EVENT SCHEDULE
(All times are tentative and are subject to change)
1600 / 4:00
1700 / 5:00
1715 / 5:15
1720 / 5:20
1730 / 5:30
1830 / 6:30
1840 / 6:40
2010 / 8:10
2020 / 8:20
2100 / 9:00
2230 / 10:30
Doors Open
Presentation of Colors by NAME OF COLOR GUARD / National Anthem by NAME OF SINGER
Invocation by NAME OF SPEAKER, NAME OF ORG
Welcome by Roy McClain, Program Director, VETcare
DavidWelch,Guitars4Vets-Salem,OR
Speaker: Mark Buchholz, Honoring Heroes
JohnnyWheels&TheSwampDonkeys
Speaker: David Welch, Guitars 4 Vets - Salem, OR -
CONFIRM IN PLACE OF SALEM VETS CENTER
Raffle Drawings
TyCurtis&TheTyCurtisBand
EndofShow
A THANK YOU FROM VETCARE!
By Roy McClain, Program Director, VETcare
From our entire team at VETcare, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone that has made this event possible from the bands to our generous sponsors to our determined staff and cherished community partners Your support of VETcare and the Veterans that we serve has been nothing short of remarkable. The commitment and impact of your support is evident in the lives that we change every day. Remember, every small victory for a Veteran and every significant breakthrough fuels our mission and strengthens our resolve even in the face of setbacks. Thank you for your continued support and we hope you all enjoy VETFEST!
Sincerely,
Roy McClain
Roy McClain
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REWRITE THIS HOWEVER YOU SEE FIT, ROY!
Honoring Heroes is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to assisting United States Veterans, active-duty military, and their families.
ARTIST BIO: TY CURTIS & THE TY CURTIS BAND
Ty Curtis commands attention in the blues genre. With a voice that echoes with depth and guitar skills that mesmerize, he's released eight albums to date even sharing the stage with big names like George Thorogood, The Doobie Brothers, and blues legend, Robert Cray. Backed by a seasoned talented band, including Steve Kerin on keys, David Kahl on bass, and Richard Lawrence on drums, his music is captivating and heartfelt. Their latest album, "Ascendant Blues," continues to impress fans old and new. If you’ve seen Ty Curtis before, then be prepared for what others have said; that, as good as he is, there is now an elevated quality about seeing him performing, especially with this band. If you’ve never had the pleasure, prepare yourselves; you’re about to embark on a memorable journey.
ARTIST BIO: JOHNNY WHEELS & THE SWAMP DONKEYS
“Nope! You won’t hear a song exactly the same way twice – that’s what CD’s are for. We like to add some spice of musical exploration,”saidJohnny
The son of a traveling bass player and singer, Johnny “Wheels” Kennicott had music in his blood since birth, but expressing himself musically took on new importance when Johnny broke neck in a childhoodaccident,leavinghimparalyzed
from the chest down. “The days of football practice after school were definitely over”, Johnny says,butmusicstillprovidedanoutletforhisinfectiousenergyandhiscreativepotential
Though his father’s instrument of choice and his early passion of playing drums were now out due to limited function, Johnny found, through determined trial and error, he could manipulate his paralyzed diaphragm to not only sing, but also blow the harmonica. Since that time, Johnny hasbeentravelingthePacificNorthwestmusicscene,spreadingthegospeloftheblues
Collectively, the band hails from Oregon, Texas, and California and is typically tagged as a blues band, although, the diversity of the members’ musical backgrounds becomes evident as the worldsofR&B,soul,jazz,funk,androckareblendedunderabluesumbrella.
ARTIST BIO: DAVID WELCH, GUITARS 4 VETS - SALEM, OR
Born May 14, 1984 (in a carnival), I enlisted into the United States Army Oct 9, 2003, leaving behind my mother and three siblings. I gave thirteen and half years to the service with two full tours to Afghanistan. Twelve and a half of those years were spent at Fort Drum, NY (10th Mountain Light Infantry Division). While in the military, I served mostly as a Human Resources Specialist in a Casualty Office, a Generals Admin Office, and in an Infantry Admin Office for the 2-87 Infantry Battalion (Seven years hanging out with those grunts) While I was never highly decorated, I was awarded the Combat Action Badge and the Joint Serve Commendation Award. While I struggled, like many do in the military, I was diagnosed with ADHD in 2009. I also was treated for over a
decade with severe anxiety and depression before finally being diagnosed with PTSD after leaving the military. I battled for years to not end my own life and after spending a week and half in a mental ward, a Watertown, NY Vet Center counselor asked me to join a program called Guitars 4 Vets I turned it down three times before saying yes. That was a mistake. The program has saved my life and given me… well, me back. I was a kid who grew up singing in choirs and learning music. I grew up in Keizer, OR and graduated from McNary High in 2003. Since moving back in 2019, I finished my bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management. I am also now the coordinator and instructor of the Salem, OR Guitars 4 Vets chapter. Our chapter in the last three years has graduated fifty-four Veterans from the program and has received amazing and positive feedback. I have also made lots of friends! I am a VFW Post Quartermaster and a District Senior Vice Commander. Both responsibilities have allowed me to meet and work closely with other Veteran programs like VETCare, Honoring Heroes, SOVAH, VETNet, Soldier Songs and Voices, and many more. I also have to thank Uptown Music, Ratchet Brewery, and Snowpeak Brewery for not only supporting these programs, but for supporting ME! My life is now built on positivity and helping others. As I tell my friends in Guitars 4 Vets… keep strumming!
