Appeal Tribune Wednesday, November 9, 2016 3A
ODVA shines light on Oregon veterans
CAPI LYNN
STATESMAN JOURNAL
Cameron Smith, director of the Ore-
gon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, de-
livered an early Veterans Day message
on Friday, Nov. 4.
His department serves 326,000 veter-
ans across the state.
“We are one out of every 12 Orego-
nians, and we are a diverse community,”
Smith said. “We are men, and we are
women. We are urban, and we are rural.
We are young and aging. We are gay and
straight, and every ethnicity and every
creed.
“These Oregonians are the motiva-
tion for our work.”
Veterans representing four genera-
tions across five major wars, from World
War II to Iraq-Afghanistan, stood with
Smith in front of the World War I Dough-
boy Statue on the grounds of the ODVA in
Salem.
“We didn’t want to favor any one gen-
eration over the next,” Smith explained
of the location.
The ODVA didn’t intend to play favor-
ites when it came to representing the
branches of service, but three of the six
veterans highlighted during the pro-
gram served in the same branch as
Smith.
“I feel like we’ve got too many Ma-
rines up here,” he joked.
The tone of the event shifted when an
Price
Continued from Page 1A
country where they could run, play and
build forts. ‘If that’s our end goal then
let’s just make it happen now,’ he said to
his wife. ‘We could wait and maybe in 5 or
10 years it could work out in Nashville or
we could move ahead with the life we
want right now.’
While his location may have changed,
Price’s musical focus has not. He is still
writing, playing and pitching songs to
artists. Additionally, he is working with
marketing companies in Portland to net-
work.
“I’m doing that dream of getting
enough irons in the fire,” he said.
While in Nashville, Price recorded six
songs, which he plans to release on an al-
bum in the spring.
“I wrote a ton of songs there, but six I
really felt were me,” Price said. “Some of
the things I wrote on this album feels a
little different. It’s like it’s its own thing.
I want to keep it, not exactly a concept
MOLLY J. SMITH / STATESMAN JOURNAL
Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Cameron Smith talks to World War II Army
nurse Jean Wojnowski on Friday, Nov. 4. Wojnowski served as a nurse in the South Pacific and
recently turned 101 years old.
our veterans and our military families.”
Here’s a snapshot of six of the veter-
ans recognized:
» Jean Wojnowski, who served as an
Army nurse who served in the South Pa-
cific during World War II. She turned 101
in May, and will be a speaker at the state-
wide Veterans Day celebration hosted
by the ODVA at 3 p.m. on Nov. 11 at the
Oregon World War II Memorial in Salem.
» Bob Cassidy, who served in the 1st
Marine Air Wing during the Korean War.
He is president of the Korean War Veter-
ans Association, Oregon Trail Chapter.
» Steve Bobb, who served in the Ma-
rines during the Vietnam War. He is the
Veterans Special Event Board Chair for
the Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde.
» Eric Ensley, who served in the Navy
during Operation Desert Shield/Desert
Storm. He is supervisor of Multnomah
County Veterans’ Services and president
of the Oregon County Veterans Service
Officers Association.
» Rosy Macias, who served in the Ma-
rines as an aviation supply clerk. She is
the veterans outreach coordinator at Sa-
lem Vet Center and an executive mem-
ber of Serving Our Veterans at Home.
» Jerry Glesmann, who served com-
bat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with
the Oregon Army National Guard. He
served for more than 28 years in the
Army and National Guard.
emotional Smith introduced Wendell
Pelham, a Gold Star dad representing
military families. Pelham’s son, Army
Spc. John Pelham, was killed Feb. 12,
2014 in combat operations in Afghani-
stan.
“We know they do not always wear the
uniform, but there is no question that our
military families serve,” Smith said.
“He’s dedicating himself to advocacy for
album, but give it it’s own life.”
After his Nov. 12 show, the musician
will keep things low key through the end
of the year but is looking forward to get-
ting involved in the community, recon-
necting with his fellow northwest musi-
cians, meeting new people, making mu-
sic and having fun together.
“One of the big things I learned in
Nashville, there are so many people
there,” he said, “It’s all about the commu-
nity and your fellow musicians who are
also doing cool stuff. It’s so much more
community versus competition. There
are so many of us, let’s just all be
friends.”
The show will start at 7:30 p.m. Doors
open at 6:30 p.m. and seating is first
come, first seated. While the show does
not have a ticketed price, donations will
be accepted at the door.
Price is asking people to RSVP on the
Facebook
event
page
at
facebook.com/events/1672033069776476
, and also requests that kids younger
than 10 stay home.
Email
cwright2@StatesmanJour-
nal.com, call 503-399-6671, or follow on
Twitter @CarleeWrightSJ
After two years in Nashville, Matthew Price is back and the musician is celebrating his return
with a concert 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Brush Creek Playhouse in Silverton.
COURTESY OF MATTHEW PRICE
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