A6 — BAKER CITY HERALD
VETERANS
Helping veterans a ‘dream job’
Continued from A1
That was the time — the
11th hour of the 11th day of
the 11th month — when the
armistice took effect end-
ing the four years of then-
unprecedented bloodshed in
the trenches.
Pierce, a retired Army
fi rst sergeant and member
of the American Legion Post
No. 41 in Baker City, told
the audience that another
holiday, Memorial Day, is
set aside to honor those
who have died defending
America.
Veterans Day recognizes
not only the fallen, but all
those who have served in the
country’s military.
“The branch of service
doesn’t matter,” Pierce said.
“The length of service doesn’t
matter. The job they did
doesn’t matter. What matters
is that we all understand
that they wrote a blank
check to our country up to
and including the possibility
of their own death.”
Pierce noted that all vet-
erans “paid something,” and
that many returned from
their service with scars that
aren’t always visible.
He talked about the
“insidious malady” of post-
traumatic stress disorder,
and the organizations, such
as the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, American Legion, De-
partment of Veterans Affairs
and many others, which help
veterans “infl icted with this
lasting wound.”
“We must remember
them, appreciate them, and
tell them, God bless you for
your support.”
Loren Ingalls, chaplain at
the Veterans of Foreign Wars
BORDER
Continued from A1
He said seven other
counties have passed similar
measures supporting the
concept.
He said he is working
with residents in Morrow,
Josephine and Curry counties
to put the issue on the ballot
there as well.
McCarter said state Sen.
Lynn Findley, the Vale Repub-
lican whose district includes
Baker County, has endorsed
the concept and would like
county commissioners to
write a letter to him.
“What we are asking the
counties to do is not for you to
speak out and say ‘we are in
favor of this’ or ‘we’re against
this’ or anything else, but a
letter to Senator Findley say-
ing basically ‘the people of our
BLOOD
Continued from A1
Red Cross offi cials had
been a bit concerned about
adding the second day —
most Baker City drives are
one-day events — but a
fl urry of late donors fi lled
most of the available ap-
pointments on Tuesday,
Evans said.
“People have really
stepped up,” she said.
Evans said the Red Cross
has had more people express
an interest in donating blood
during the pandemic, as resi-
dents seek to do something
to help during diffi cult times.
“We’ve taken in more
units this year than we did
last year,” Evans said. “Es-
pecially with this drive, this
one is a big one.”
Jake Reines, a Red Cross
representative, said the
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021
LOCAL
will also be moving into the
building, probably within a
Rick Gloria helped bring few months.
Although Gloria beams
about $24.5 million into
with pride as he
Baker County last
shows Owens a series
year but it’s not dol-
of spreadsheets docu-
lars that bring him
menting the variety
the most satisfac-
of federal benefi ts
tion.
that Baker County
It’s the people
veterans receive, he’s
who benefi ted from
not satisfi ed.
his efforts.
Gloria
He counts among
That money
his clients about 1,450
went to some of Baker
county residents.
County’s heroes — men
But Gloria said there
and women who served in
America’s military — in the are likely more than 2,000
veterans living in the county
form of direct disability or
— about 12% of the county’s
pension payments, and for
population — and he wants
medical services.
to ensure that they all
As Baker County’s
receive the benefi ts to which
veteran services offi cer for
the past seven years, Gloria they’re entitled.
“My goal is to get every-
fi nds his work immensely
body under my manage-
gratifying.
ment,” he said — meaning
“I tell my wife, I found
they have at least fi led
my dream job,” Gloria told
claims for potential benefi ts.
Oregon state Rep. Mark
“That’s great,” Owens
Owens, R-Crane, during a
told Gloria. “Thanks for your
meeting on Tuesday, Nov.
work.”
9, two days before Veterans
For the federal fi scal year
Day, in Gloria’s offi ce in the
2020, which ended Sept.
Baker County Courthouse.
