HONOR FLIGHTS OF EASTERN OREGON PORTLAND OREGON MULTNOMAH

HONOR FLIGHTS OF EASTERN OREGON PORTLAND OREGON MULTNOMAH COUNTY VETERANS TASK FORCE Portland. Oregon JULY 9, 2012 Dick Tobiason, President LTC US Army Retired Bend Heroes Foundation www. bendheroes. org 541 388 -5591

PROGRAM SUPPORTERS, PORTLAND • • • Shilo Inns Suites Hotels Southwest Airlines BNSF Railway Les Schwab Tire Centers Arlington Club Portland Port Authority First Responders Patriot Guard Riders Battle Ground Air Force JROTC

Honor Flight • National Program “Honor Flight Network” • Honors Greatest Generation for service and sacrifice to ensure our freedoms • Takes WWII Veterans to Washington DC to visit – WWII Memorial dedicated 2004, 59 years after WWII ended – Capitol Building – Iwo Jima Memorial; Navy Memorial; Air Force Memorial; – FDR & Lincoln Memorials – Tomb of the Unknowns - Arlington Cemetery • Free of Charge to WWII Veterans; 90, 000 vets last 7 years, 41 states • “Guardians” assist WWII Veterans, pay their own way • 112 Regional “Hubs” in 41 States • 2 Hubs in Oregon in 2010 - late start • HFN web site http: //www. honorflight. org/

AMERICA’S “VANISHING HEROES” 16. 1 million veterans served during WWII 405, 000 died during the war 1. 7 million living today ~ 11% of WWII survivors 32, 100 WWII vets living in Oregon (25%) 5, 000 WWII vets live in Multnomah County ~5% of US WWII veterans visited THEIR memorial through Honor Flight Network, 1% Multnomah • USA loses 1, 000 WWII vets every day • Oregon loses 40 WWII vets every day • • TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE to honor them

Honor Flight of Eastern & Portland Oregon • Regional “Hubs” in Honor Flight Network • HFEO Covers all of Oregon East of the Cascades (25 cities) • HFEO Founded summer 2010 based on critical need – Single HF Hub in Grants Pass, 280 WWII veterans on waiting list – Funding available for one flight of 10 WWII Veterans & 8 Guardians • HFPO Covers Portland Metro area (5 counties/84 cities) – Founded July 2011 due to critical need – Took over 80 names from Grants Pass list – Up to 4 years on waiting list, 10 died while waiting • Managed by Bend Heroes Foundation, 501(c)(3) • Launched from WWII Veterans Historic Highway success, first permanent memorial to Oregon’s 147, 600 WWII Veterans

8 WW II TRAINING SITES ALONG US HWY 97

WWII VETERANS HISTORIC HIGHWAY

MADRAS ARMY AIRFIELD, WWII

Results to Date • • • 5 trips since start Oct. , 2010 52 WWII vets from Portland hub (1%) 105 WWII vets from Eastern Oregon 52 WWII vets honored June 6 -10 Trips create more applications Lack of funding in Portland area

WAITING LISTS • • After Sept. 2012 trip of 55 vets, 45 guardians Portland WWII vets: 30 + any new applicants Eastern Oregon: 0 + any new applicants Reduced by 15 deaths, 10 too ill to travel

Four Day Itinerary • Wednesday: Meet at PDX Shilo Inns – welcome, briefings, banquet • Thursday: Fly PDX – IAD/DCA • Friday: Breakfast with Congressional delegation, tour Capitol, WWII Memorial • Saturday: Lincoln, Korea, Vietnam, Navy, FDR, USAF, Iwo Jima, WIMSA, Tomb Unknowns • Sunday: Fly IAD/DCA - PDX

LAW ENFORCEMENT SEND OFF AT PDX

LAW ENFORCEMENT SEND OFF AT PDX

BREAKFAST WITH REP. GREG WALDEN & SEN. RON WYDEN

VISITING US CAPITOL

We Like IKE, US Capitol

VISITING WWII MEMORIAL, MAY 2011

WWII VETS & Guardians at WWII MEMORIAL, SEPT. 2011

WWII Vets at Their Memorial

Guardians Present Flags to WWII Vets

THANK YOU WWII VETERANS!

