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3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2016 Highway becomes a memorial to Middle East vets ‘Never going to forget’ Latest sign unveiled at Camp Rilea By ERICK BENGEL The Daily Astorian WARRENTON — When Oregon House Bill 2036 be- came law last spring, U.S. Highway 101 became a 338-mile-long memorial to the veterans who served in the Gulf War, the War in Afghani- stan and the Iraq War. But the highway signs honoring the state’s youngest veterans have only just started appearing. 7KH ¿UVW RI SODQQHG VLJQV ² ¿YH IDFLQJ QRUWK- bound and six southbound — went up last month near the south end of Warrenton. And the second sign — soon to be installed near Arch Cape — was unveiled Satur- day morning during an indoor dedication ceremony at Camp Rilea headquarters before a roomful of veterans, their families, local dignitaries and supporters. “Oregon is a great state for honoring veterans,” said Dick Tobiason, a Vietnam War vet- eran and chairman of the non- SUR¿W %HQG +HURHV )RXQGD- tion, which has led the charge to designate the state’s scenic highways as veterans memo- rial highways. Erick Bengel/The Daily Astorian Retired Lt. Cmdr. Marc Warren, left, and Andrea Larson Perez, right, assisted by service members, unveil the latest U.S. Highway 101 sign honoring the U.S. veterans who have served in wars since 1990. Perez, who wrote a book on Camp Rilea, paid for the first sign, installed last month. Honoring the living The state law also desig- nated U.S. Highway 395 as World War I Veterans Memo- rial Highway, and Interstate 5 as Korean War Veterans Me- morial Highway and Purple Heart Trail. They join U.S. Highway 97 and Interstate 84 — known as World War II Veterans Historic Highway and the Vietnam Veterans Me- morial Highway — as a way to recognize veterans from border to border. Of the 331,600 veterans liv- ing in Oregon — almost 1 in 12 Oregonians — nearly 90,000 served in the Persian Gulf, Af- ghanistan or Iraq wars, includ- ing more than 4,000 now living in Clatsop County, according to the Oregon Department of Vet- erans Affairs. The idea behind the High- way 101 signs — which read “Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Veterans Memorial High- way” — is to honor the veter- ans who served in the Middle East while most of the men and woman are still alive. However, “these are not just Oregon veterans we honor with these highway signs,” Tobiason said. Rather, the signs belong to any U.S. soldier who fought in the great wars of the last century. “That’s for everybody.” Ten years ago, Tobiason and Bob Maxwell — a 95-year-old WWII veteran and the nation’s most senior living Medal of Honor recipient, who now re- sides in Bend — set out to create a war memorial highway for ev- ery war from WWI onward, rep- resenting the roughly 480,000 Oregonians who served in them. After meetings with three governors, working with leg- islators and partnering with the state Department of Transporta- tion and other veterans organiza- tions, the vision is almost fully realized. “We’re never going to for- get any veteran in Oregon that served during war,” Tobiason said. “These highways will make sure that they’re honored and (let) the public know we care about them.” Though veterans groups have donated to the signage SURMHFWWKH%HQG+HURHV)RXQ- dation wants county commis- sioners to publicly support the signs. “County commissioners speak for their citizens,” Tobi- ason said. “We’d rather have citizens honoring veterans than veterans paying to honor them- selves.” The signs — each one 4 feet high by 8 feet wide — cost $900 to fabricate and install. The foundation needs between DQGWR¿QLVKWKH signage for highways 101 and 395. 7KHPRQH\IRUWKH¿UVW&ODW- sop County sign came from Andrea Larson Perez, wife of former Camp Rilea Post Com- mander Dean Perez and author of a book on the camp’s histo- U\7KHFLW\RI:DUUHQWRQ9): Post 10580 and Astoria resident Gordon Treber Sr., the father of Sgt. James Treber, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2008, paid for the second. Public thanks State Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas, the chairman of the Veterans and Emergency Pre- paredness Committee, wrote for the occasion: “Dedicating roadways in honor of veterans is a small gesture with a large pur- pose: it is one of the most public ways a society can remember its veterans and say ‘thank you.’” Veterans who served during both wartime and peacetime are memorialized on Oregon’s highways by the Blue Star Me- morial Highway signs posted at rest stops. Rob Walker, a veteran of Iraq and director of the Bend Heroes )RXQGDWLRQ WHVWL¿HG DERXW WKH project in