30, 2020, benefi ts to Baker
Owens, whose legisla-
County veterans totaled
tive district includes Baker
$24,451,000, an increase of
County, was in Baker City
almost $2.6 million from the
for a town hall meeting
with the county’s other state previous year, Gloria said.
That amount included:
legislator, Sen. Lynn Findley,
• $12,710,000 in disabil-
R-Vale.
ity and pension payments.
Prior to the town hall,
• $11,255,000 in medical
Owen toured the building
services.
at 2200 Fourth St. that the
Gloria said his chief
county bought in 2020 to
task, besides encouraging
house the Baker County
veterans to contact him, is to
Health Department.
help those veterans navigate
Gloria, who is himself a
veteran, serving 22 years on the sometimes confounding
active duty with the Oregon labyrinth of paperwork in
National Guard before retir- the federal Veterans Affairs
system.
ing as a lieutenant colonel,
By JAYSON JACOBY
jjacoby@bakercityherald.com
Lisa Britton/Baker City Herald
Duncan Pierce gives the
Veterans Day address
Thursday morning, Nov.
11, at the Baker County
Courthouse beside
the memorial to local
residents who perished
in war.
in Baker City, read a prayer
in honor of veterans.
Jessica Keys, Eastern Or-
egon fi eld representative for
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, read a
letter from the senator.
“We owe a debt to our
veterans, but also to their
families and friends who
awaited their return from
service and supported them
during and after their time
in uniform,” Merkley wrote.
“Military families are strong
and resilient, and along with
Oregonians everywhere, I
thank them for helping their
loved ones to serve their
country.
“Let this Veterans Day
serve as a humble reminder
to honor all who served in
our Armed Forces and to live
up to the ideals for which
they served and sacrifi ced:
Freedom. Justice. Equality.”
The federal government
aids military veterans and
their qualifying spouses with
multiple needs, including
medical, disability payments
and pensions, higher educa-
tion and burial benefi ts.
But within each of those
categories, Gloria said, the
criteria that determine
whether a veteran is eligible,
and if so for how much
money, can be confusing.
To qualify for a pension,
for instance, a veteran must
be at least 65, or have a per-
manent and total disability,
and have served during one
of these wartime periods:
• World War II — Dec. 7,
1941, through Dec. 31, 1946
• Korea — June 27, 1950,
through Jan. 31, 1955
• Vietnam — Aug. 5,
1964, through May 7, 1975
• Gulf War/Iraq/Afghani-
stan — Aug. 2, 1990, through
the present
Eligibility for disability
payments and medical cover-
age isn’t as straightforward,
Gloria said.
The amount of compen-
sation depends largely on
whether a veteran’s disabil-
ity resulted from his or her
military service.
And Veterans Affairs
determines the “service-
connected” level in 10%
increments.
For instance, a veteran
whose medical condition
is 30% service-connected
would receive less compensa-
tion than a veteran whose
condition is 80% service-
connected.
Citing a recent example,
Gloria told Owens about
a local Air Force veteran
county have voted in favor
of this issue and we would
like you to take it to the state
legislature,’ ” McCarter said.
McCarter said his other
goal is to have the Idaho and
Oregon legislatures begin
discussing the issue.
He noted that actually
moving state borders would
require approval from both
state legislatures and from
Congress.
“It’s a complicated
process that requires both
legislatures to come into an
agreement to form a com-
pact and then it goes to the
US Congress for approval,”
McCarter said. “We believe
that it would be passed in the
US Congress because it’s not
really changing the makeup;
it’s not adding any more
senators, it might be shifting
one US representative which
would be representative
who oppose their state adding
more than a dozen Oregon
counties.
“I’ve also talked to some
people that moved away from
Idaho to Oregon because they
like the building codes better,”
Nichols said. “Idaho’s building
codes are much more lax than
Oregon’s are.”
He said he’s heard com-
plaints about how the less
stringent codes mean house
Ryan Brennecke/The (Bend) Bulletin, File buyers need to be “very care-
ful.”
