A Legacy of Service
FAMILY’s LEGACY comes full circle with affordable housing project for veterans led by medal of honor winner’s greatgrandson
Above: State and local leaders, including ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick, joined in a socially distanced, outdoor groundbreaking ceremony for Applegate Landing in August 2020. 10
VETERANS NEWS MAGAZINE
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new apartment complex that broke ground in Lebanon last year will bring affordable housing and other critical services to veterans in Linn County. This effort will also bring fullcircle an Oregon family’s legacy of serving veterans throughout the state. It began with Edward C. Allworth, an Oregon World War I veteran and recipient of the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest and most prestigious personal military decoration for acts of valor. But Allworth — who is the namesake of the Oregon Veterans’ Home in Lebanon, which opened in 2014 and is owned by the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs — has another legacy of service to the nation and its veterans that is not as well-known. Following the end of WWI, Allworth rejoined Oregon Agricultural College (now known as Oregon State University) as a faculty member and director of the college’s Memorial Union — and it was in this capacity that he facilitated housing
and other support to the next generation of veterans after World War II. His great-grandson, Lebanon resident James Lutz, said Allworth started many programs for WWII veterans, including those to help them cope with a physical disability and post-traumatic stress — most of which were virtually unheard of 75 years ago. “I grew up listening to all the stories of my grandfather’s accomplishments helping veterans and have always been drawn to continuing that legacy,” Lutz said. He is indeed continuing that legacy with Applegate Landing Apartments, the unique 48-unit affordable housing development in Lebanon, with 12 units for veterans only and the remaining apartments designated veteranpreference. The bulk of the funding for the project is from Oregon Low Income Housing Tax Credits and low-interest loans approved through Oregon Housing and
