Douglas County Declares May Military Appreciation Month

**Douglas County Proclaims May as Military Appreciation Month** **Douglas County, Ore.** – The Douglas County Commissioners issued a proclamation on May 22, declaring May as Military Appreciation Month and recognizing Armed Forces Day on May 18. The proclamation, made during the Weekly Business Meeting at the Douglas County Courthouse, aims to raise awareness and appreciation for those who serve or have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Commissioner Chris Boice, speaking on behalf of the Board, emphasized the importance of honoring the sacrifices made by military personnel. “Throughout our history, courageous men and women have donned the uniform of the United States Armed Forces and built a noble tradition of faithful and dedicated service to our Nation,” Boice said. “We can never fully repay our debt of gratitude to those heroic men and women who serve, have served, were wounded, or paid the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our great nation.” Proclamation certificates were presented to several veterans and veteran supporters, including Bill Duncan, President of VVA Umpqua Valley Chapter #805; Jerry Anderson, Vice President of Douglas County Veterans Forum; Eric Bagwell, Jr Vice Commander of VFW Post 2468; Cecilia McMullen, President of AWVA; Nikki Hansen, Public Affairs Officer at Roseburg VA Medical Center; Ron Dukes, Chairman of NCO; Carmen Wulff, Deputy Clerk of Douglas County; and Michael Kurtz, Director of Human Resources for Douglas County. Armed Forces Day, celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May, honors all who have served and currently serve in the U.S. military. Established by President Harry S. Truman in 1949, Armed Forces Day consolidates separate holidays for the various branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. In 1999, the U.S. Congress declared May as Military Appreciation Month. Bill Duncan highlighted ongoing efforts to build a Veterans Home in Roseburg, noting that the existing veteran homes in Oregon are full. “I want to thank the Board of Commissioners, all of you for your dedication to veterans - not just one organization, but all veterans in Douglas County. We appreciate it! I want to address an issue that I found out over the weekend. In support of our efforts to get the Veterans Home built in Roseburg, I discovered that the other two veteran homes in Oregon are full. So, we plan on pushing forward to get this change done, get to shoveling some dirt and make this happen here. It won’t happen without continued efforts, all the way back to Washington. And I know all three of you support us in this mission,” Duncan said. Douglas County Commissioners encourage all citizens to support military members past and present and to uphold the liberties of the Constitution. For more information about Military Appreciation Month and Armed Forces Day, visit [military.com](https://www.military.com/military-appreciation-month). By Kristy Tallman, May 22, 2024 The Republic News Source: Douglas County Government.