Southern Oregon Employers Get A Look At Guard Service During Boss Lift Flight (Photo) - 07/22/26

GRANTS PASS, Ore. – The battalion commander welcoming employers to the Grants Pass armory July 11 wasn't just speaking on behalf of his Soldiers. He was speaking as an employee himself.

"From the perspective of someone who's done this for 26 years as a traditional Soldier and a civilian employee, I want you to know that support means more to me and to us than you can know," said Lt. Col. Joshua Rapp, commander of 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, who works as a project manager for Knife River in his civilian career. "I couldn't have done it without Knife River, my employer. I probably would have gotten out a long time ago."

Representatives of Knife River were among roughly 20 civilian employers who participated in the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Boss Lift, which paired an armory tour and static displays with a CH-47 Chinook helicopter flight over southern Oregon and Upper Klamath Lake. Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, based in Pendleton, Oregon, provided the aircraft and crew.

The event was hosted by Oregon ESGR's Area Four, which covers southern Oregon from Roseburg to the California border and west to the coast. Rather than filling seats first come, first served, organizers this year invited employers with a track record of supporting their Guard and Reserve employees.

"We went back and looked at our records for the last two and a half years and determined who were distinguished employers," said Richard Thibodo, ESGR Area Four chair. "All of you have either received a Patriot Award or are about to receive one."

Among them was Mercy Flights, the Medford-based ambulance service, which employs several Oregon National Guard members, including Soldiers who recently returned from an overseas deployment with 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment.

"They're leaders in our organization," said Sheila Clough, chief executive officer of Mercy Flights. "They show up. They're committed. Diligence, professionalism. I'll take as many Guardsmen as I can get on our team. They're incredible representatives."

Midway through the flight, the aircraft also hosted a milestone: Capt. Nolan Chandler reenlisted Spc. Daniel Pappalardo, both assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, high above the southern Oregon landscape.

Employers were invited to sign ESGR Statements of Support, pledging their commitment to the service of their Guard and Reserve employees.

"This gives you a little bit of a glimpse into what your employees do," Rapp said. "It's just a small part, but a little glimpse into what they do when they come to training and when called to serve the state and country."

Released B-Roll Video: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/1015789/boss-lift-gives-southern-oregon-employers-look-guard-service

Released Photos: 

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GRANTS PASS, Ore. – Lt. Col. Joshua Rapp, commander of 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, who works as a project manager for Knife River in his civilian career, welcomes civilian employers during an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Boss Lift at the Grants Pass armory in Grants Pass, Ore., July 11, 2026. Representatives of Knife River were among the employers attending the event, which gave employers of Oregon National Guard members assigned to 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and the 173rd Fighter Wing a firsthand look at their employees' military service, including a CH-47 Chinook flight over southern Oregon. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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GRANTS PASS, Ore. – A crew chief assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, conducts post-landing checks on a CH-47 Chinook helicopter after arriving at the Grants Pass Airport, adjacent to the Grants Pass armory, in support of an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Boss Lift in Grants Pass, Ore., July 11, 2026. The Pendleton, Oregon-based aviation unit provided the aircraft and crew for the event, which gave employers of Oregon National Guard members assigned to 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and the 173rd Fighter Wing a firsthand look at their employees' military service. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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GRANTS PASS, Ore. – Civilian employers and their Oregon National Guard member employees sit aboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter prior to takeoff during an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Boss Lift at the Grants Pass Airport in Grants Pass, Ore., July 11, 2026. The event gave employers of Oregon National Guard members assigned to 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and the 173rd Fighter Wing a firsthand look at their employees' military service, including a flight over southern Oregon and Upper Klamath Lake. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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GRANTS PASS, Ore. – Capt. Nolan Chandler congratulates Spc. Daniel Pappalardo, both assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, following Pappalardo's in-flight reenlistment aboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Boss Lift over southern Oregon, July 11, 2026. The event gave employers of Oregon National Guard members assigned to 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and the 173rd Fighter Wing a firsthand look at their employees' military service. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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Staff Sgt. Joshua Murdenline, assigned to 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, explains the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) mounted with an M2 .50-caliber machine gun to Benjamin Busey, deputy associate director of patient care services for VA Southern Oregon health care, during a static display at an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Boss Lift at the Grants Pass armory in Grants Pass, Ore., July 11, 2026. The event gave employers of Oregon National Guard members assigned to 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and the 173rd Fighter Wing a firsthand look at their employees' military service. (Oregon National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne)

