Union electricians, contractors come
to the aid of family of fallen soldier
VANCOUVER — Nearly two
dozen members of the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Local 48 volunteered a Saturday to
wire a house being built for the
family of a Vancouver soldier
killed in Iraq.
Jeremiah Johnson, a 2001 grad-
uate of Prairie High School, died
Jan. 5, 2007 — 10 days after a
Humvee he and two other soldiers
were riding in crashed into a canal
in Baghdad. All three soldiers of
the Army’s 3rd Battalion, 509th
Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th
Brigade Combat Team (Airborne),
25th Infantry Division were killed.
Johnson is survived by his wife,
Gale, 24, and two children, Isaiah,
6, and Rya, 3.
To help the family, longtime
friend and homebuilder Steve
Staudinger formed a foundation —
“Jeremiah’s House — to raise
money to build them a home.
Local 48 learned of the project
and word went out for volunteers.
“We probably had 100 guys offer
to help,” said Greg Parson.
“It’s what we as union members
fight for every day, the American
Dream of owning your own home,”
said Terry Reigle, a Local 48 or-
ganizer.
Union contractors donated ma-
terial and within six hours the
1,700 square-foot-home at 2719
125th Court was completely wired.
Estimated cost for a wiring project
this size was estimated at $10,000.
“This is a hell of a good Satur-
day morning for me,” said Danny
Gibbs, a veteran and Local 48
member. “We should do this for the
families of every soldier who does-
n’t come home.”
Labor Bowl for
MDA April 27
The 19th annual Labor Bowl Chal-
lenge to benefit the Muscular Dystro-
phy Association (MDA) will be held
Sunday, April 27, from 1 to 4 p.m. at
Cascade Lanes, 2700 NE 82nd Ave.,
Portland. Registration starts at noon.
Money raised from pledges and a
silent auction helps provide wheel-
chairs and braces for youngsters,
medical care, research and summer
camps.
Pledge packets are available at the
Northwest Oregon Labor Council or
by calling Tor at MDA at 503-223-
3177. For more information, call
Kelly Pendell, a member of Letter
Carriers Branch 82 and coordinator of
the event, at 503-493-5903.
(ABOVE LEFT) Jeremiah
Johnson with his wife,
Gale, and children Isaiah
and Rya. Johnson was
killed while serving in the
Army in Iraq.
(BELOW LEFT) Steve
Rushing (left) and Danny
Gibbs of Capitol Electric
help wire home being built
for Johnson’s family.
The crew of 23 volunteers
— 18 journeymen and five
apprentices — take a break
for a group photo.
Rain Forest Boots
Made in America!
Try a pair on, you’ll like them.
Tough boots for the Northwest.
AL’S SHOES
5811 SE 82nd, Portland 503-771-2130
Mon-Fri 10-7:30 Sat 10-5:30 Sun 12-6
Michael E. Hardeman, Business Representative
Sign & Display Local 510
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Labor Management Trust Services
Stephen Heady, Vice President, (503) 450-1270
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Visit us at unionbank.com
MARCH 21, 2008
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
©2007 Union Bank of California, N.A. Member FDIC
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