DRAFT - VETFEST - Event Program

PRESENTS:

9 NOVEMBER

SALEM ARMORY AUDITORIUM

1600 2320 17TH ST NE, SALEM, OR 97301 4PM CIVILIAN TIME

TY CURTIS & THE TY CURTIS BAND

JOHNNY WHEELS & THE SWAMP DONKEYS

DAVID WELCH

GUITARS 4 VETS SALEM, OR CH. 201

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:

EVENT PROGRAM

EVENT SCHEDULE

(All times are tentative and are subject to change)

1600 / 4:00 Doors Open 1700 / 5:00 Presentation of Colors by NAME OF COLOR GUARD / National Anthem by NAME OF SINGER

1715 / 5:15 Invocation by NAME OF SPEAKER, NAME OF ORG 1720 / 5:20 Welcome by Roy McClain, Program Director, VETcare 1730 / 5:30 David Welch, Guitars 4 Vets - Salem, OR 1830 / 6:30 Speaker: Mark Buchholz, Honoring Heroes 1840 / 6:40 Johnny Wheels & The Swamp Donkeys 2010 / 8:10 Speaker: David Welch, Guitars 4 Vets - Salem, OR CONFIRM IN PLACE OF SALEM VETS CENTER

2020 / 8:20 Raffle Drawings 2100 / 9:00 Ty Curtis & The Ty Curtis Band 2230 / 10:30 End of Show

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.

Scan this code to listen to Ty Curtis on Spotify!

Booking/Info: www.tycurtis.com

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,” said Johnny.

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 childhood accident, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. “The days of football practice after school were definitely over”, Johnny says, but music still provided an outlet for his infectious energy and his creative potential.

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 has been traveling the Pacific Northwest music scene, spreading the gospel of the blues.

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 worlds of R&B, soul, jazz, funk, and rock are blended under a blues umbrella.

Scan this code to listen to Johnny Wheels & The Swamp Donkeys on Spotify!

Booking/Info: www.johnnywheelsband.com

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!

For more info on Guitars 4 Vets’ mission, please visit www.guitars4vets.org

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FENCE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY bauerbuiltconstruction@gmail.com

A VETCARE SUCCESS STORY FEATURING IVAN Ivan is a US Army Veteran who served as a 35G Geospatial Imagery Analyst (G.I.S). 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.

honorable conditions.

While serving overseas, he started college and obtained his associate degree to further his career. During his time in college, he maintained a 3.5 GPA. Even though life was going well, Ivan was struggling with the challenges he endured during his deployment to Afghanistan. As a result, he began to self-medicate with marijuana and other substances, which led to being discharged under

After being discharged, Ivan was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other pain 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 downward spiral with no hope of recovering. As things worsened, Ivan’s wife left and filed for a divorce.

When everything seemed at its bleakest, he got a bottle of valium from his ex-wife and attempted to commit suicide. Fortunately, he was not successful.

A Collaborative Solution: 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 receiving assistance from the in-house clinician with his PTSD. VETCare is comprised of a support team that includes a mental health counselor, who was working with Ivan on his PTSD; his case manager, Jim, who helped budget out a plan using his short- and long-term goals; and myself, whom helped find employment as well as assisting him on his resume, cover letters, 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 Critical Time Intervention, 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 other concerns.

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, and VETCare Case Manager. This helped him establish a routine while at VETCare which was imperative in helping him succeed and move on to the next chapter of his life.

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 healthy lifestyle, positive mindset, and self-discipline – which contributed to his success at VETCare.

In Ivan’s Own Words: “Facilities like VETCare and Gales Lodge truly saved my life. They prevented me from entering an everdownward 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. Everyone has a story. So, being around people made it easier for me to work on the things I 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, and Eric allowed me to be successful.”

Ivan is currently employed full-time with DHS.

KEIZER, OR LODGE NO. 2472 FOR THE LODGE YEAR 2024-2025 MEETS EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 7:30 PM VISITORS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR UPCOMING EVENTS

@KEIZER ELKS LODGE

"Let Us Help You with Your Case" www.rockhardcases.com

MAJOR AD PLACEHOLDER (2" H x 5" W)

PLEASE CONFIRM STATUS OF SHINE ON AS A SPONSOR. OUR CONTACT SEEMED CONFUSED WITH OUR REQUEST FOR THIS.

www.vfwpost584.org

NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS

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 homelessness.

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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 Veterans’ capacity to remain housed during program participation and beyond by effectively connecting them to crucial community supports and helping them attain greater economic stability.

Transitional Housing / Critical Time Intervention: 2933 C E N T ER ST, UNI T 2 SALE M , O R 97301 503- 3 6 4 - 1 728

HVRP / VETcare Prevents:

3886 B E V E RLY NE, BLDG I , S TE. 18 SALE M , O R 93705 503- 3 8 5 - 8 285

vetc a r e o r egon.com vetc a r e @ w estcare.com