Final plans under way for May 13 departure
Organizers for the inaugural Logan County Veterans to D.C. bus trip are finalizing plans for a May 13 departure and they are looking to fill more slots with area veterans who served in the World War II, Korean and Vietnam eras.
Already, 37 have signed up for the trip, trip leader Scott Stewart said, stressing the trip is open to any honorably discharged male or female veteran who has yet to see the monument for their era.
“A veteran may have been to D.C. before,” Mr. Stewart said, “but their memorial wasn’t open yet or maybe they weren’t ready to visit it.”
Thus far, two tour buses are lined up for the weekend trip. In just a year, the local group has organized under the Doyle R. Miller AMVETS Post 39 in Lakeview for tax deductible status.
The window to submit an application closes March 13.
Applications are available at area service clubs including the Harold Kerr American Legion Post 173, 120 Colton Ave.; and VFW Post 1080, 216 Orchard Ave.
The Logan County Veterans Service Office, 121 S. Opera St.; the Logan County Chamber of Commerce, 100 S. Main St.; and Ashley Furniture, 2400 S. Main St., also have applications.
Qualifying veterans pay nothing for the 520-mile round trip, including overnight hotel stays and food. They can bring a companion at a cost of $250.
All of the volunteers pay their own way for the trip.
“One hundred percent of the money we raise goes to cover costs for the veterans,” Mr. Stewart said.
There have been several successful fundraisers, Mr. Stewart and fellow volunteer Dennis Walter said.
A chicken dinner at the legion drew a much larger crowd than expected, Mr. Walter said.
“It went too well and we learned from it,” he said, noting people were willing to wait and were supportive of the trip.
Currently, the group is offering $10 raffle tickets to win one of three firearms donated by AcuSport Corp. The drawing is March 15.
Tickets are available at Mad River Knife & Supply, 130 S. Main St., basement level;
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Stout’s Gun Shop, 5452 County Road 26; Harold Kerr American Legion Post 173; and Indian Lake Outfitters, 145 E. Lake St., Lakeview.
On April 20, the group hosts a quarter auction in the Grange Building at the Logan County Fairgrounds. The doors will open at 5 p.m. with the auction starting at 6 p.m.
There are two direct ways people can support the trip without a monetary donation, Mr. Stewart said, and these may have the greatest impact on the honored guests.
During the trip, there will be a “mail call” during which veterans will be receive letters, he said. This recreates a very significant daily event in the life of any veteran.
He hopes local residents take the time to write a letter to a veteran.
“It doesn’t have to be to a specific veteran,” Mr. Stewart said. “It can be a generic letter just thanking them for their service.
“They go nuts over the letters when we hand them out.”
Also he hopes there is a large turnout May 13 when the buses depart the fairgrounds and head north on Main Street.
The group is working with Bellefontaine officials to coordinate the 8 a.m. departure.
“We want the first trip out to be particularly memorable and would like to see as many people as possible lining the streets,” Mr. Stewart said.
Prior to organizing the local efforts, Mr. Stewart was involved in the Shelby County Veterans to DC group. It disbanded after serving most of that county’s veterans and many from surrounding counties.
There are 30-some volunteers associated with the Logan County effort.
There is always room for more volunteers, Mr. Stewart said.
For more information, visit logancountyvetstodc.org.
Mr. Stewart can be reached at (937) 407-6766.
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