Parkland Village salutes its heroes with wall of honor

By LAUREN L. DILLARD

Of the News-Register

On the wall in the lobby - surrounding a photo of Manhattan - photographs of heroes have been hung with care.

Some are black and white, some sepia-toned, some bold with color. Some are framed in gold, some in natural wood.

The have two things in common. They all depict soldiers. And all of those soldiers are heroes to the residents of Parkland Village.

On the right-hand side, somewhere near the middle, hangs a photo of Army Sgt. First Class Robert Warren. He is the grandson of Parkland Village residents Frank and Jean Ryan.

Asked if he was proud of his grandson, Frank replied, "Oh heavens yes. Why wouldn't we be?"

Warren served with a Fort Lewis Stryker Brigade based in Kuwait. He also saw service in Panama.

His grandparents don't get to see him often, but get regular reports on his status from his McMinnville-based parents. Warren was on his way back to Fort Lewis late last week.

"God, he'll be 40 next year," Frank said, marveling at the thought. By the Ryans' recollection, he's been serving in the Army for at least 18 years.

The Wall of Heroes is part of Parkland's Storm for the Troops program. Each of the 10 Sun Retirement communities is working to raise money, care-package items and letters for American troops serving abroad.

"I was just driving in the car, and I was thinking of ways to give back," said Jill Addison, Sun Retirement's assistant director of in-home care.

Parkland's executive director Beth Williams said the post office has donated boxes and the community has helped fund the effort.

The goal is to raise enough money and collect enough items to send 500 packages overseas at a cost of $8 each. And John Cook, Sun Retirement's director of food services, said, "I think we'll exceed that."

Each of Sun's 10 Oregon locations, spread from Milwaukie to Grants Pass, is featuring a car wash. Parkland held its event Saturday.

Today, the Penguin Cafe in Carlton is hosting "Dinner out for the Troops." Twenty percent of proceeds will be donated to the care package project.

On Wednesday, Parkland is asking residents and community members to write letters to troops for inclusion in the packages. On Thursday, Parkland will host a silent 7 p.m. auction featuring donated items, including a river trip on a sternwheeler and a selection of fudge from the Brigittine Monastery.

The Ryans, who have made their home at Parkland for four years, plan to participate in both events. Frank also belongs to the poker club and both he and Jean attend monthly potlucks.

Frank, who served in World War II as a medic, attended the University of Portland until the war broke out. Upon his return, he commuted from Tillamook to finish his degree.

Spinal stenosis has him confined mostly to a scooter these days, but he manages to get around nonetheless.

"Some of these pictures date back to World War I, it looks like," he said, looking up at the wall display from his scooter seat.

Some are pictured in dress uniforms, others in field uniforms with the sleeves rolled up. Some are decked out in camouflage.

But they are heroes, one and all, at Parkland.

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