Lebanon, Oregon, Mid-Valley Chapter 585: A School of Fish

BY GARY J. SMITH

As a result of research by Tom Owen and George Laswell, two years ago Mid-Valley Chapter 585 in Lebanon, Oregon, realized its goal to provide $45,000 to establish the Linn County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Scholarship Fund at Linn Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon. The goal we set was higher than those of several large, national corporations, some of which have followed our lead. The interest generated by the fund is used to provide grants to veterans or their dependents, with Vietnam veterans having preference. Recently, the Chapter’s Board of Directors approved a new goal: $60,000. To date, we have raised $51,000.

Not content to rest on their laurels, chapter members also decided that they wanted to do something that would be of direct and immediate benefit to veterans. After much thought and debate, we decided we would research the idea of building a wheelchair-accessible fishing dock to which we could invite patients in VA hospitals for a day of recreation. A Dock Committee, chaired by Alden Carrell, took on the task.

We found a landowner with a large ranch located in the mid-Willamette Valley. Nestled on the property in the middle of a stand of 70-year-old timber was a crystal-clear, three-acre, well-stocked trout pond.

It took a year of intense discussions and negotiation, but a lease was finally signed by Chapter 585 and the landowner. The agreement stipulated that only disabled veterans are allowed to fish in the pond.

We entertained the idea of building a fishing platform ourselves, but abandoned the idea as overly zealous. Instead, we contracted with Smoker Craft, builders of high quality fishing boats, to construct the dock at cost. That way, too, we could receive the Coast Guard seal of approval.

The eight-foot-wide aluminum dock stretches fifty-four feet out into the pond. There’s a wheelchair ramp to shore and aluminum benches that double as storage for safety gear. The total cost of the pier was $13,600. We received $8,000 in donations. Chapter 585 members raised additional funds with a variety of projects, including food sales, cleaning abandoned and foreclosed housing for realtors, and supervising parking at the annual Lebanon Strawberry Festival (14,000 cars in three days).

On September 8, 2011, the first group of veterans arrived from the Roseburg VAMC to participate in the dedication ceremony of the facility and to fish. Not only was the dock brand new, Cabela’s of Springfield, Oregon, donated brand new fishing gear. Later in the afternoon, Chapter members fired up their grills, and everyone got to enjoy their catch fresh-grilled—thanks to head cook Tony Pickens and everyone else who pitched in.

“I have rarely seen such huge smiles like our guests had on their faces,” said Chapter 585 President Ric Olson, who had spearheaded the dock construction.

A new veterans assisted-care facility is being built in Lebanon. That facility, like the Roseburg and Portland VA Hospitals, will be sending veterans to our pond. Oregon Director of Veterans Affairs Jim Willis said, “This project is the most progressive veterans project for vets that I have ever seen.”

I look at my fellow chapter members with pride, and I am proud to be a member of VVA Chapter 585. On March 29, the Chapter will host another group of veterans from the Roseburg VAMC—the first of four dates reserved for this year.

Gary J. Smith is the Communications Officer for Mid-Valley Chapter 585. He can be reached at P.O. Box 293, Albany, OR 97321 or by email at gjs659@centurytel.com