Street roots., February 03, 2012, Page 4, Image 4

Street roots
Feb. 3,2012
M E M O R IA M , fro m page 1
Guard and the U.S. Navy presented Roy’s
flag to 12-year-old Nick Henry, a member
of the Civil Air Patrol. The Multnomah
County Medical Examiner’s office was
unable to locate any family members for
Roy.
Roy is just one memorial for the nearly
67,500 homeless veterans, according to the
Department of Housing and Urban
Development 2011 count, a reduction of
about 8,000 since 2009. That was the year
that Veterans Affairs launched ah initiative
to end homelessness among veterans
within five years.
According to the VA, about 1.5 million
veterans are at risk of becoming homeless
due to poverty, a lack of a support network,
and overcrowded or substandard housing.
The situation is compounded by a lack of
affordable housing, post traumatic stress
disorder, substance abuse and the
disconnect with non-military networks, the
VA says.
P H O T O S B Y K E N H A W K IN S
To left, young members in the Civil A ir Patrol attend the funeral o f Stevenson L. Roy, a homeless Vietnam veteran. Above left, the emblem of the
Patriot Guard Riders. Above right, the procession to Willamette National Cemetery where Roy was buried as the 1,000th veteran served by the
Dignity Memorial Homeless Veterans B urial Program.
Why?
By Pat Kiser
She always wore that long black coat
As if it was enough
To hide that she was there.
Her quiet demeanor,
Ever so polite and unassuming,
Might lead one to perceive her as shy.
I have seen her many times now
She speaks to me occasionally,
Now I know her name
I wonder what her story is;
What haunts her.
I suspect she’s not shy after all
That her coat is actually a cloak.
Meet Your Local Branch Manager:
“Communities aren’t ju s t streets and build­
ings. Communities are thriving places
where cultures, commerce a n d souls grow
stronger together ”
Mary Edmeades
Social impact Banking
503.445.2155
medmeades@albinabank.com
I don’t see her anymore
It saddens me.
I wish I had done more
‘Why’ can’t I remember her name?
Street Roots is a proud partner
with Jesuit Volunteer
Corps Northwest and
Americorps.
NORTHWEST
i
s*
At Albina Community Bank the most ordinary
financial transaction can have an extraordinary
impact on our local community.
You’re going to bank somewhere,
why not let your banking make a difference in
P^aces where you live and work?
LENDER
The more a person loves
themselves and takes
themselves seriously,
chances are the people
you come across will do
the same as well. ”
— Marlon Crump
Street Roots Vendor