Salem. When he va- cations at the Oregon Coast with his wife and 7-month-old son, Jack, the signs will remind him and his family that the state cares about his service, he said. “I’m going to be extremely proud when (Jack) sees it and understands what it means, not only to me but to him as well,” Walker said. Project Homeless Connect serves as a crucial lifeline for homeless Annual event connects homeless, near- homeless to resources By KATHERINE LACAZE EO Media Group SEASIDE — How does a homeless person cash a check, get immunizations or stay fed? Clatsop Community Ac- tion is hosting the seventh annual Project Homeless Connect Jessica Maclay Memorial from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 29 to help those in need get connected to in- formation, resources and services. Assistance will be available to connect partic- ipants to housing, mail ser- YLFHIRRGVWDPSVLGHQWL¿FD- tion, Social Security, mental health services, employment, education and legal aid. More than 40 nonprof- it, governmental and faith- based agencies will attend the event at the Seaside Con- vention Center and provide services including medical screenings, hearing tests, eye exams, immunizations, haircuts, personal care items, clothing vouchers and a hot meal. “It’s a venue to make it easy for people who are look- ing for services to get them,” Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian Kallie Linder, from Salon Boheme, cuts Mark Jenkin’s hair during the Project Homeless Connect event at the Seaside Convention Center last year. and to recognize her dedica- tion and compassionate ser- vice to others. )RU &ODWVRS &RPPXQL- ty Action, winter is the best time to host the event be- cause the organization gets the most participation from those needing and seeking services, Bruce said. In fact, she added, “it seems like the worse the weather, the better the participation.” People have more urgency to seek resources during the winter, when the weather is rainy and cold. Different stations About 200 people attend Clatsop Community Action which is becoming more the event seeking at least one common among youth in service. Director Elaine Bruce said. The Sunset Empire Trans- the county. In 2015, Clatsop 3DUWLFLSDQWV¿UVWFKHFNLQ portation District designated County recorded 517 home- and have a preliminary dis- Jan. 29 as a Ridership Appre- less families and 1,005 indi- cussion with Clatsop Com- ciation Day. All bus services viduals. Of those, 278 people munity Action staff about in Clatsop County will be at were younger than 18. what they’re looking for. no cost to riders for the entire Volunteers then lead the par- day, making it easier for peo- Nationwide initiative ticipants to different stations ple to access the event even Project Homeless Con- where they can talk to staff if they are not from Seaside. QHFW IRXQGHG LQ 6DQ )UDQ- members from the various “Homeless and especial- cisco in 2004, is now a na- agencies and organizations ly near-homeless people — tionwide initiative that takes or receive the services they those at imminent risk of place in a numerous cities. need, becoming homeless — are The individual events vary in “It’s a real fun event,” encouraged to attend this free size, content and frequency, Bruce said, adding it also event,” according to a news but have the same goals. provides a chance for the dif- release from Clatsop Com- ,Q )HEUXDU\ ferent community partners to munity Action. 30-year-old Jessica Maclay, network. “Not one single en- There are many ways to the originator and organizer tity can do everything.” GH¿QH KRPHOHVVQHVV %UXFH RI&ODWVRS&RXQW\¶V¿UVWWZR Clatsop Community Ac- said, and it includes people Project Homeless Connect tion is in need of 100 vol- living with others or at mo- events, died from injuries unteers to help with the pro- tels or hotels because they sustained in a car accident gram. To sign up, contact lost their own housing or near Seaside. The local event Viviana Matthews at 503- those who are doubled up, was renamed in her memory 325-1400, ext. 1031. Call for supplies as standoff enters second week from many local residents and from Oregon’s governor, among others. He has said the group will leave when there is a plan to transfer control of federal land to locals. So far, the authorities have By RICK BOWMER not moved in to remove Bun- Associated Press dy’s group. Ammon Bundy BURNS — The occu- is the son of rancher Cliven pation of national wildlife Bundy, who was involved in area by a small, armed group a 2014 Nevada standoff with upset over federal land poli- the government over grazing cies stretched into its second rights. On Saturday, Ammon week as the mother of the group’s leader