4
Wednesday, June 8, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Local man returns from Honor Flight
By Craig rullman
Correspondent
Gordon Halsten of Sisters,
93, who served in the U.S.
Coast Guard from 1941-45
and was stationed at Sitka and
Ketchikan, Alaska, as well as
San Pedro, California, recent-
ly joined with other World
War II veterans on an Honor
Flight visit to Washington,
D.C., where they visited the
World War II memorial, the
U.S. Capitol, and numerous
other memorials including the
Iwo Jima Memorial, where
they enjoyed a special pre-
sentation by the United States
Marine Corps Silent Drill
Platoon.
A t t h e Wo r l d Wa r
II Memorial, the veter-
ans were greeted by U.S.
Representative Greg
Walden, who read a state-
ment that he had read into the
Congressional Record the day
prior, honoring each veteran
by name for their service.
At the Lincoln Memorial
the veterans joined together
to sing a rousing rendition of
“God Bless America.”
At the U.S. Capitol, where
they were given a special tour,
the veterans were greeted by
Senator Jeff Merkley, who
read a moving tribute.
The veterans were received
well everywhere they went.
On the flight to D.C., the pilot
announced: “We have special
guests flying with us today
— they are World War II vet-
erans and they are the reason
you’re not speaking German
or Japanese!”
Deborah Halsten, who ac-
companied her father on the
trip, told The Nugget that the
entire plane “erupted into
applause.”
On the return flight, a
flight attendant made an
announcement.
“Calling all WWII veter-
ans—it’s MAIL CALL!”
The veterans then received
a personalized envelope full
of thank-you notes, cards, and
letters, written by school kids
from Oregon.
The trip culminated in
Portland, where, Deborah
recalled, the veterans were
greeted with “a full comple-
ment of honor-guard details
from every branch of service,
including a Marine play-
ing bagpipes, and another
unit of Marines who greeted
each veteran with a warm
‘Welcome home, soldier!’ and
escorted the vets through a
large crowd of well-wishers.”
Back at the hotel, where
the staff never failed to greet
the veterans at the door, wav-
ing flags, holding signs, and
cheering, each veteran was
presented with a handmade
photo provided
deborah and gordon halsten with rep. greg Walden at the World War II
Memorial in Washington, d.C.
quilt made by the Quilts of Honor Flight Network, the
Valor organization.
Honor Flights are designed to
Deborah told The Nugget, honor World War II veterans
“It was indeed the trip of by taking them to Washington,
a lifetime and one that re- D.C., and specifically to visit
stored our faith in the ordi- the National World War II
nary Americans’ sense of pa- Memorial. HFEO is managed
triotism and gratitude for the by the nonprofit Bend Heroes
Greatest Generation. We only Foundation.
wish every veteran could ex-
To date, approximately
perience such an outpouring 170,000 WWII veterans from
of love and appreciation, par- across the country have par-
ticularly the Vietnam vets and ticipated in the program,
also the ‘forgotten’ Korean which was launched 11 years
War veterans.”
ago. World War II veterans
Sponsored by Honor travel free of charge, in ap-
Flights of Eastern Oregon preciation for their service.
(HFEO), which covers all 17 More information about
counties east of the Cascade these flights can be found at
Mountains, and is one of 137 www.honorflight.org and
regions participating in the www.bendheroes.org.
SATURDAY, JUNE 11
9:30 a.m. to Noon
During and after the rodeo parade.
10% OFF for fi rst-time customers!
at 102 E. Main Ave. | 541-549-4151
541-588-6611
Come in, Relax, Enjoy!
The toughest and fastest
p
plumbers
in the business!
Presented by Sisters Feed &
Harmony Farm Sanctuary
Tim Westcott
Ronnica Westcott
Jenny Duey
Mary Morgan
220 W. Cascade Ave.
BEND (AP) — Authorities
identified the man who was
fatally shot in a Bend muse-
um Tuesday, May 31.
Deschutes County District
Attorney John Hummel says
36-year-old Nicholas Berger
was shot after Berger alleged-
ly held a knife to a woman’s
throat and threatened to kill
her inside the High Desert
Museum.
Hummel says Berger
grabbed a 38-year-old
woman working in the muse-
um gift shop. A struggle fol-
lowed as the woman fought
Berger while being forced
through various exhibit halls.
Approximately 30 other mu-
seum-goers were in the vicin-
ity of the incident, some of
whom Hummel says tried to
help the employee.
Police say she was able to
get away from Berger before
police encountered him. An
Oregon State Police trooper
used a Taser and then fired
three shots at Berger.
Berger died at the scene.
A major crimes team is
investigating.
Call the Cowboys at Sweeney Plumbing
Free!
Come In…
Relax…Enjoy!
authorities
identify man
killed by
police
541-549-4349
260 N. Pine St., Sisters
Licensed • Bonded • Insured • CCB#87587
er
Cov
No
RODEO
DANCE!
Wednesday after
Xtreme Bulls ‘til 1 am
Live music with
Rowdy McCarran
Band
541-549-6114 • Sisters
Corner of Main & Larch
www.hardtailsoregon.com
Facebook HardtailsOregon
LIVE MUSIC
IN THE RODEO
PARTY TENT!
AFTER-RODEO
PARTIES!
Ride the Bull Fri-Sat Night
$3 - 16 oz. Beer
Wed-Thurs-Fri-Sat!
June 8th-11th • 10 pm
Rowdy McCarran
Band
Every Night
Locals’ Night
Thurs., June 9th
8:30 pm
Nashville’s
Love & Theft