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ne-wsed@clackamas.edu
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The Clackamas Print 3
iRMY: Soldiers
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Brian Baldwin Clackamas Print
tn and Jessica Epp share a moment before the beginning of the Army Strong Community Center grand opening on Saturday, May 14 in the Gregory
on the Clackamas Community College Oregon City campus. Staff Sergeant Epp is a soldier in the First infantry Division.
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fortunately this new community center is only one of four
entire nation and is having trouble expanding due to a
1 budget
money was no object, everybody would have access to an
Strong Community Center just like the local post office,”
aura Stultz. “We’d like to have some more pilots at VA
i. VA hospitals, VA centers and we’re even looking at a
e general echoed his wife’s sentiments but emphasized
ese centers need to be fiscally efficient, and that’s where
nmunity involvement comes in.
you can put an outreach 1 ike this where the community
: is giving the space and I’m spending money on two
to be there, it’s pretty efficient,” said Jack Stultz. “We’ve
get the military and the government to realize ‘Wow, this
tty efficient operation.’”
The general hopes that once they realize how valuable
this program is, the government or the military will help fund
the program to fill in the “white space” where Army Strong
Commun ity Centers are needed across the country. The ASCC
will be focusing next on heavy population centers of soldiers in
California, Texas and Florida according to the general.
As Jack Stultz stated at the ribbon cutting ceremony, the
ASCC has had success in the past and continues to do so, includ-
ing the story of one army wife that had left her home at Fort
Lewis to live in North Carolina because of the reports of heavy
casualties coming in about her husband’s unit overseas. She had
gone to the ASCC in Brevard, N.C. to see if they could help her
with her problem.
The center was able to help her find out that her husband
was coming home the following month, but she had no money
with which to return home. “Within a matter of hours she had
her plane tickets because the community was plugged in,” said
Jack Stultz.
Another story that the general highlighted was that an unem
ployed veteran who requested help in CCC’s center. He was
seeking support for his family as he had two kids and his wife
was expecting a third. Barbara McCain and Paul Teters, the two
coordinators in Clackamas’ center, were able to indentify that
he was eligible for the GJ. Bill and a number of benefits that
Oregon provides for veterans. Now he will be going to CCC in
the spring, have his education paid for and will have money,to
help support his family.
Cody McCain is a former student of Clackamas who is
currently living in North Carolina now that he is enlisted. His
mother is one of the two employees for the ASCC at the college.
“It’s a great thing for the people here who are trying to take
advantage of the things the Army does for the families that are
back home when their guys are deployed,” said Cody McCain.
“I’m really proud of my mom. She’s doing wonderful things for
the soldiers and their families back home.”
Truesdell said that her ultimate vision for the center would be
to ensure that everybody who is a veteran or active duty person
nel and their families knows there is help.
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