to the public.
The New Program: Community Outreach Events
We learned that Chapter 271 in Salem was having events at local Bi-Mart stores, and they reported great success. These were primarily fundraising events. In 2024 we began development of a similar concept for Chapter 392. The primary goals were:
- Increase community awareness of Vietnam Veterans of America - who we are and what we do.
- Award Vietnam War 50th anniversary commemoration pins to eligible veterans, personally thanking them and welcoming them home.
- Distribute literature and answer questions about Agent Orange, toxic exposure in later wars, PTSD, etc.
- Answer questions about veterans disability claims and benefits.
To gear up for these events we purchased several tables, tablecloths, a pop-up shelter, folding chairs, and literature racks. We also stocked up on literature to be handed out. The concept was previewed at one of our chapter meetings in the fall of 2024 (see photo at right).
We contacted Bi-Mart and with their permission scheduled monthly events at different stores In 2025. We ended up holding 7 events between March and October.
The public response at these events far exceeded our expectations. Besides giving out numerous publications, answering questions and awarding 50th Anniversary awards, we received numerous "thank yous" from the public. These events proved to be much more personal and rewarding for us than the Agent Orange town halls. We are currently planning for our 2026 program.
A Big "Thank You!" to Bi-Mart
We want to extend our sincere thanks to Bi-Mart for allowing us to have these events hosted at their stores. We were impressed every month by the support we received from Bi-Mart employees. They were enthusiastic supporters and many were veterans themselves.
Oregon veterans dedicated the nation’s first border-to-border POW/MIA Memorial Highway in a series of ceremonies across the state on September 18, 2020 - National POW/MIA Recognition Day. The designation of U.S. Highway 26 honors 920 Oregon prisoners of war, including 135 civilians, 999 Oregon military veterans and one civilian listed as missing in action. The project was spearheaded by Dick Tobiason, chairman of the Bend Heroes Foundation.
Chapter 392 helped organize one of these events which was held in Boring, Oregon. The ceremony was hosted at Jaycee Newman Nursery and organized by the Vietnam Veterans of America Oregon State Council and its Portland Chapter 392. The Sandy Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4273 and its auxiliary assisted. The ceremony location was adjacent to the Highway 26/Highway 212 interchange, where the two Boring signs were installed (eastbound and westbound).
Clackamas County Commissioners Paul Savas and Sonya Fischer were in attendance along with representatives from the American Legion Department of Oregon, Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Oregon and its auxiliary, Vietnam Veterans of America and the National League of POW-MIA Families.
Steve Bates of the Boring Committee on Memorials and Remembrance served as the master of ceremonies of the event. "May these signs cause honor and remembrance of the missing and their families and may these signs cause a greater knowledge and remembrance of the missing," Bates said.
Dick Lovegren, the Oregon coordinator for the National League of POW-MIA Families, gave a presentation at the ceremony. Lovegren's brother is still missing in Vietnam.
Members of VVA Chapter 392 and friends gathered at Willamette National Cemetery on February 4, 2020 to say farewell to Gary Douglas. Gary passed away on January 5 following a long and heroic battle with cancer. Gary was a board member of Chapter 392 and a friend to all who met him. Gary's ashes were interred along with those of his wife Jeanine.
Vietnam War Memorial Dedication - Boring, Oregon
On September 21, 2018 Chapter 392 participated at the dedication ceremony for the Vietnam War Memorial in Boring, Oregon.
It was a beautiful late summer day as the crowd gathered at Boring Station Trailhead Park for the ceremony.
This memorial honors the 41 servicemen from Clackamas County, Oregon who lost their lives in Vietnam. Chapter 392 was a co-sponsor of the memorial.
As part of the ceremony, we presented Vietnam 50th Anniversary commemorative pins and certificates to 30 veterans in the audience.
Veterans Day 2018
On November 11, 2018 Chapter 392 revisited the memorial to honor area veterans. We laid a wreath at the memorial and saluted the fallen with a Taps salute and gave out 50th anniversary pins to local Vietnam era veterans.
Photo of Taps ceremony on Veterans Day at the Boring Memorial. At the left is Steve Bates, the head of the group behind the memorial. Saluting at the right are Chapter officers Steve Carr, Larry Cranford and Dudley Redhead.
Former Chapter President Gary McAdams poses in front of the new Vietnam War memorial in Canby at the dedication ceremony.
The 2008 National Defense Authorization Act authorized the Secretary of Defense to conduct a program to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The commemorative program includes activities and ceremonies to achieve the following objectives:
- To thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam War, including personnel who were held as prisoners of war (POW), or listed as missing in action (MIA), for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States and to thank and honor the families of these veterans.
- To highlight the service of the Armed Forces during the Vietnam War and the contributions of Federal agencies and governmental and non-governmental organizations that served with, or in support of, the Armed Forces.
- To pay tribute to the contributions made on the home front by the people of the United States during the Vietnam War.
- To highlight the advances in technology, science, and medicine related to military research conducted during the Vietnam War.
- To recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by the allies of the United States during the Vietnam War.
VVA Chapter 392 is proud to be a commemorative partner in this program.
VVA 392 Board member Jesus Montes presents the Vietnam 50th Anniversary pin and certificate to chapter member Boyd Yaden at the Oregon Veterans home in Lebanon.
