ALSO: TAMKALIKS BRIDGES CULTURES ARTS AND LEISURE MAGAZINE
SERVING UNION AND WALLOWA COUNTIES SINCE 1896
Vietnam memorial wall opens Thursday By Bill Rautenstrauch The Observer
:Weal Vietnam veterans and their many helpers are counting down the homs now to the realization of a cherished dream. Beginning Thmsday; a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., goes on display for five days at the La Grande Gun Club, thanks to the efforts of members of the High Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4060 in Union, and a host of other volunteers. The five-day display marks the culmination of months of hard work and fund raising, but the effort will be well worth it, said Byron Whipple, a Post 4060 member who also works as the Union County Veterans Service Officer. "It's exciting," Whipple said. "A lot of the vets want to know ifit's open 24 homs, because they want some quiet time at night to sit at the wall."
Judge approves iniunction
Forest herbicide use halted By Katy Nesbitt The Observer
All he:rbicide use on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest has been halted due to an injunction approved by U.S. District Court Judge
Michael Simon. Simon's opinion was released June 29 in response to a lawsuit entered by the League ofWilderness Defenders/Blue Mountain Biodiversity. The suit was
against the Forest's weed control management plan that expanded its list of approved herbicides to combat invasive plant species. Now the WallowaWhitman National Forest
is prohibited from using chemicals to control noxious weeds until the Forest conducts further analysis of the cumulative effects of herbicide use. However, Simon did rule
in the Forest Service's favor on two other points made in the suit. He disagreed with the plaintiff's claim that the plan didn't comply with the See FOREST, 6A
Dreams take flight Darryl Fisher, left, and his son, Zack, lower photo, travel throughout the Northwest providing plane rides for seniors.
Wall built in 1982 The wall in Washington, D.C. was built in 1982 and bears the names of51,195 service members who died in the Vietnam conflict Designed to serve as a place of healing for those affected by one ofthe most divisive wars in United States history; it is maintained by the National Parks Service. In 1983, John DeVitt, who served in the war as a helicopter gun chie~ came up with the idea of a replica that would travel the country; giving thom;ands more people the chance to experience the wall. Devitt and fellow Californian veterans Gary Haver and Norris Shears found funding and nationwide support to create the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Mobile). Today; the monument is simply called The Moving Wall. It has appeared in hundreds of towns and military posts across the country. After High Valley Post member and Vietnam veteran Ken McCormack and friends visited The Moving Wall in Lewiston, Idaho, they made up their minds to bring the display to La Grande. They raised the money necessary and recruited a small army of volunteers to help. The volunteers will pull security duty; man the first aid tent, help direct people to specific names on the wall, and more. The Oregon National Guard will be on hand, displaying vehicles and equipment. See WALL,7A
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Brad Mos her /The Obse rver
Dan Kramer of La Grande expresses his enthusiasm as the 1942 Boeing Steadman biplane prepares for takeoff at the Union County Airport.
Three area seniors get Hight of alifetime By Dick Mason The Observer
:Wree Leonard, who turned 89 on July 10, has spent much ofher life reaching out to this community as a registered nmse and a leader ofNeighbor to Neighbor Ministries. A week ago Tuesday morning, the tables were turned. Leonard was the one receiving a gestme of good¥till.
Leonard was given an unforgettable birthday gift - a 15-minute flight over the Grande Ronde Valley in a 1942 Boeing Stearman Leonard biplane. The flight was provided by pilot Darryl Fisher ofAgeless Aviation Dreams, a nonprofit organization based near Carson City; Nev., which provides biplane flight.;; for seniors throughout theNorthwest. "It was wonderful," said Leonard, who lives at Grande Ronde Retirement Center. Leonard will never forget how hard Fisher worked to make her flight an enjoyable experience, noting that he even carried her off the plane after the flight. "That was the best part. That was very nice," said Leonard, who was the leader of Neighbor to Neighbm; an organization that helps the less fortunate in Union County, for 16 years.
INDEX Business ........ 1B Classifi ed ....... 6B Comics ...... ..... 58 Crossword ..... 8B Dear Abby ... 128
WEATHER Ho roscope .. ... 8B Lottery ............ 2A Movies ........... 3A Obitu aries...... 5A Opi nio n .......... 4A
Record ........... 3A Sports ............ SA Sudoku .......... 58 Wallowa ....... 10A Wonderword ... 58
FRIDAY IN OUTDOORS
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'1 thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I had to take it." - Sharon Jensen
Leonard was one of three Grande Ronde Retirement residents who received biplane rides. Fellow seniors Dan Kramer and Sharon Jensen also found themselves airborne in Fisher's World War II-era plane. Jensen "I thought it was a once-in-alifetime opportunity and I had to take it," Jensen said. The flight had a calming influence on Jensen. "It was not like I thought it was going to be. It was relaxing," she said. Jensen enjoyed the link to the past the biplane provided. "I wanted to be part of history; and I feel like was," she said. Kramer; when asked if he would to take another flight on the plane, answered without hesitation. "I would fly again tomonuw. I would love to." Kramer, Jensen and Loree took off and landed at Union County Airport before a curious and excited group of fellow Grande
Full forecast on the back of B section
Ronde Retirement residents who came to watch. "It was just as exciting for the ones who were watching as the ones going up," said Dona Duncan, the life engagement coordinator for the Grande Ronde Retirement Residence. Fisher's stop in La Grande to provide senior flights was one of at least 10 he is making in Oregon, Washington and Idaho this month. Fisher also provided flights on July 10 in Pendleton and on July 11 in College Place and Richland, Wash. Fisher started providing Ageless Aviation flights a year ago. He is also able to provide them at no cost because of the support of his sponsors, which include Direct Supply; Alliance Insmance Group, PayLess Drug, :Ww-G Skin Pressme Protection System and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Fisher has provided more than 70 flights to seniors in the past year·. Eve1y passenge1; once airborne, has the opportunity to get Fisher to stop the flight early with a simple thumbsdown gestme. To date he has received only thumbs-up signals. Fisher speaks as if providing the flights is a labor oflove. "I'm privileged to be able to do it. My whole mission is to give back to those who have given."
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Issue 130 3 sections, 38 pages La Grande, Oregon
KIDS SADDLE UP AT HORSE CAMP
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