News Release-Urgent

Contact: Greg Warnock
greg@owva.org
www.owva.org

Salem, Ore- Last Friday, Oregon War Veterans Association (OWVA) went to the public via the news media asking people to help get 94 Oregon National Guard Soldiers home for Christmas. The Soldier’s deployment to Afghanistan has been delayed and the base they are at is shutting down for the holidays, so they have an unusual opportunity to come home for Christmas.

“Since this project didn’t start until late Friday afternoon, we have not raised much money yet. Only $2,500.00 of the $40,000.00 asked for came in over the weekend, reported Greg Warnock OWVA’s director. “Our treasurer will transfer money from website donations later today, so we’ll know then how much money has been raised online.“

Several people have contacted OWVA, after Anna Song reported the story on KATU Channel 2 News last night, to see if they can donate frequent flyer miles or airline “buddy tickets” to the group. “We are looking at all options, and will have our plan ready by Wednesday this week, “said Warnock to a donor earlier today.

OWVA is asking people who have frequent flyer miles to donate, to contact them via email with their contact information. They will then contact the donors by Wednesday afternoon, if they can put together a program for the Soldiers using these miles. *Please login to OWVA’s site at www.owva.org to notify them if you have miles to donate, or to see what other ways to help get the Soldiers home.

As of late Sunday evening, all but 25 Oregon National Guard (ORNG) members had been able to find a ride home. But, many of them with young families spent their house and utility payments, or Christmas budgets to fly their Soldiers home for this unexpected leave. OWVA has set up a triage plan with the General Staff of the ORNG and their Commander to try to get the remaining Soldiers home, and help relieve the costs of the tickets that the others purchased. Soldiers who simply cannot afford to get their own tickets will be covered first, with the lower ranking personnel with families getting second priority for possible reimbursement assistance.

Warnock told a group of families today, “believe me, we are trying to do everything we can- from buying remaining tickets outright, to hiring a charter, to adding cars to Amtrak, to using FF Miles, etc. Whatever we do is going to cost money in the end, so we are still asking for donations for this project. Our options are running out, though, and the cost of available tickets is going up by the hour.” He also reminded them that, “We are relying on the generosity of Oregonians to help us.”
There three ways to make a charitable donation for this project:

1. Go online to www.OWVA.org, and click on the donate button at the top of the page.
2. Deposit at any branch at US Bank to Oregon War Veterans Association/ORNG account ending in 5051.
3. Mail a check to OWVA, PO Box 8043, Salem, OR 97303 (memo: “save Christmas”)

*If you have access to a large amount of Frequent Flyer Miles, please send OWVA an email with your contact info- to greg@OWVA.org