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News Release

Honor Through Remembrance: Memorial Day Message From ODVA Director Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels (Photo) -05/22/25

It is a profound honor to reflect on Memorial Day, where memory and mission converge. This day is not one of celebration. It is a day of solemn remembrance — when our nation pauses to reflect on the profound cost of the freedoms and way of life we each hold so dear.

Behind every headstone and memorial etched with the names of our fallen service members are lives lived with deep purpose and conviction — and defined by courage and sacrifice: the young Marine who never returned home, the soldier who died to save his fellow troops, the sailor whose name is known only to God, the airman whose remains are still missing in action.

Behind each of them, a family lives with a permanent absence — a parent’s grief, a spouse’s broken heart, a sibling’s pride, a child’s aching questions.

As we honor the fallen, we must also speak of those whose fates remain unknown — those still missing in action. For their families, there has been no return, no final goodbye, no folded flag. Only a silence that spans generations — filled with questions, memories, and the hope that one day, answers may come.

More than 81,000 American service members remain unaccounted for from conflicts dating back to World War II. Among them are hundreds of Oregonians whose names are etched into monuments and hearts, even as time marches forward.

Commander William B. Ault of Enterprise, Oregon, led a daring assault during the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942. After striking enemy carriers, his final radio message was: "O.K. So long, people. We put a 1,000-pound hit on the flat top." He and his radioman were never seen again. For his heroism, he was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, and the USS Ault and Ault Field bear his name.

Private First Class Dale Warren Ross of Ashland, Oregon, went missing during combat on Guadalcanal in 1943. Seventy-six years later, his remains were discovered and identified, finally bringing closure to his family.

Staff Sergeant George Edward Davies of Portland, Oregon, was shot down over Romania in 1943. His remains were identified and laid to rest with full military honors in June 2024 — over 80 years later.

Each identification made, each name returned to a loved one, is a sacred act. It reminds us that the cost of war extends far beyond the battlefield, affecting families and communities for generations.

This year marks a profound milestone: the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II — a war that demanded extraordinary sacrifice from more than 152,000 Oregonians. Tyranny was defeated, but freedom came at a heavy cost. The generation that answered that call helped liberate the world and laid the foundation for a more just and inclusive America — one we are still striving to fully realize.

This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, created in 1945 to serve returning WWII veterans. Born out of war, ODVA was founded on the principle that “equity, justice and a simple duty” should be recognized for those who "brought us victory and peace." That mission continues today.

Let us remember Oregon’s deep and personal sacrifices:

  • One Oregonian died in the Civil War.
  • Sixty-five were lost in the Spanish-American War.
  • 1,030 in World War I.
  • 3,757 in World War II.
  • 269 in the Korean War.
  • 709 in Vietnam.
  • One during the USS Pueblo incident.
  • One in Panama.
  • Seven in the Persian Gulf.
  • 142 in the post-9/11 conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Each number is a name. Each name, a story. Each story, a reminder of the sacrifice made not only in distant places, but right here — from Oregon’s fields, towns, and Tribal communities.

We must also acknowledge a harder truth: some of those we remember today gave their lives for the hope of freedom and equality they were never fully granted in life. Black Americans served in segregated units. Native Americans and Asian Americans defended a country that treated them as outsiders. Women gave their lives in uniform long before they were fully recognized in it. LGBTQ+ service members served under policies that denied their identity. Latino service members endured discrimination even while wearing our nation’s cloth.

They died for a constitution whose promises were not fully extended to them. Let that truth not divide us, but deepen our reverence. Their sacrifice was not diminished by injustice. In fact, it is all the more sacred. Because they believed — as we all do — in a nation that is great, and that can yet be greater still. They died not just for the America that was, but for the America we still strive to become.

Today, more than 260,000 veterans call Oregon home. They are our neighbors, our leaders, our protectors. At ODVA, we carry forward the solemn responsibility to care not just for the fallen, but for the living. To ensure no sacrifice is forgotten. To uphold the promises made — in law, in policy, and in principle — to those who wore the uniform of our nation.

Memorial Day traces its roots to the Civil War, when families decorated graves — North and South — bound by grief and shared humanity. More than 150 years later, we still honor that call.

And we do so not just with flowers and flags, but with purpose. We honor our war dead when we invest in mental health and suicide prevention, when we build housing for unhoused veterans, when we lift up the voices of veterans of every race, gender, background, and orientation.

We honor them when we teach our children not only the history of war, but the cost of peace.

At 3 p.m. on Memorial Day, wherever you are, I invite you to join in the National Moment of Remembrance — one minute of silence for those who gave everything so that we may live freely.

In that moment, let your heart be full — not only of sorrow, but of resolve. Because we are the stewards of their legacy. And it is our duty to remember, not just with words, but with action.

May their memory guide us. May their courage strengthen us. And may their sacrifice — whether known or unknown, celebrated or too long overlooked — be honored in all we do.

Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels is a proud United States Army veteran and the director of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, overseeing agency operations and ensuring the availability of and access to vital veteran services and programs for more than 260,000 veterans and their families across the state.

Attached Media Files: Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels,

Oregon Department Of Veterans' Affairs To Host 2025 Veteran Benefit Expo And 80th Anniversary Celebration In Salem (Photo) -05/19/25

The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) is proud to announce the return of its annual Veteran Benefit Expo, the state’s largest veteran resource event, on June 16th at the Salem Armory Auditorium, 2310 17th St. NE.

This marks the first in-person Expo since 2019 and will also feature a special 80th Anniversary Celebration of ODVA beginning at 10 a.m.

Organized by the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs and presented in partnership with the Oregon Lottery and the Oregon Military Department, the Veteran Benefit Expo is a one-of-a-kind event and a one-stop shop for Oregon veterans of all eras and walks of life to learn about and access the full range of their earned benefits and local resources.

More than 65 participating agencies, nonprofits and service providers will be on hand to provide in-depth information and direct services across a wide range of benefit areas, including health care, disability claims assistance, housing, emergency assistance, long-term care, mental health, education, business, recreation and more.

“We are celebrating the 80th anniversary of ODVA by doing what we’ve always done: showing up for Oregon veterans and their families,” said ODVA Director Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels. “The Veteran Benefit Expo is more than an event — it is the heart of our mission brought to life: bringing vital resources and earned benefits into the communities where veterans live and work, and making sure they know they’re seen, valued, and supported.”

This year’s Expo will also celebrate ODVA’s eight decades of service to Oregon’s veteran community, kicking off with the 80th Anniversary Ceremony at 10 a.m. on the Armory Auditorium stage, which will be immediately followed by a cake cutting and the opening of the Expo. The public is invited to attend.

Space is limited, but there are still openings for state or local organizations who provide direct benefits to veterans and who are interested in being an exhibitor at this year’s Expo. Registration is free but is subject to approval by ODVA based on space and other considerations. To register, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/orvetexpo25vendors.

The Veteran Benefit Expo was first held in 2015 at the Salem Convention Center in honor of ODVA’s 70th anniversary and has grown to become the agency’s signature outreach event, drawing an estimated 500 to 600 veterans each year. Since its inception, the Expo has traveled to different regions of the state, with plans to continue rotating in future years to ensure broad access to benefits by the state’s diverse veteran population.

Established in 1945, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is dedicated to serving Oregon’s diverse veteran community that spans five eras of service members. ODVA administers programs and provides special advocacy and assistance in accessing earned veteran benefits across the state. Learn about veteran benefits and services, or locate a local county or tribal veteran service office online at oregon.gov/odva.

For Media Only: Media partners are welcome to attend and cover or conduct interviews before or after the 80th Anniversary Ceremony or during the Expo. For assistance, please contact Tyler Francke at tyler.francke@odva.oregon.gov or 971-239-6640.


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Oregon Statewide Memorial Day Ceremony To Be Held On State Capitol Grounds -05/14/25

The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) will host the state’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 26, at the Oregon World War II Memorial, located on the grounds of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem (intersection of Cottage and Court Street NE).

This solemn event brings together Oregonians from across the state to remember and reflect on the sacrifices of our nation’s fallen heroes, who made the ultimate sacrifice service to the United States. Held in the heart of Oregon’s capital, the ceremony provides a space for community members, families, veterans, and civic leaders to pay tribute to those who served and never returned home.

The event will feature remarks from ODVA Director Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels, along with other veteran leaders, state officials, and honored guests. The program will include ceremonial elements such as the national anthem, presentation of colors, and a moment of silence.

“Memorial Day is a sacred day of remembrance — a time to reflect on the cost of our freedoms and to honor the courage and selflessness of those who laid down their lives in service to our country,” said Dr. Daniels. “We invite all Oregonians to join us in this moment of unity and gratitude.”

This year’s Memorial Day ceremony holds the significance of falling on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The Oregon World War II Memorial, dedicated in 2014, honors the more than 3,700 Oregonians who lost their lives during WWII.

Limited seating will be available. Attendees are welcome to bring their own chairs or blankets for the park setting. Please dress appropriately for the weather, as the ceremony will take place rain or shine.

For those unable to attend in person, the event will be live-streamed beginning at 11 a.m. on ODVA’s Facebook page at facebook.com/odvavet and YouTube channel at youtube.com/channel/UCAQVavs9KmvDeJ42ySFtY8A.

Established in 1945, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is dedicated to serving Oregon’s diverse veteran community that spans five eras of service members. ODVA administers programs and provides special advocacy and assistance in accessing earned veteran benefits across the state. Learn about veteran benefits and services, or locate a local county or tribal veteran service office online at oregon.gov/odva.

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