FOUR - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 3, 2015
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Thanks” at a cost of $10.
Honor Flight of
Eastern Oregon for
World War II veterans
filled with ‘happy’ tears
To the editor,
I was at the Portland airport when the vets came
home. A very loud call of “Attention!” came over the
microphone and the military people in the crowd stood at
attention in handsome uniforms as the vets stepped out of
the door of the plane. There was a huge crowd cheering
and applauding. The looks on their faces as they (the vets)
realized it was for them warmed your heart and brought
tears. Some vets wept outright, and so did many in the
crowd. It was very touching.
Most of the vets were in wheelchairs pushed by their
guardians. Ernie’s guardian was our son, John. Most of
them needed wheelchairs due to their age and so much
walking. When we began to move down the big mall at
the airport, everyone in the place cheered and applauded.
Little grade-school girls stepped up to the vets with sweet
smiles and gave each one a fresh, beautiful, long-stemmed
carnation. Again, it was hard to keep tears away as you
saw the faces of the vets as they received their carnations.
When they were back East at the top of the Lincoln
Memorial, these 90-year-old vets sang “The Star Spangled
Banner.” I was told that it was very, very emotional for
all, and many tears were shed.
Ernie has received many notes of thanks and ap-
preciation from people in Oregon. The notes from high
school students are very touching. The notes from really
young students are priceless. One child asked if war was
fun. Another said Ernie must be the luckiest man in the
world because of his trip to the East Coast, but another
child said he would get bored if he had to travel that long.
Many students asked what D.C. means. One wanted Ernie
to ask George Washington if he saved our country.
A reporter from Bend interviewed George Griffith,
who is a World War II Marine veteran from Ione, OR. She
said, “You saw the raising of the flag here?” (Meaning at
the Iwo Jima Memorial.) George said, “No, the first one
on Iwo Jima.” That info travelled instantly. He became a
star among the vets. He graduated from Ione High School
in 1943. He was a classmate of Ernie. His guardian was
Clint Carlson.
I want to extend my appreciation to all of the guard-
ians. Most of the vets could not have gone without you.
I’m sure you all came home physically and emotionally
exhausted. I know you were all greatly appreciated.
Even though this whole trip was a happy occasion,
many tears were shed. This was truly a flight of honor.
I asked my friend, Gwen Healy, to write some in-
formation about Iwo Jima that she learned from here
deceased husband, Jack. It follows below.
(s) Mary Jean McCabe, Heppner
Memories of Iwo Jima
Jack served on the U.S.S. Chester during the battle at
Iwo Jima. The Chester was one of the ships bombarding
the main island of Iwo Jima day and night for over a month
before troops could land. Jack witnessed the raising of
the first flag on Iwo Jima. The Japanese were in cement
bunkers firing on the troops as they landed.
In 1971 we had the opportunity to visit the Iwo Jima
Memorial.
I have enjoyed reading in the Gazette all of the stories
about the local veterans’ trip to Washington, D.C. and the
memorials they visited.
(s) Gwen Healy, Heppner
Forest Service seeks
input on Forest Plans
Dear Citizens of the Blue Mountains National Forests,
The Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman Na-
tional Forests are committed to keeping an open dialogue
continuing with the communities we serve and as such
would like to update you all on our progress in the Blue
Mountains Forest Plans revision process. We want to
thank many of you for your recent efforts in helping us
think through and develop a re-engagement strategy for
the communities in the Blue Mountains.
As we announced last month, we have met with a
broad spectrum of stakeholders so far this year to discuss
the best ways to reengage with folks in the Blues. Through
their council and advice we are exploring a range of re-
engagement activities including community, stakeholder
and Forest Service hosted meetings. We want to be clear
that these meetings will be open to public; our hope is
that these meetings will provide opportunities to discuss
and develop ideas that will help us to improve the final
Revised Forest Plans, and provide clarity on our final
decisions.
As previously announced, this past February, we be-
gan asking local organizations, including counties, tribes,
members of the public at large and special interest groups,
if they would be interested in hosting or participating in
public meetings in their communities on issues brought
forward through the Draft Environmental Impact State-
ment comment process. We are working with those who
have responded to plan and/or participate in a variety of
forums to be announced soon. We welcome additional
efforts if there is interest. We are open to meet with the
public and any entity interested in discussing the draft.
We heard a strong desire for further discussion around
Forest access, back country, wilderness and the pace and
scale of restoration, so you can anticipate meetings around
these topics, as well as some other more localized issues.
We hope to identify some common ground and create
solutions. We look forward to these discussions
It is important to know that while the analysis for
the Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National
Forests will be included in one environmental impact
statement, each Forest will have its own unique plan
specific to the Forest and their communities.
We want Forest Plans that provide resiliency for our
communities in Eastern Oregon and Washington; Plans
that support the local economy and the social values of
the people who use and depend on them. We also want
resiliency in ecosystems that can withstand: drought,
floods, wildfire, invasive species, human impacts and
have the strength to return to healthy ecosystems in the
long run. Our Forest Plans should provide the vision of
how to do just that and we will continue to need your
help in shaping them.
Please come to a meeting. If you cannot come to a
meeting, contact your local Forest Service office with
your input. If you are interested in discussing or hosting
an engagement event please contact Katy Gray, Wallowa-
Whitman National Forest, Public Affairs Officer, kathryn-
lgray@fs.fed.us or 541-523-1246.