Mike McCarter of LaPine, in Deschutes County, is the
“Those kind of issues are
president of Move Oregon’s Border.
going to take a tremendous
Bentz to an Idaho representa- November 2020, followed by amount of discussion between
fi ve counties — Baker, Grant, two states,” Nichols said. “And
tive position.”
Lake, Malheur and Sherman all that stuff I think is really
Commission Chairman
good to ferret out so all of the
— in May 2021.
Bill Harvey asked which
people know what they are
Harney County became
Oregon counties have passed
getting into if they go down
the eighth county with its
measures related to the
that path.”
measure last week.
Greater Idaho proposal.
Commissioner Bruce Nich-
McCarter said voters in
ols told McCarter that he has Other business
Union and Jefferson coun-
spoken with people in Idaho
ties approved measures in
• Commissioners ap-
organization will consider
scheduling more two-day
blood drives in Baker City.
“We have a lot of donors
that are interested in donat-
ing but not a lot of opportu-
nities,” Reines said. “So, it’s
something we’re checking
into.”
The Red Cross also added
one-day drives in October at
the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints in Baker
City, and at Baker High
School.
“There are more opportu-
nities for donors in Baker,”
Reines said.
Among the donors, Randy
Estes said he read an article
about the Red Cross hav-
ing many appointments for
Tuesday’s drive.
He said he had donated
blood in the past and decided
to do so again on Tuesday.
Dan Lyon said he decided
to start donating with this
week’s event.
“I think it’s a good idea, I
think everybody should do
it,” Lyon said.
Robin Harrington said
she knows the Red Cross
always has a great demand
for blood.
“I just wanted to be able
to do my part,” Harrington
said.
Tamera Pierce said she
donates regularly.
“I’m glad I can help some-
what,” Pierce said.
Reines said he felt great
about the two-day drive, with
support from donors and
businesses.
Baker City blood drives
for 2022 are scheduled for
Jan. 24, April 4, June 13,
Sept. 12 and Nov. 14.
Dan Lyon donated blood on Tuesday, Nov. 9 in Baker City.
Evans said the Jan. 24,
2022, drive is scheduled
for one day, but it’s possible
the Red Cross will add a
second day.
who worked as a jet engine
mechanic.
The veteran had hearing
loss due to his work with the
loud engines, and Gloria fi led
a claim on his behalf. The
veteran qualifi ed for monthly
disability payments and for
free hearing aids.
When Owens asked Glo-
ria if there were any benefi ts
he would like to provide
veterans that he can’t now,
Gloria’s answer was quick
and succinct.
“Dental.”
Gloria said most veter-
ans don’t qualify for dental
insurance. The exception
is veterans whose medical
condition is 100% service-
connected, he said.
Gloria told Owens that
there are proposals in the
Veterans Affairs to expand
dental coverage for veterans,
something he wholeheart-
edly endorses.
“There’s a lot of need for
dental services,” he said.
Gloria told Owens that
one of his most important
steps since taking the Baker
County job was to go through
the process — which he
said was more thorough
than obtaining a top secret
clearance — to have access
to the Veterans Affairs online
claims system.
That system allows Gloria
to see, in real time, the status
of any claim that he has fi led
on behalf of a veteran.
Gloria said he can meet
with veterans in person in
his offi ce, or over the phone.
He encourages all veter-
ans to call him at 541-523-
8223 to discuss their poten-
tial eligibility for benefi ts.
proved an agreement with
Elkhorn Taxi to use state
transportation money to
subsidize the cost of taxi rides
to and from work for local
residents.
“A person would get a
punch card, pay two dollars,
we pick up the rest as part of
the grant to help people that
can’t get to work, get there.
It’s been very successful so
far,” said Doni Bruland, who
works for the county.
• Commissioners ap-
proved the upgrading of elec-
trical service to RV camping
sites at the county’s Hewitt
Park near Richland. Work-
ers will install new electric
connections with 50-, 30- and
20-amp circuits.
The county will also install
water lines to bring drink-
ing water from Richland to
Hewitt Park, which is on the
shore of Brownlee Reservoir.
Samantha O’Conner/Baker City Herald
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