www.guitars4vets.org
A VETCARE SUCCESS STORY FEATURING IVAN
Ivan is a US Army Veteran who served as a 35G Geospatial Imagery Analyst (GIS) He served four years at Fort Campbell, Kentucky where he met and married his wife. He deployed for nine months to Nangarhar, Afghanistan, where he helped pick out helicopter landing zones for Blackhawks and assisted Apaches with gun tape to ensure everything was done by rules of engagement.
While serving overseas, he started college and obtained his associate degree tofurtherhiscareer.Duringhistimeincollege,hemaintaineda3.5GPA.Even thoughlifewasgoingwell,Ivanwasstrugglingwiththechallengesheendured during his deployment to Afghanistan As a result, he began to self-medicate withmarijuanaandothersubstances,whichledtobeingdischargedunder
honorableconditions.
Afterbeingdischarged,IvanwasdiagnosedwithPost-TraumaticStressDisorder(PTSD)andotherpain issues that he sustained during his military tenure Despite many challenges he was facing, he continued to strive to do right. Unfortunately, he hit a stuck point and felt like he was entering a downwardspiralwithnohopeofrecovering Asthingsworsened,Ivan’swifeleftandfiledforadivorce When everything seemed at its bleakest, he got a bottle of valium from his ex-wife and attempted to commitsuicide.Fortunately,hewasnotsuccessful.
ACollaborativeSolution:
In September of 2022, Ivan checked into Gales Lodge in Dallas and Polk County in Oregon While at Gale’s Lodge, he signed up for the HVRP (Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program) to look for employment. When working on his employment plan, I spoke to him about coming to VETcare and receivingassistancefromthein-houseclinicianwithhisPTSD
VETCareiscomprisedofasupportteamthatincludesamentalhealthcounselor,whowasworkingwith IvanonhisPTSD;hiscasemanager,Jim,whohelpedbudgetoutaplanusinghisshort-andlong-term goals;andmyself,whomhelpedfindemploymentaswellasassistinghimonhisresume,coverletters, and mock interviews. I also helped purchase things, such as work clothes, that Ivan needed when looking for employment. Finally, the Housing Manager, Roy, with CriticalTimeIntervention, was also imperative to Ivan’s success in his future life The support team at VETCare was available 24 hours a day in case he was experiencing any issues regarding his VA disability claims, mental health issues, or otherconcerns.
What Ivan felt contributed to part of his successes were the weekly and monthly check-ins with his support system, which included his Mental Health Counselor, HVRP Case Manager, Employment Specialist,andVETCareCaseManager ThishelpedhimestablisharoutinewhileatVETCarewhichwas imperativeinhelpinghimsucceedandmoveontothenextchapterofhislife
Despite not feeling successful at that time at Gale’s Lodge, he established a positive relationship with the Veteran’s Service Officers, Andrew and Eric, and the Case Managers who helped him establish a healthylifestyle,positivemindset,andself-discipline–whichcontributedtohissuccessatVETCare.
InIvan’sOwnWords:
“FacilitieslikeVETCareandGalesLodgetrulysavedmylife.Theypreventedmefromenteringaneverdownward spiral and were imperative to my success It helped me establish a routine and taught me how to continue to be disciplined in all aspects of my life It put me in a place with like-minded individuals.Everyonehasastory.So,beingaroundpeoplemadeiteasierformetoworkonthethingsI needed to by having company around whom I could relate and talk to in some way I always had something to keep me busy while living at these facilities such as having to do chores, having a list of tasks and goals. It was a rich and diverse support system that I depended on daily, weekly, and monthly so that I could accomplish the goals I needed to find gainful employment and permanent housing. Having people in my corner like I did at VETcare and Gale’s Lodge with Jim, Roy, Jennifer, Brittany,Andrew,andEricallowedmetobesuccessful.”
KEIZER, OR LODGE NO. 2472
MEETS EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 7:30 PM VISITORS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!
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@KEIZER ELKS LODGE FOR THE LODGE YEAR 2024-2025
ABOUT VETCARE
VETcare is a non-profit 501(c)(3) service organization that is dedicated to devoting our best efforts by providing supportive services to Veterans in Marion and Polk Counties who are facing homelessness and those who are re-entering the community after being incarcerated. Our variety of services are provided by four separate programs:
Transitional Housing is provided by VETCare for Veterans experiencing homelessness.
HVRP provides vocational support for previously unhoused Veterans by way of resume-building assistance, work clothing, transportation to interviews, and life-skills education to promote self-sufficiency.
VETcare Prevents provides case management, peer support, and enriching activities for Veterans who are experiencing a low to medium-risk of suicidal ideation.
Critical Time Intervention works to improve during program participation and beyond community supports and helping them attain greater economic stability.