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GRANTS PASS, Ore. – Civilian employers and their Oregon National Guard member employees line up alongside a CH-47 Chinook helicopter following a safety brief and prior to boarding during an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Boss Lift at the Grants Pass Airport in Grants Pass, Ore., July 11, 2026. The event gave employers of Oregon National Guard members assigned to 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and the 173rd Fighter Wing a firsthand look at their employees' military service, including a flight over southern Oregon and Upper Klamath Lake. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

OSU Archaeology Field School Uncovers Layers Of History At Najaf Training Center (Photo) - 07/16/26

NAJAF TRAINING CENTER, Ore. — The elk found it first. Bedding down beneath the hazel trees on a wooded hillside here, the animals churned up ground that had rested undisturbed for generations, and when Oregon State University archaeologists walked the site, stone flakes left by Indigenous toolmakers were lying exposed in the elk beds.

"We knew that there had been sites recorded from the '90s, but nothing was recorded down in here," said Andrew Pauly, a second-year master's student in archaeology at Oregon State University helping teach the field school. "We got here, and there's a rodent burrow with a flake in it. We found dozens of flakes in the elk beds. They really did us a favor."

That chance discovery is now one of the focal points of a new archaeology field school underway at Najaf Training Center, a roughly 527-acre military training area about 10 miles north of Corvallis, Oregon. The four-week intensive course, offered through a three-year intergovernmental agreement between the Oregon Military Department and Oregon State University, brings undergraduate and graduate students onto the land to learn professional archaeological methods while helping the department meet its federal cultural resources responsibilities.

On July 14, 2026, students spread across the hillside were excavating test units, screening soil and documenting artifacts on ground that has proven far richer than anyone anticipated.

"We're finding cultural materials in places that aren't sites, and as we're trying to further expand the site boundaries, it just keeps going," said Dr. Molly Carney, an assistant professor of anthropology at Oregon State University and the field school's instructor. "We can't really find the ends. The entire hillside is probably a cultural place."

The property, which is federal land managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and licensed to the Oregon Military Department for military training, was first surveyed in the 1990s, when archaeologists identified 10 sites across the wooded hillside. The area holds what Carney described as a multi-component site, containing both pre-contact Indigenous materials and the historic homestead of Greenberry Smith, an early settler who claimed land there. In the field school's first month, students have recovered roughly a dozen projectile points along with ground stone tools, stone flakes and historic-era glass and ceramics.

The work directly supports the Oregon Military Department's obligations under federal historic preservation law. The department needs to thin the forest and clear invasive vegetation to make the terrain more usable for Soldier training, and before that can happen, it must determine whether the archaeological sites are significant and how they might be affected.

"Part of our federal responsibility is to determine, are these sites important, and if they are, are our actions going to impact them? And if they are going to be impacted, how do we mitigate that effect?" said Matt Diederich, environmental branch chief for the Oregon Military Department. "It all stems to forest management. That's the goal, to better manage the forest here."

Joshua Henderson, cultural resources manager for the Oregon Military Department, said the findings will eventually be evaluated for eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places, in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office and the appropriate Tribes.

That consultation runs throughout the project. The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, along with the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, maintain ancestral connections to the Willamette Valley. Grand Ronde representatives have visited the field school weekly to share their perspective with students, including their preference for the term "belongings" rather than "artifacts" when describing recovered items.

"This isn't just a data point," said Michael Lewis, senior archaeologist for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. "This is a place on a cultural landscape with memory, continuing practice on the landscape, and a connection to the past."

For Carney, that spirit of partnership defines the field school. During a recent week of geophysical survey training, she looked around at lunch and saw agency archaeologists, private-sector archaeologists, Tribal specialists and academics all working side by side.

"That's really what the field school is all about," she said. "It's about collaboration, about moving into the future while also thinking about the past, and training folks to explore different career opportunities related to cultural resource management or heritage more broadly."

For at least one student, the setting carries a personal connection. Nathan McCaslin, an undergraduate archaeology student, previously served in the Oregon Army National Guard, where he supported training operations across the state. His interest in the field was sparked in part by the cultural resources at Biak Training Center in Central Oregon, where remnants of World War II-era training still rest on the surface of the high desert landscape. He used military education benefits to pursue his degree.

"I think there's a lot of work out there to maintain the memory of those things," McCaslin said, "because we might not have them in the future."

