The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners proclaimed Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, as Veterans Day, honoring all veterans and current members of the armed forces — Active, Reserve and National Guard — and their immeasurable sacrifice to their communities and country.
Commissioner Sharon Meieran, who has served as the liaison to the Multnomah County Veterans Task Force for the last six years, co-sponsored the proclamation alongside the Aging, Disability and Veterans Services Division of the Department of County Human Services.
“When I was appointed to liaise, I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know any veterans except for my great uncle who served in Norway in the Royal Air Force, but I really was excited to learn," said Meieran. “Being able to serve in this group and getting to know the array of veterans, who I was able to connect with on that task force, is something that I’ll always cherish and be grateful for.”
The role of the Veterans Task Force, established in 2010 by then-District 4 Commissioner Diane McKeel, is to “raise awareness and have a place for veterans to convene and be able to talk about issues themselves, and to have a space to talk about advocacy for veterans in our community,” Meieran shared. Through their work, the group finds opportunities to change and improve services for veterans provided by Multnomah County and eliminate barriers.
“We play a crucial convening role for the community and a role to raise the voices of our veterans to the state-level commissioners. We have done some work but have more to do for housing, mental health and addiction services and health,” she added.
To further honor veterans, Multnomah County participated in Operation Green Light, an initiative organized by the National Association of Counties, by lighting the Morrison Bridge green.
“We let veterans know that they are seen, appreciated, and supported by lighting buildings and bridges green and to serve as a beacon to say we care about you, there are services for you, here’s what we have, please come to us,” said Meieran.
Three speakers, all of whom have connections to the County Veterans Task Force, shared their experience serving veterans and families in the community.
Nina Sparrs, who serves as a Veterans Homeless Outreach Coordinator for Multnomah County at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, shared that while homelessness is always in the news, many veterans are being helped.
“Within the task force and the County, I am constantly seeing improvements. The County has done a lot of work and is making great efforts, and I'm really excited to continue this work. Working with homeless veterans is deeply rewarding,” she said.
Kristine O’Brien, a licensed mental health counselor with the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center who works as the community engagement and partnership coordinator on the Suicide Prevention Team at the VA Medical Center, described the collaboration it takes to implement upstream suicide prevention efforts within the 26 counties in the Portland Veterans Affairs’ catchment area. O’Brien also works with the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program that combines the federal department’s Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“I work with coalitions of providers, community members and veterans themselves doing grassroots work to ensure our communities are a place where veterans can thrive,” she said.
O’Brien noted seeing the County coalition “come together in a way that she didn’t think was possible when she first started the job.”
“Since then, I've seen amazing things happen,” she continued. “We've had social events where people find a place in the community. I've seen people create safety plans to ensure they have somewhere to go in times of crisis. The task force is vital for creating that sense of community and bringing providers together. This ensures we're focusing on veterans and not letting them slip through the cracks.”
O’Brien also shared that coming from an extensive military family makes her work feel all the more meaningful.
“My paternal grandfather was a second airman who did flightline maintenance. I am the wife of a former nuclear submarine officer in the Navy. He spent seven years on active duty and one year in the reserves," said O’Brien. "My uncle spent 10 years in the Army, serving two tours in Afghanistan. My stepbrother is currently serving in the US Coast Guard.”
“There are long hours and long deployments. I saw the hard times, but also the good times and the deep friendships.”
Sheila Balbin, a program supervisor for Multnomah County's Veterans Services and Veteran Directed Care Program, originally joined the County in 2015 as an accredited Veterans Service Officer. She was promoted to program supervisor in 2019.
“I am a civilian, but I hold the veteran community close to my heart,” she said. “I am the daughter of a retired U.S. Navy Command Master Chief veteran who served his country for 30 years. I am humbled and grateful for his sacrifice to his country and family, as well as my mother's sacrifice in taking care of our family while he was deployed."
Balbin’s Veterans Services team includes five accredited service officers — both veterans and civilians — who are trained experts in the federal veterans benefits process and.
"They connect people who served in the military with VA pension, disability, and health benefits. In fiscal year 2024, the team secured $6.5 million in retroactive benefits for veterans and surviving spouses.
The Veteran Directed Care Program is a health administration program that offers a veteran-directed approach to home and community-based services “designed to provide veterans who meet nursing care level of needs with more choice and control over the services and supports to successfully live safely and maintain independence in home.”
“Multnomah County is currently the state hub for the program,” said Balbin.
The office supports Clackamas, Washington, Douglas, Coos, Curry, Josephine, Jackson, and Klamath counties and also partners with three Veteran Affairs Medical Centers across the state.
“It has been an honor to serve alongside my team, my colleagues, veterans, and their families. I look forward to a new year of continued collaborations and new relationships with our community providers, who share our common vision and mission of supporting those who served our country,” she said.
Balbin then read the proclamation, which read in part:
“The diversity of veterans is a tremendous strength that makes our Armed Forces more resilient. Often, these individuals were discriminated against by the very government they served; they served for the vision of equality even though that vision was not actualized in their own lives.
“There are approximately 17.9 million veterans in the United States, and 5.27 million veterans receive disability compensation. Approximately 13% of veterans experience homelessness, and an estimated 80% of veterans experiencing homelessness also live with a mental illness like PTSD.
“Multnomah County reflects the struggles of our broader veteran community. Multnomah County is home to an estimated 37,958 veterans. Multnomah County is committed to providing the support and care that all veterans have earned, including improved access to employment, benefits, housing, and health care.”
Commissioner Remarks
Commissioner Jesse Beason shared that his father saw combat and that he endured traumatic experiences.
“He always had a mixture of deep pride, but he also would not let me consider the same service,” he said. “So I want to appreciate the efforts you all are making to recognize and honor the people who fight for us, often at extreme costs.”
Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards expressed her appreciation for County employees who have served the country and those who are still actively serving.
“I especially want to spotlight my chief of staff, Eric Zimmerman,” who serves in the Oregon Army National Guard with occasional overseas assignments in places like Iraq, Kosovo and Bangladesh, said Brim-Edwards.
Zimmerman was previously the chief of staff for Commissioner McKeel, served on the Veterans Task Force and was a founding chair of the County Employee Resource Group for veterans.
“I have no doubt he influenced her views and the work she did on behalf of veterans,” said Brim-Edwards. “He has been a voice for veterans.”Commissioner Lori Stegmann thanked all of the speakers, sponsors and asked for a round of applause for all veterans in the room. “There’s an inscription that says our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.”
Stegmann, an American adoptee born in South Korea, shared also that “as a Korean, I especially want to thank all of those who served in the Korean War.”
“I know from my family members who are veterans that the experiences they had during their service often affect them for the rest of their lives in different ways,” Chair Jessica Vega Pederson closed.
“From health services and social services to working with homeless veterans, the work of the government, the VA and counties to ensure we are providing the resources veterans need and deserve is critically important.”
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