09/30/2026
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Remembering America’s Heroes
31 Years of Honoring America’s Veterans
As Remembering America’s Heroes celebrates 31 years of honoring the service, sacrifice, and stories of America’s veterans, we are filled with gratitude for the thousands of people who have helped make this journey possible.
And we are extremely excited to announce that we are going back to where so much of this journey began—Milwaukie High School—for a very special 30th Anniversary Celebration on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Thirty years ago, Milwaukie High School held its first Living History Day, bringing veterans into the school and giving students the opportunity to hear, firsthand, about their experiences, their service, and their sacrifices.
Now, 30 years later, we are returning to Milwaukie High School to celebrate that incredible milestone and the thousands of veterans, students, teachers, administrators, and community members who have been part of this remarkable journey.
It will be a very special day—and one we are incredibly proud and excited to be a part of.
For more than three decades, this mission has been about something very simple but incredibly important:
Making sure our veterans know that America remembers, America cares, and America is grateful.
Since our organization began in 1996, Remembering America’s Heroes has had the privilege of bringing veterans into schools and communities, sharing their experiences with young people, honoring them at special events, and creating opportunities for generations to learn firsthand what service and sacrifice truly mean.
And we are still going strong.
One of the most meaningful parts of our mission continues to be Honoring Vietnam Veterans Across America with our American Flag-wrapped Hummer.
For years, we have traveled thousands of miles to bring Vietnam veterans to schools, communities, parades, sporting events, and special gatherings—giving these heroes the welcome home and recognition that so many never received when they returned from Vietnam.
A Moment We Will Never Forget
I would also like to share one of the more emotional responses to the Hummer that we have experienced so far this year.
We were participating in the Gladstone Festival Days Parade. At one point, the parade came to a stop, and right in front of us, on the driver's side, was a senior citizen retirement home. There were a whole bunch of residents sitting in the sunshine along the sidewalk, and they were extremely excited to see the American Flag-wrapped Hummer.
About 25 feet behind them, in the driveway of the facility, was another group of veterans sitting under the shade. Some were in wheelchairs, while others were using walkers.
The parade was stopped for what seemed like more than a minute. Then I noticed one of the veterans sitting in his walker.
He stood up.
He started waving at me.
Then he turned his walker around and began making his way toward us, continuing to wave his hand as if he desperately wanted to see us or tell us something.
Unfortunately, the parade began moving again, and we started to fall behind. It got to the point where I couldn't wait any longer, so I began moving forward very slowly.
The veteran yelled something toward me, but I couldn't hear what he said.
Then he stopped.
He stood as straight as he could.
And he saluted us.
Wow.
That sure meant a lot.
It was just one moment in one parade, but it reminded me exactly why we continue to do what we do.
That salute wasn't just for the Hummer.
It was for the American flag.
It was for the veterans who served before him.
And, in that moment, it felt like it was for every Vietnam veteran who never received the welcome home they deserved.
Those are the moments that make every mile, every parade, every school visit, and every sacrifice worth it.
This Year, We Need Your Help
Your donation will help Remembering America’s Heroes continue this important mission and support:
Special events and ceremonies honoring veterans and their families
Educational programs in schools and communities, where veterans share their stories with the next generation
Our ongoing nationwide Hummer mission, honoring Vietnam veterans across America
Travel and outreach expenses that allow us to bring these veterans’ stories and sacrifices to communities throughout the country
Every contribution, regardless of size, helps us continue this work.
For 31 years, we have witnessed something incredibly powerful:
When veterans share their stories with young people, the students listen, the veterans feel appreciated, and the lessons of service and sacrifice live on.
That is why we continue.
We invite you to stand with us once again and help ensure that this important mission continues for many years to come.
Your support is more than a donation—it is a way of saying “Thank you” to the men and women who served our country.
You can make a secure donation at www.rahusa.us, or mail your contribution to the address listed below.
Remembering America’s Heroes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
On behalf of our board, the students who have been inspired by these veterans, and the countless veterans and families we have had the honor of serving:
Thank you.
Thank you for remembering.
Thank you for believing in this mission.
And most of all, thank you for helping us make sure America never forgets those who served.
With sincere gratitude,
Ken Buckles
Executive Director & Founder
503-758-4672
REMEMBERING AMERICA'S HEROES
Our Heroes are Veterans
www.rahusa.us — [email protected]
PO BOX 586
Canby, OR 97013
