Veterans
Serving those who served.
The Grange was born in the aftermath of the Civil War.
Recognizing and assisting our veterans is
a Grange tradition, especially the Quilts of
Honor program.
The Veterans Committee works to recognize all veterans. From promoting planned memorials to presenting memorials at the State Convention, they seek to ensure we never forget the sacrifices made by those who served.
The Veterans Committee also provides information to veteran members.
Co-Directors
Patrick Dearth
District 1
Phil Van Buren
District 2
Richard Wyant
District 3
Alan Becker
District 4
Don Kingsborough
District 5
Barbara McCormack
At Large
James Clute
Vets News
You can read Vets News online or have the free publication delivered to your mailbox or email box in May, August and November. Every issue of this publication of the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs features events, legislation, and personal interest articles and lists contact info for the Veteran Service Office in your area.
ODVA Vet News
700 Summer St NE
Salem OR 97301-1285
Phone (503) 373-2390
Email: odvapublicinformation@odva.state.or.us
Have a Question about Veteran’s Benefits?
Whether you served your country more than 70 years ago or have just returned home, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) and Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) statewide stand ready to assist you, answer your questions, help with a new or existing VA claim, or provide other veteran related information. Use the Service Office Locator to find the VSO for your county. The page for your county lists the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the VSOs and their office hours.
Thinking of Donating to a Charity for Veterans
To make sure that every dollar you donation benefits veterans, check the Charity Navigator website.
The Joys of Living Assistance Dogs
The State Grange Veterans Committee supports The Joys of Living Assistance Dogs. For more information, see their website: www.joydogs.org
Executive Director Joy St. Peter wrote former Veterans Committee Director, Mark Schnetzky, “You and the members of the Oregon Grange have given so much to the JLAD organization this year through the outreach at the state meeting as well as the local granges we presented at. It is passionate supporters such as you that make this organization successful for us and the recipients we strive to benefit.”
Veterans Certificates
Certificates to recognize Vietnam veterans can be ordered. To request a certificate, please make sure to include the following information: name of veteran, name of Grange they belong to or who is giving out the certificate, the name of the local Master and Lecturer, the city and town the Grange Veteran is located in and the shipping address. There is no cost to you or your Grange for program material or the certificates. This program is sponsored by Potomac Grange #1. Contact the National Grange Communications Manager at communications@nationalgrange.org or call at 888-4-Grange.
Certificates are available for FREE from the National Grange to recognize veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam and the conflicts not classified as wars during the Cold War Era. Certificates will be available in mid-2017 for Gulf War Veterans and in 2018 for all those serving in the post-9/11 era conflicts/wars. This program is sponsored by Potomac Grange #1 (DC). Informational DVDs are available to explain WWII – what led to the war, the war itself, its toll and its impact on our nation – and the Korean War. DVDs on Vietnam and the Cold War conflicts are expected out in 2017 and Gulf War and Post-9/11 in 2018. These can be used to glean information needed for a great Lecturer’s program or can be an introduction for Junior Grangers and Grange Youth to citizenship and patriotism lessons. Contact the National Grange Lecturer at lecturer@nationalgrange.org or call (202) 628-3507 ext. 102.
Quilts of Valor
The Grange is both a highly patriotic organization and one filled with amazingly talented individuals who understand the power and sentiment of handicrafts such as quilts. As part of our Patriot’s Program, started in 2012, we are encouraging all Granges to identify members who are veterans or active duty service members that were deployed during war time and request for them a Quilt of Valor.
Quilts of Valor are free. They are made by volunteers who seek to “cover service members and veterans touched by war with comfort and healing Quilts of Valor.” After you have submitted a request, or if you know of a Grange member who has received a Quilt of Valor in the past, please contact the National Grange Lecturer at lecturer@nationalgrange.org or call (202) 628-3507 ext. 102 to inform us of your request/the Quilt of Valor already received, the name of the veteran and your Grange’s name.
“All gave some, some gave all.”