Veterans mark Armed Forces Day

For a large contingent of Sisters area veterans, their lives continue to be filled with the kind of mission and purpose that drew them to serve their country.

The Sisters chapter of Band of Brothers filled the banquet room at Takoda's on Saturday evening for an event marking Armed Forces Day.

Co-founder Tom Barrier recalled starting the chapter with Dave Culver and Merle Holm. Now it's grown to 60 members, devoted to fellowship and helping veterans and others in the Sisters community. It's all about continuing the ethic of service to others.

"It gives you such an uplift to know you did something for somebody today," Barrier said.

To help fund their programs, veterans from Band of Brothers put in 170 volunteer hours selling raffle tickets at Ray's Food Place for an electric bicycle. They raised a gross of $4,800.

Jim Mandel rode the bike over to Takoda's from Ray's for Saturday's raffle drawing.

"It rides like a dream," he said. "I wanted to keep going."

Sisters resident Tom Buck, owner of Cork Cellars, was the winner.

Veterans from Sisters VFW Post 8138 and American Legion Post 86 will host Memorial Day observances at Sisters' Village Green Park at 11 a.m. on May 30, featuring keynote speaker Karl Baldessari, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Retired.

This is the 150th anniversary of the national holiday, which was originally established to honor Civil War soldiers who died in the conflict.

Sisters residents and visitors are invited to attend the special event and a barbecue lunch following the observances.