The field school continues through the summer, with additional seasons planned in different portions of the hillside over the next two years. Wherever the students dig next, the ground beneath Najaf Training Center seems ready to keep offering up its history, with or without the elk's help.

Released B-Roll Video: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/1015015/oregon-military-department-osu-partnership-turns-training-site-into-archaeology-classroom

Released Photos: 

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Oregon State University archaeology student Rebecca Chastain, left, brushes soil from a test unit as fellow student Caden Gonzales records field notes during the OSU Archaeology Field School at Najaf Training Center, Ore., July 14, 2026. The four-week field school, offered through a three-year intergovernmental agreement between the Oregon Military Department and OSU, trains students in professional archaeological methods while supporting the department's cultural resources responsibilities ahead of planned forest management. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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Oregon State University archaeology student Nathan McCaslin, a former Oregon Army National Guard Soldier, screens excavated soil for cultural materials during the OSU Archaeology Field School at Najaf Training Center, Ore., July 14, 2026. Students use wood-framed screens to sift soil from test units, recovering stone flakes, tools and historic-era items too small to spot during excavation. The four-week field school, offered through a three-year intergovernmental agreement between the Oregon Military Department and OSU, trains students in professional archaeological methods while supporting the department's cultural resources responsibilities ahead of planned forest management. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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Oregon State University Archaeology Field School students document a test unit as Andrew Pauly, standing, a graduate teaching assistant, photographs the excavation at Najaf Training Center, Ore., July 14, 2026. Students initially discovered the site while conducting a pedestrian survey of the area, spotting dozens of stone flakes exposed in nearby elk bedding areas. The four-week field school, offered through a three-year intergovernmental agreement between the Oregon Military Department and OSU, trains students in professional archaeological methods while supporting the department's cultural resources responsibilities ahead of planned forest management. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

Oregon Guard Soldiers Lend A Hand At Salvation Army Hope House In Medford (Photo) - 07/12/26

MEDFORD, Ore. – Seventeen Soldiers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, traded their weapons systems for shovels, stain brushes and weed eaters during a community service project at the Salvation Army Hope House in Medford, July 11, 2026.

Working alongside volunteers from a local business, the Soldiers dug trenches for sprinkler lines, spread bark, planted trees and shrubs with guidance from a local arborist, built walking paths, cleared weeds along the roadside and stained new benches for placement throughout the property.

"They are an organization that is helping to rehabilitate and stabilize families experiencing homelessness, and so we got the privilege of coming out here and serving them along with the team of their volunteers," said Chaplain (Capt.) Aaron McAndrews, the battalion chaplain. "It's really been a cool transformation to see it all unfold."

Since 1996, Hope House has helped people experiencing homelessness in Jackson County get back on their feet. The drug- and alcohol-free transitional living facility serves around 250 people a year, offering case management and supportive services in a structured environment. The average stay is about 10 months, though residents making progress can stay up to two years.

The timing of the project carried extra weight. Hope House recently completed construction of its Hope Lofts expansion, seven new fully furnished studio apartments, and the volunteer effort helped ready the campus for the building's dedication and grand opening, scheduled for July 17.

The connection between the Guard and Hope House came through Chris Robertson, owner of Invictus Protection Agency, a local security company, and a former member of the battalion's Alpha Company who deployed with the unit to Iraq from 2009 to 2010 and to Afghanistan from 2014 to 2015. Robertson reached out to 1st Sgt. Jeremy Warren, the first sergeant for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, who told him the unit had been looking for service opportunities.

"I'm just a local businessman that saw a program that I liked, and I wanted to do something to help it," Robertson said. "When I was walking through, I saw some things that just needed labor and maintenance, and I thought, what better way to get that done than calling the Guard?"

For at least one Soldier, the work was familiar territory. Sgt. Donovon Pavloff, a mortarman with the battalion, owns a landscaping company in Days Creek that services Roseburg and Douglas County. On Saturday, he put his civilian trade to work for the community, installing irrigation valves and helping guide the landscaping effort.

"People who have been homeless that are really ready to get a fresh start in life can come and stay here," said Maj. Randy Mulch, who oversees the Salvation Army's work in Jackson County with his wife. "They meet with their counselor weekly, make life goals, learn life skills, pay off bad debts, get a job, save up money, get connected with our community and get back into life."