VISITING LINCOLN MEMORIAL

VISITING IWO JIMA MEMORIAL

THEY SAW THE FLAG RAISED AT MT. SURIBACHI • Bob Ervin Center

TOMB OF UNKNOWN SOLDIER

CHANGING GUARD TOMB OF UNKNOWNS

WWII Medal of Honor Recipient Bob Maxwell Laying Wreath

TAPS!

STUDENTS BID US FAREWELL

Honor Flight Veterans Arriving Portland

"On this trip, I got more recognition than when I got back from the war……Everywhere we went, there were people in their 20 s and 30 s shaking our hands and patting us on the back" -Walt Goodman WWII USN

'you would think that our whole trip was one of sadness and tears, Not so! For every sad emotion we experienced, there were many things we saw that were uplifting and made us feel proud that we helped preserve this nation…

• “It is with great honor and privilege that I support the Honor Flights of Oregon program. In preserving the freedoms we have today, we must not forget the men and women who valiantly served this country during WWII. Every one of these living veterans deserves to see the memorial erected in their honor, and supporting the Honor Flights of Oregon program helps accomplish this. It’s the least we can do to thank our WWII veterans. ” • Senator Ron Wyden

“ It is a high privilege to support Honor Flight of Eastern Oregon and its mission honoring WWII veterans by taking them to Washington, DC to visit their memorial. The debt of gratitude we owe them can never be repaid, for without their honor, courage, commitment, and above all - sacrifice we would not be able to enjoy the freedoms we have today. ” -Congressman Greg Walden

Plans for 2012 • 120 WWII Vets on HFEO/HFPO waiting lists • 2 flights June 6 -10: 52 vets (28 HFPO, 24 HFEO): DONE!! • Sept. 19 -23: 55 vets, 45 guardians • First OR Honor Flight with Alaska Airlines non stop PDX to DCA! • Raising funds, especially in HFPO area • Seek more WWII applicants if find funds • Transfer Portland hub to local management

COSTS FOR THE 4 DAY TRIP OF A LIFETIME • Total cost per Veteran: $1, 100 • Shilo Inns PDX donates 1 st night rooms and banquet worth $100/Veteran • Raise $1, 000 per veteran for airfare, hotel in DC, meals, bus, and gifts

GIFTS TO VETERANS • WWII hat • T shirt • Tote bag • Business cards, pen • Flag flown over US Capitol & certificate • Congressional Record tribute • “Jewel of the Mall ” WWII Memorial book • Photo album of a “trip of a lifetime” • Enrollment in WWII Registry of Remembrance

BHF Gifts to WWII Veterans

FUNDRAISING METHODS • “Appeal” flyers – targeted, handouts, direct mail • Baseball game: ticket sales, silent auction • Spaghetti feeds, silent auctions • Regional businesses & family trusts • Shilo Inns, SWA, BNSF Railway, Les Schwab, Robberson Ford • American Legion & VFW Posts, Bands of Brothers • Paypal on BHF web site: www. bendheroes. org • Social Media • Traditional Media • Find new partners • 100% Volunteer supported • > 95% of funds direct to program

Top Donors • • Southwest Airlines: 125 free seats $75, 000 Shilo Inns: free rooms & dinner $26, 000 BNSF Railway $17, 500 Les Schwab Tire Centers $11, 000 Umatilla Electric Coop $ 7, 000+ Grass Roots : $78, 000 Total cost thru 2012 (212 vets) $236, 000 Funds needed after Sept. trip: $45, 000

APPRECIATION • WWII Veterans call it “Trip of a lifetime”! • Veterans letters to BHF • Media coverage • MOAA Leadership Award for Honor Flight & WWII Veterans Historic Highway • DAR Historic Preservation Award for WWII Veterans Historic Highway OR Heritage Excellence Award: WWIIVH Bend Landmarks Commission: WWIIVHH

What Can Vets TF Do to help? • Commission spread the word within community • Tribute to County Honor Flight Veterans • Donate funds? • Fundraising role? • Help new HFPO manager • Ideas?

Web Sites • www. bendheroes. org • www. honorflightofeasternoregon. org • www. portlandhonorflight. org

THANK YOU

QUESTIONS?