asked sup- Bundy’s mother, Carol Bun- porters to send supplies — dy, sent an email to support- everything from warm blan- ers asking them to send her son’s group supplies from a kets to coffee creamer. The group that seized the list of more than 80 items, in- Malheur National Wildlife cluding sleeping bags, wool Refuge in Oregon’s high des- socks, cigarettes, toiletries, ert country on Jan. 2 planned IRRGFRIIHHDQG³)UHQFK9D- QR PHGLD EULH¿QJV ,W ZDV nilla Creamer.” An Oregon state legislator quiet at the entrance to the met with the group on Satur- refuge Sunday. The leader of the occupa- day, despite requests from lo- tion, Ammon Bundy, has re- FDORI¿FLDOVWKDWKHQRWGRVR State Rep. Dallas Heard, peatedly rejected calls to leave buildings at the refuge despite a Republican from Roseburg, pleas from the county sheriff, talked with the group, The Militants decline local calls to leave Oregonian reported. Heard’s legislative district is in west- ern Oregon, outside the area where the standoff is occur- ring. Rep. Cliff Bentz, the Republican state representa- tive whose district includes the wildlife refuge, told Heard not to come because it would be “inappropriate.” Harney County Judge Steven Grasty, another lo- FDO RI¿FLDO VD\V KH WRR DG- vised Bentz against the visit. *UDVW\ VDLG %HQW] DQG ¿YH other out-of-state elected RI¿FLDOV IURP :DVKLQJWRQ state, Idaho and Nevada ac- companied Heard. It wasn’t clear who the other elected RI¿FLDOVZHUH+HDUGGLGQRW return a call Sunday from The Associated Press. Also Saturday a separate group of armed men ar- rived but left several hours later after occupation lead- ers told them they weren’t needed. 7KH 3DFL¿F 3DWULRW 1HW- work showed up Saturday in a convoy of about 18 vehi- FOHVFDUU\LQJULÀHVDQGKDQG- guns and dressed in military attire and bulletproof vests. They said they were there to help with security. They de- parted the refuge area after /D9R\)LQLFXPVDLGWKHQHW- work’s help was appreciated, but “we want the long guns put away.” The standoff is the latest ÀDUHXSRIWHQVLRQVRYHUIHG- eral management of Western lands. W A NTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A Contact: Steve Axtell • 360-430-0885 or John Anderson • 360-269-2500 Katherine Lacaze/EO Media Group Nina Cervantes and Garrett Haskins, of Astoria, welcomed their son Gregory Michael Haskins to the world at 1:01 a.m. Jan. 4. Gregory was the first baby born at Providence Seaside Hospital in 2016. Astoria couple ZHOFRPHV¿UVWEDE\ of 2016 at Providence therapist at the hospital, was there to support Cervantes during the delivery, along with Haskins. January already was a busy SEASIDE — Providence Seaside Hospital welcomed month for the couple. They LWV ¿UVW EDE\ RI WKH QHZ \HDU moved apartments in Astoria; when an Astoria mother deliv- +DVNLQV ¿QLVKHG VHWWLQJ XS the new place while Cervantes ered her son early last week. Nina Cervantes, 19, ar- took care of delivering Grego- rived at the hospital at noon ry. Cervantes said 2015 was Jan. 3 and about 13 hours lat- er, at 1:01 a.m. on Jan. 4, she “a really great year,” and 2016 gave birth to Gregory Michael promises to be so, as well. Haskins, an 8-pound, 13-ounce She was attending Clatsop Community College part time boy. Gregory was born about in the fall of 2015 and was three weeks prior to his Jan. scheduled to start new classes 26 due date. Cervantes said for the winter term this week. she hoped he might arrive Jan. Gregory’s early arrival, how- 3, the day Alaska was granted ever, will delay her return until statehood, as Gregory’s father, the spring term, which gives 24-year-old Garrett Haskins, is her three months to enjoy her originally from Alaska. None- son and start getting him on a theless, she said, she is “very schedule, she said. relieved he’s here now.” As an The couple chose the name expecting mother, she added, *UHJRU\VRWKHLUVRQ¶V¿UVWLQL- “you’re always worried” about tial would match his father’s; complications with the preg- Gregory also assumed his fa- nancy and other things. Now ther’s middle name. she can rest easy, and focus on Haskins, who works at Sa- FDULQJIRUKHU¿UVWERUQEDE\ hara Pizza in Astoria, said he “I feel so enveloped in anticipates Gregory, who is “a love,” she said. big boy already,” will be a bas- Dr. Dominique Greco at- ketball player someday. tended the birth. Stephanie $ERXW EHFRPLQJ D ¿UVW Cervantes, Cervantes’ mother time father, he said, “I’m so and a registered respiratory stoked.” By KATHERINE LACAZE EO Media Group The On-Air Radio Auction is January 23rd, 9am to 1pm NEWS TALK FOR THE COAST Providing live a nd loca l new s covera ge every da y Y ou could see it ton igh t, rea d a bout it tom orrow or h ea r it live N O W !