Released photos:

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U.S. Army Sgt. Bradley Daniels, left, a member of the sniper section, and Sgt. Donovon Pavloff, a mortarman, both assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, kneel beside a newly installed irrigation valve during a community service project at the Salvation Army Hope House in Medford, Ore., July 11, 2026. Pavloff, who owns a landscaping company in Days Creek, Ore., brought his civilian trade to the volunteer effort, which helped prepare the campus for the July 17 dedication of seven new studio apartments. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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U.S. Army Chaplain (Capt.) Aaron McAndrews, the battalion chaplain for 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, shovels mulch onto a newly planted area during a community service project at the Salvation Army Hope House in Medford, Ore., July 11, 2026. Seventeen Soldiers from the battalion's Headquarters and Headquarters Company joined community volunteers to landscape the property ahead of the July 17 dedication of seven new studio apartments. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, place drip irrigation lines and spread mulch through newly planted beds during a community service project at the Salvation Army Hope House in Medford, Ore., July 11, 2026. Seventeen Soldiers from the company joined community volunteers to landscape the property ahead of the July 17 dedication of seven new studio

apartments. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

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U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, gather with community volunteers and Salvation Army staff in front of seven newly completed studio apartments following a community service project at the Salvation Army Hope House in Medford, Ore., July 11, 2026. The volunteer effort helped prepare the campus for the building's dedication and grand opening, scheduled for July 17. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

Oregon National Guard’s Command Senior Enlisted Leader Retires After 33 Years Of Service (Photo) - 07/11/26

HAPPY VALLEY, Ore. – U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Lee G. Smith, Command Senior Enlisted Leader for the Oregon National Guard, formally retired from military service after 33 years of commitment to the nation in a ceremony held in his honor at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon, on July 11, 2026. He was the principal advisor to the Adjutant General, responsible for providing the State of Oregon and the United States with a ready force of more than 7,000 Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen.

Command Sgt. Maj. Smith joined the Army National Guard in 1993, with his first assignment in Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery, as a Cannon Crewmember. The presiding officer for his ceremony was Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General, Oregon.

“From his first moments in senior enlisted leadership, he knew his job. Not to be the loudest voice in the room but the most representative,” Gronewold said, describing Smith’s leadership abilities. “Three years ago, when we introduced our organizational values: Being Connected, Being Competent, Being Committed - Sergeant Major Smith turned them into a framework for how we mentor senior enlisted leaders.”

Gronewold also credited Smith’s leadership with helping retain and add new service members to the Oregon National Guard.

“This last year, the Oregon Air National Guard had its strongest recruiting years since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Oregon Army National Guard was recognized and awarded for the best retention of all 20 medium-sized states in the nation.”

Smith credited past leaders and fellow soldiers for his development, which culminated in his position as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader over the past three years of service in the Oregon National Guard, during his remarks to attendees.

“When people talk about leadership and often think it’s about making decisions, giving directions, and telling people what to do,” Smith said, explaining his career in military leadership. “Those things matter, but I learned that some of the most important leadership modes are simpler than that. Some leadership is just sitting down with someone and finding out who they are…if you want your organization to be better, ask yourself one simple question. Do you really know your people? Do they really know you?

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Released Images:

260711-Z-CH590-1085: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General, Oregon National Guard, delivers formal remarks to attendees at the retirement ceremony of Command Sgt. Maj. Lee G. Smith, Command Senior Enlisted Leader for the Oregon National Guard, on July 11, 2026, at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon. Gronewold was the presiding officer for the ceremony, presenting Smith with both The Legion of Merit Medal and the Oregon Distinguished Service Medal for his 33 years of military service to the State of Oregon and the nation. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

260711-Z-CH590-1017: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General, Oregon National Guard, presents the Oregon Distinguished Service Medal to Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Lee G. Smith during his formal retirement after 33 years of military service on July 11, 2026, at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon. Smith served his last three years as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for the Oregon National Guard. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

260711-Z-CH590-1013: Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General, Oregon National Guard, presents The Legion of Merit Medal to Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Lee G. Smith during his formal retirement after 33 years of military service on July 11, 2026, at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon. Smith served his last three years as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for the Oregon National Guard. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

260711-Z-CH590-1193 and 1219: U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Lee G. Smith addressed his family, friends, and coworkers during his retirement ceremony at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon, on July 11, 2026. For the past three years of military service, Smith was the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for the Oregon National Guard. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

260711-Z-CH590-1076: Oregon Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Bertilson (left) presents a retirement gift Shadow Box to Command Sgt. Lee. G. Smith (right) during his formal retirement ceremony, held at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, Oregon, on July 11, 2026. Smith served as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for the Oregon National Guard during his last three years of military service. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