We look forward to seeing and hearing from you in
the coming months as we believe together we can plan
for a bright future for our forests.
Thank you,
(s) Kevin Martin, Umatilla NF
Tom Montoya, Wallowa-Whitman NF
Steve Beverlin, Malheur NF
Holly Rebekah card
party this Saturday
RUCKUS IN THE
BOONIES place for themselves and
-Continued from PAGE ONE
the area where alcohol is
allowed.
Two licensed tattoo
artists will be on hand from
Lucky Supreme Tattoos out
of Oregon City.
“They have proper li-
censes and equipment to
provide a sanitary work
Participants enjoy last year’s youth fishing derby at Cutsforth
Pond. The 10 th annual youth fishing derby is planned for this
Saturday, June 6, from 8:30-11 a.m. at Cutsforth Park. This
free event is for children 14 years old and younger. Sponsored
by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Morrow Coun-
ty Parks, the event includes a free lunch. –Contributed photo
The hills are alive…
with the sound of
music in the park
Steel drum band Bram Brata will be in Heppner June 14.
Summer Music in Hep-
pner in back, kicking off
from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, June
14, at Heppner City Park
with Bram Bratá, the Tri-
Cities steel drum band.
Bram Bratá is the se-
nior steel drum band—a
name derived from two
Trinidadian slang words
meaning “an unexpected
party” and very fitting for a
group whose concerts often
lead to spontaneous danc-
ing by the audience.
Locals and visitors
alike are invited to bring
lawn chairs for an evening
of entertainment sponsored
by the Morrow County Uni-
fied Recreation District and
facilitated by the Shared
Ministry of Hope Lutheran
Church and All Saints Epis-
copal Church.
Supper, including hot
pulled pork sandwiches,
will be available for pur-
chase to raise funds for the
Shared Ministry’s mission
trip to Haiti in November.
Rain location for the
June concert is the elemen-
tary school gym.
Everyone is reminded
to save the date for upcom-
ing concerts as The Tail-
gate Trio performs Sunday,
July 19, and the Frazer
Wambeke Trio takes the
(figurative) stage Sunday,
August 16.
Wheat League social,
crop tour planned
Morrow County Wheat
League will hold its an-
nual social June 19 at Kathy
Martin’s home. Social be-
gins at 5 p.m. with dinner
served at 6 p.m. Steaks and
burgers will be provided,
but guests are asked to
contribute to the potluck,
last names A-M with a salad
and N-Z with a dessert.
Guest speaker will be
Oregon Wheat Growers
League CEO Blake Rowe,
who will provide a legisla-
tive update. John Wambeke
will provide music.
The annual crop tour
will be at the Lind Field
Day 100 th anniversary on
June 11.
For more information,
contact Larry Lutcher at
541-676-9642 or 541-571-
4454, Brent Martin at 541-
256-0158, or RSVP via
email to Madison.rosen-
balm@oregonstate.edu.
Holly Rebekah Lodge will hold a pinochle card party
June 6 at the Odd Fellows Lodge in Lexington. Doors
open at 6:30 p.m. and the games start at 7 p.m. sharp.
Sandwiches and refreshments will be served and high and
low prizes awarded. Cost to get in is $5, which helps to
the costumers they will support the Heppner and Ione senior scholarships.
be tattooing,” says Harris.
“Both are top-notch artists
and are eager to be a part of
history in the making.”
Harris also says there
are a few confirmed food,
A car wash and bake sale will be held this Saturday,
clothes and other vendors, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Les Schwab to raise
as well.
funds for the Prime Time Minis first- through third-grade
dance team.
The Community Bank Heppner branch will hold
The team will be going to Las Vegas at the end of a barbecue in front of their Main Street business this
June for a national finals competition. Arianna Worden Thursday, June 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
of Heppner is a member of the team.
Community Bank staff will be serving hamburgers,
Fundraiser planned
for dance team trip
THE LANDING
RESTAURANT
Chamber lunch meeting
The next lunch meeting of the Heppner Chamber of
Commerce will be an all entities report on Thursday, June
4, at noon in Heppner City Hall conference room.
Cost of lunch is $10; Cornerstone Gallery will cater.
Chamber lunch attendees are asked to RSVP at 541-
676-5536 no later than the Wednesday before to guarantee
a lunch.
senior
Sundays
This Sunday's
meal will be
A Spaghetti
Dinner
Murray's Bridal Registry
Landing at Morrow
County OHV Park
Hours: mon-Sat 8am-8pm
Sunday 8am-6pm
541-969-3822
find us on facebook
www.facebook.com/TheLandingLodge
Community Bank to
hold barbecue Thursday
hot dogs, chips, soda and cookies. Participants can enter
a drawing to win a barbecue grill or a kids’ prize pack.
prime rib We will be closed
Wednesday &
every
Saturday Thursday June 3 & 4
For Remodeling
night
Reservations
strongly
recommend
Youth fishing derby
Saturday at Cutsforth
Pond
Trent Miles & Josie Miller Wedding - May 29
MORROW COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS
Road Dept. - Gen. Maint. - Airport- Transfer Station - Parks
P.O. Box 428 Lexington, Oregon 97839 Phone: 541-989-9500
Trevor Rhea & Mollie Henderson Wedding - July 11
Murray's Drug, 217 N. Main, Heppner • Phone 676-9158