Paths of honor: Bend’s Dick Tobiason marks Oregon’s ninth border-to-border veterans’ memorial highway

Final effort honors Gold Star Families of 6,000 veterans who made ultimate sacrifice

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Sept. 29, the last Sunday in September, was designated by the U.S. Congress as Gold Star Mother’s Day in 1936 and later revised as Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day.

"On that special day, we will dedicate the newly designated Oregon Gold Star Families Memorial Highway across Oregon on the 477-mile U.S. Highway 30 between Astoria and Ontario," Bend Heroes Foundation Chairman Dick Tobiason said Wednesday.

"That longest highway in Oregon now honors the families of Oregon's 6,000 veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice during wars from WWI to the present and Gold Star Families from any state who travel on U.S. Hwy 30."

Five of the eight highway signs will be unveiled during ceremonies that day in Seaside, Portland, Pendleton, Baker City and Ontario.

The Portland ceremony will be a traditional military ceremony and begins at noon at the Oxford Suites Hotel in Jantzen Beach (12226 N. Jantzen Drive).

Tobiason, LTC US Army, Ret., initiated the highway designation and will emcee the ceremony.

"We anticipate six Gold Star family members will attend, with some participating in the ceremony," Tobiason said.

"At the Portland ceremony, we will:

Summarize the origin of Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day.

Read Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day proclamations issued by President Biden and Governor Kotek.

Summarize the new Oregon law (HB 2146A) creating the Oregon Gold Star Families Memorial
Highway,

Describe how the new Gold Star Families Memorial Highway relates to the 8 previously dedicated
veterans highways across Oregon honoring nearly one-half million war veterans (WWI - Global War on
Terror).

Unveil an Oregon Gold Star Families Memorial Highway sign.

Describe other Gold Star memorials dedicated across Oregon.

Lay a wreath and present Gold Star coins to Gold Star families attending.

Recommend how the Oregon Gold Star Families Memorial Highway could be used to designate a
National Gold Star Families Memorial Highway across the USA on U.S. Hwy 30 honoring 625,000
Gold Star Families or about 2.5 million Gold Star individuals.

Thank the many patriots who funded the eight special highway signs.

Bend Heroes Foundation initiated the legislation for the Oregon Gold Star Families Memorial Highway as well as the connecting eight “war” highways across Oregon. The Foundation is grateful to the Oregon Legislature and governors for supporting our initiatives over the last 15 years and the many patriots who donated over $150,000 to the Foundation to pay Oregon DOT to install 101 signs across Oregon’s 3,447 miles of veterans highways.

A fact sheet describing the new highway is below.

LTC US Army, Ret.
Chairman, Bend Heroes Foundation
Project Manager, Oregon Veterans Highways
541 390 9932

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BEND HEROES FOUNDATION

OREGON HONORS 6,000 GOLD STAR FAMILIES

ON 477 MILE U. S. HIGHWAY 30 ACROSS OREGON

FACT SHEET

Gold Star Families are those who have lost a family member during war while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. American war deaths between WWI and the present created about 625,000 Gold Star Families. By a 1936 act of Congress, they are honored on “ Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day ” - the last Sunday in September.

During the 2023 Legislative session, the non-profit Bend Heroes Foundation was successful in requesting the Oregon legislature and Governor to enact a law honoring nearly 6,000 Gold Star Families from Oregon who lost loved ones during 5 major wars: WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Wars. The law (HB 2146A) designated the 477 mile U.S. Hwy 30 across Oregon between Astoria and the Oregon/Idaho border at Ontario as “ Oregon Gold Star Families Memorial Highway ”. U.S. Hwy 30 is the longest highway in Oregon.

Testifying with the Foundation in support of HB 2146A were the American Legion, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Military Officers Association of America, Gold Star Wives of America, 3 Gold Star Families (Mothers, Fathers, Daughter), Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., and Vietnam Veterans of America. HB  2146A was signed into law by Gov. Tina Kotek on May 19, 2023. and became effective on January 1, 2024.

Prior to 2023, the Foundation initiated legislation designating 8 other border to border highways across Oregon honoring 480,000 wartime veterans. The honors to Oregon’s wartime veterans were accomplished by 93 large (4 ft. x 8 ft. and 6 ft. X 8 ft.) signs installed by Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and others. The first sign was dedicated in 2010 and the last in 2018. Each border to border highway displays 10 - 18 signs with half facing in each direction. The 8 major highways range in length from 292 miles to 471 miles for a total of 2,970 miles within Oregon.

