Name: Annual Veterans Day Walk
Start: 2025-11-11T08:30:00-08:00
End: 2025-11-11T08:30:00-08:00

Past Activity

Annual Veterans Day Walk

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Start date: 11/11/2025
Start time: 8:30 AM

Description:

This annual event has been offered by the Obsidians for many years. Dave Lodeesen (1952-2021), a Vietnam Veteran, revitalized it and we honor him and all other Veterans on this holiday. This walk is open to everybody, in the spirit of freedom, rememberance, or whatever emotion one has about having served our country.

Meet in the west parking lot at the Campbell Center, 155 High Street. We will go by two memorials on our way to the river and back. Some may opt to go farther, to the Owasso bridge, making a loop.

Photo by: Dorothy van Winkle

Event Leader: Dorothy vanWinkle
Event Leader Phone: 541-485-7416
Event Leader Email: dorothyvanwinkle@yahoo.com
Assistant Leader: Mike Smith
Event category: Trips
Area Type: Urban
Departure Location: See Trip Description
Rating: Easy
Roundtrip total drive miles:
Season: 2025
Permits Required:
Event Status: Passed
Supplies and Equipment Required: Dress for the weather and wear comfy shoes because we will be on pavement.
participant prerequisites:
Conditions:
Total Distance: 2-5 miles
Member Fees: —
Elevation Gain: 50 ft
Non-Member Fees: 5
Committee: Trips
Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Twelve Obsidians came out to commemorate some Veterans in the club, Veteran parents (deceased), Veteran children and even Veteran grandchildren of club members. As we were approaching the main Veterans Memorial in Skinner Butte Park, we saw many army clad soldiers walking or running, with heavy packs on, also heading to the same memorial. The group was comprised of UO Veteran students and their children and members of the UO ROTC program. We were able to listen to the short speeches given by officers and young ROTC members. Dorothy mentioned we were an Obsidian group doing our Annual Veterans Day walk and they acknowledged our effort by giving us a round of applause. Their 35 pound packs were full of food donations for a local food bank. Being on the periphery of their commemoration added to the enjoyment of our commemoration. Thank you, Veterans, past and present.

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