Blue Mountain Eagle Veterans Wednesday, November 11, 2015 A9 Aircraft fascination leads to Army service From Feb. 2007 to May KH VHUYHG LQ WKH 86 Army as a specialist E-4. He A broken neck cut short worked doing aircraft pneudrau- George Hiller’s plans to pursue lics systems a career in the Army, but it didn’t repair, and was dampen his interest in aircraft a door gunner nor his desire to give back to on CH-47 Chi- other veterans. nook helicop- Hiller said ever since he was ters. a young boy, he was fascinated Hiller’s ser- with planes in general, especial- vice took him George ly military aircraft. to South Ko- Hiller +H VDLG KH XVHG WR À\ ZLWK rea; Ft. Bragg, his grandfather, who was a pri- North Caroli- vate pilot, back and forth from na; Afghanistan; and Wheeler the Chicago area, where Hiller $UP\$LU¿HOGLQ+DZDLL grew up, to a family summer During his service in Af- home in the Gunnison, Colo. ghanistan, from 2009-2010, area. he received an Air Medal with He was a freshman in high “V” Device, a combat action school when the 9/11 terrorist badge, an Army Commenda- attacks happened, and that “so- WLRQ0HGDODQGRWKHUFHUWL¿FDWHV OLGL¿HG´KLVGHFLVLRQWRJRLQWR and achievements for volunteer the military. work. Blue Mountain Eagle It was while Hiller was in Hawaii that he broke his neck and received a medical dis- charge. “I did everything I could to try to stay in,” he said, but just couldn’t keep up with his as- signments and duties. Despite the injury which cut short his military career plans, Hiller said, “I enjoyed 99 percent of my experience and wouldn’t change any of it for anything.” +LOOHUVDLGKHGH¿QLWHO\UHF- ommends the military to others. 8SRQ KLV GLVFKDUJH +LOOHU who had a good friend in Grant County, moved here for a cou- ple of months while weighing options. He enjoyed his time in Grant County and plans to return here to vacation and hunt. But his de- termination to continue working with aircraft compelled him to move to Michigan where the job PDUNHWLVVWURQJHULQWKDW¿HOG He plans to head to college to pursue his airframe and power- plant license to become a certi- ¿HGDLUFUDIWPHFKDQLF Hiller will also be closer to family there and will take care of his ailing grandfather who helped give wings to his interest in aircraft. The move also offers him the opportunity to volunteer for the Honor Flight Network – a program which helps provide ÀLJKWVIRUYHWHUDQVWRYLVLWPH- morials in Washington, D.C. – which has a station in Kalama- zoo, Mich. “Giving back my military service allows me to help other veterans,” Hiller said. “My life’s not about me – it’s about helping others.” VFW, Legion serve vets and the community %RWKJURXSVKROGÀDJFHUH- monies and remembrances on Grant County is home to Memorial Day, Veterans Day several groups dedicated to and other special patriotic oc- serving both local veterans and casions. communities. The American Legion Three towns have active Auxiliary is a patriotic ser- American Legion posts – John vice organization for spouses Day, Prairie City and Monu- and family members of mili- ment. Dayville’s post is cur- tary personnel. Traditionally, rently listed as inactive, and in in years past, the group was need of a commander. comprised of mostly wives. The local Veterans of For- However, with an increasing eign Wars Post 3597 is head- number of women serving in quartered in John Day. the military today, husbands Any honorably discharged and other male family members veteran or person currently are welcome into Auxiliary VHUYLQJLQRQHRIWKH¿YH8QLW- membership. ed States military branches – In addition to serving the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, needs of veterans, involvement Coast Guard and Air Force – in local schools and communi- may join the American Legion. ties is also a key component to VFW membership is for the groups. active or honorably discharged Jim Jerome, the District 10 RI¿FHUVRUHQOLVWHGSHRSOHZKR adjutant for the American Le- meet one of the following re- gion and VFW Post 3597 quar- quirements: served 30 consecu- termaster, said, “The big thing tive or 60 nonconsecutive days for any veterans organization is LQ.RUHDUHFHLYHGKRVWLOH¿UHRU involvement with the citizens imminent danger pay, or been of the community.” awarded a military campaign The Legion and Auxiliary medal for overseas service. head up youth leadership and Veterans may belong to both citizen programs, Girls and organizations. Boys State, and both the Legion Blue Mountain Eagle and VFW sponsor youth essay competitions – Americanism Essay for the Legion, and Patri- ot’s Pen for the VFW. The Auxiliary also runs the annual Memorial Day poppy program which raises commu- nity awareness and by-donation funds to help hospitalized vet- erans. Anyone interested in be- coming a member of the Amer- ican Legion, Legion Auxiliary or the VFW, or participating in any of the groups’ service activ- ities, is encouraged to contact their local representative. To learn more, visit: American Legion, Oregon, http://www.orlegion.org/ American Legion Auxilia- ry, Oregon, http://www.alaore- gon.org/ Veterans of Foreign Wars, Oregon, http://www.vfwore- gon.org/ American Legion and VFW meetings American Legion Ellis Tracy Post 77 Commander and Adju- tant Art Pereira Meets at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of the month Alec Gay Hall 176 S.E. Dayton St. John Day, OR 97845 541-575-1841 tant Earl Pettit P.O. Box 395 Monument, OR 97864 Alexander Harper Dayville Post 115 Currently inactive; no commander Veterans of Foreign Prairie City Post 106 Commander Ed Negus Adjutant Tom McAuslan P.O. Box 540 Prairie City, OR 97869 Monument Post 148 Commander and Adju- Wars Post 3597 Commander Gregg Starr Meets at 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month 240 S. Canyon Blvd., John Day 541-932-4113 The first installment of the 2015- 2016 property tax is due Monday, November 16, 2015 by 5 p.m. November 15th at 2 p.m. Outpost Pizza, Pub and Grill Grant County Little League has supported youth softball and baseball programs for many years; join us at our annual meeting and become a voting member, board member or coach! The success of these programs depends on your participation. 02914 Payments may be made at the Tax Collector’s office in the Grant County Courthouse in Canyon City or the payment may be mailed and postmarked no later than November 16, 2015. Please remember that delinquent taxes accrue interest at the rate of 16% per year. If you have any questions, please call the Tax Office at 541-575-0189 or the Tax Assessor’s direct line at 541-575-0107. PO Box 185 Canyon City, OR 97820 02823 %\&KHU\O+RHÀHU