The 9 border to border Veterans’ highways are:

WWI Veterans Memorial Highway.……………………  10 signs on U.S. Hwy 395

WWII Veterans Historic Highway.………………………18 signs on U.S. Hwy 97/S.R. 126

Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway……………. 10 signs on Interstate 5

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway.…………………17 signs on Interstate 84

Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Veterans Memorial Hwy…11 signs on U.S. Hwy 101

Purple Heart Trail…………………………………………5 signs on Interstate 5

Oregon Medal of Honor Highway.………………………12 signs on U.S. Hwy 20

POW/MIA Memorial Highway………………………………10 signs on U.S. Hwy 26

Oregon Gold Star Families Memorial Highway…….…8 signs on U.S. Hwy 30

A map displaying the 9 border to border highways is attached. Six highways are “firsts in the USA.” A separate fact sheet covering the 8 war highways is available upon request.

As HB 2146A became effective on Jan. 1, 2024, the Foundation and partners will dedicate 5 highway signs across Oregon displaying the familiar Gold Star Family lapel pin presented to Gold Star Families by the Department of Defense. The pin emblem is also displayed on the Oregon Gold Star Family vehicle license plate initiated by the Foundation. The new Oregon Gold Star Families Memorial highway “caps” the war highways and symbolically connects those families with their loved ones. The Foundation is raising  $18,000 to pay ODOT to fabricate and install the highway signs  along US Hwy 30. Tax deductible donations can be sent to Bend Heroes Foundation: 1900 NE 3 ^rd St., Ste 106, #205, Bend, OR 97701.

The highway will be dedicated on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024 – Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day with ceremonies across Oregon in Seaside, Portland, Pendleton, Baker City, and Ontario.

At the Foundation’s request, the Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. has partnered with American Legion Posts in Astoria and Ontario to dedicate 41 inch x 45 inch Gold Star Memorial markers in veterans parks near the ends of U.S. Hwy 30. The Garden Clubs graciously donated the markers ($2,000 each plus installation) provided by National Garden Clubs, Inc. (NGC).

Also at the Foundation’s request, 5 Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) Chapters and 3 American Legion Posts in 8 cities partnered with OSFGCI dedicating 12 in x 20 in NGC Blue Star and Gold Star Memorial  By-Way markers ($700 each plus installation) in their cities.

Oregon’s 8 veterans’ highway signs were funded by veterans’ groups, Boards of County Commissions, civic organizations, several non-profits, businesses, and individuals. Bend Heroes Foundation and its partners raised over $150,000 to pay  ODOT and others to fabricate and install 101 honorific signs across Oregon. No state highway funds were used.

By the end of 2024, Bend Heroes Foundation and its many patriotic partners will have honored Oregon’s 480,000 wartime veterans and 6,000 Gold Star Families (nearly 24,000 individual family members)  with  101 highway signs installed across 3,447 miles of highway  within Oregon. On average, travelers will view a sign every 68 miles. All 9 border to border highways within Oregon now honor veterans and  Gold Star Families. The replacement costs for the signs is over $200,000.

As U.S. Hwy 30 spans the USA between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, there is the possibility of a National Gold Star Families Memorial Highway (“Whereas” clause in HB 2146A ) following the 3,365 mile National Medal of Honor Highway across Americaon U.S. Hwy 20precedent set by the Foundation and its partners during 2017-2024. To that end, the Foundation has requested the national leaders of the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., and America’s Gold Star Families   to consider advocating a National Gold Star Families Memorial Highway Across America on U.S. Hwy 30 honoring about 2.5 million Gold Star Family members. At 3,073 miles in length, U.S. Hwy 30 is the third longest highway in our nation and crosses 11 states.

At the Foundation’s  request, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed HB 2146A in a ceremonial setting in Salem on Sept. 27, 2023 with many of those who testified in support of the legislation attending. A  report of  the bill signing ceremony can be read here:  https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2023/09/27/oregon-gold-star-families-get-highway-designation-ninth-state-highway-honoring-veterans/

Oregon’s Legislators, Governors, Department of Transportation, and many patriotic donors have made this 14 year and counting Bend Heroes Foundation vision a reality.

It has been a high honor and privilege leading this legacy project honoring Oregon’s veterans and Gold Star Families. They will not be forgotten .

Dick Tobiason

Chairman, Bend Heroes Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Bend, Oregon

https://www.facebook.com/bendheroes

Project Manager, Oregon Veterans Highways, Medal of Honor Highway Across America, National Medal of Honor Highway,

LTC US Army Retired, Master Army Aviator,

Member: American Legion, DAV, MOAA, MOPH, OVMA, VFW, VVA

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