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Stayton honors veterans as local groups outline services and events
Summary
At its regular session, the Stayton City Council recognized local veterans organizations — Guitars for Vets, Daughters of the American Revolution and Honoring Heroes — and heard about programs providing instruments, care packages and in‑home assistance plus an upcoming veteran music festival in Salem.
Council President Steve Sims opened Monday—s meeting by thanking veterans and introducing several local organizations that presented on services for veterans.
David Welch, coordinator and instructor for Guitars for Vets, said the program operates out of the Salem Vet Center and provides free guitars and lessons to veterans to help address PTSD, depression and anxiety. Welch said the group is organizing a veteran-focused music festival at the Salem Armory to showcase veteran musicians and hopes to rotate genres year to year so more veterans are visible for reasons beyond their military service.
Jeanne Barnes, regent of the Abigail Scott Dunaway chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a Portland VA representative, described DAR—s volunteer work on behalf of veterans, including a range of programs from diaper-bag support for veteran women to musical instrument donations and ROTC awards. Linda Bannister, a past regent, noted the chapter—s local projects honoring service members and first responders.
Mark Buckholtz, founder and chairman of Honoring Heroes, outlined his nonprofit—s work providing basic needs and in-home assistance to veterans, from new beds and wheelchair ramps to helping veterans set up gardens. Buckholtz said the organization has strict eligibility rules (typically requiring an honorable discharge), does not charge recipients and relies on volunteers and community partners. He encouraged residents to follow Honoring Heroes— updates on Facebook.
Councilors thanked the presenters and noted the groups— role in filling gaps other programs sometimes miss. The presentations served as part of the council—s Veterans Day appreciation activities.
The council did not take any formal action related to these presentations; the organizations were invited to inform the community and the council of volunteer opportunities and upcoming events.