Oregon National Guardsmen Take Part In The 250th Anniversary Of American Independence (Photo) - 07/04/26

SALEM, Ore. - Members of the Oregon National Guard took part in ceremonies, festivities, and community events across Oregon to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of American Independence on July 4, 2026. Activities included guest speakers, color guard presentations, music performances, static displays, and flyovers. Oregon National Guard service members honored the historic Semiquincentennial, marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Air National Guard Brigadier General Jenifer E. Pardy, Joint Domestic Operations Commander, addressed attendees at the Star-Spangled Parade and Celebration at Millennium Plaza Park in Lake Oswego. She discussed the legacy of early militiamen and their significant contributions to the American Revolutionary War.

“Two hundred and fifty years ago, a group of farmers, blacksmiths, shopkeepers, and tradesmen stepped out of their homes, picked up their muskets, and changed the course of human history,” Pardy said. “They defended their families and the right to self-governance. That tradition of the Citizen-Soldiers is the oldest military tradition in America.”

The Lake Oswego celebration also featured the Oregon Army National Guard’s 741st Brigade Engineer Battalion Color Guard, who presented the Colors. The event included music, carnival games, a variety of food options, and a traditional pie-eating contest.

Pardy noted that Soldiers and Airmen of the Oregon National Guard, who uphold a tradition of service, are also your neighbors and pointed out that they may be present in this audience, working in civilian careers as “teachers, nurses, welders, or business owners.”

“Most days of the year they live the same lives you do,” she said. “But when the call comes, when a wildfire threatens a community, when floodwaters rise…and when our nation needs them overseas, they put on the uniform, and they go.”

The 142nd Wing from the Portland Air National Guard Base spent the day flying their F-15EX Eagle II jets over 30 cities in Oregon and Southwest Washington as part of their Patriot flyovers.

“These flyovers are our way of celebrating our nation’s heritage while directly connecting with the communities we serve and protect here in the Pacific Northwest,” said Col. Joshua Havanus, a fighter pilot assigned to the unit.

At the annual St. Paul Rodeo, two Oregon Army National Guard HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from Company G, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment flew over the grandstand right after the national anthem to celebrate the rodeo's 90th anniversary. Soldiers also brought some of their M-ATVs (MRAP All-Terrain Vehicles) for display, giving visitors a chance to meet Oregon Guardsmen and learn more about the armored vehicles.

The Oregon Army National Guard’s "No Brass, No Ammo" brass band brought Riverview Park in Independence to life with their performance. As a dynamic part of the 234th Army Band, they energize both military ceremonies and community gatherings. With lively traditional, jazz, and modern brass pieces, stirring marches, and selections from historical repertoire, "No Brass, No Ammo" shares the Army’s story through its unique musical renditions.

The concert in Independence was not the only venue where members of the 234th Army Band performed. The group “45 Away” played at the 4th of July Family Festival at Happy Valley Park in Happy Valley. This high-energy, 12-member band played family-friendly songs ranging from the 1970s to today's most popular hits. The music had attendees dancing and interacting with many members of the band, as the group was the closing act to the day-long festival.

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Released Images:

260704-Z-CH590-1278: Oregon National Guard Brig. Gen. Jenifer E. Pardy, Joint Domestic Operations Commander, delivered the Fourth of July address at the Star-Spangled Parade & Celebration in Lake Oswego, Oregon, on July 4, 2026. Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers presented the colors to kick off the celebration as attendees celebrated the 250th Anniversary of American Independence with food, music, carnival games, and an old-fashioned Pie Eating Contest. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

260704-Z-CH590-1020: Oregon National Guard Brig. Gen. Jenifer E. Pardy, Joint Domestic Operations Commander, pauses for a photo with members of the Oregon Army National Guard 741st Brigade Engineer Battalion Color Guard before the start of the Star-Spangled Parade & Celebration in Lake Oswego, Oregon, on July 4, 2026. Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers presented the colors to kick off the celebration as attendees celebrated the 250th Anniversary of American Independence with food, music, carnival games, and an old-fashioned Pie Eating Contest. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

260704-Z-CH590-1065: The Oregon Army National Guard 741st Brigade Engineer Battalion Color Guard conducts the Presentation of Colors to start the Star-Spangled Parade & Celebration in Lake Oswego, Oregon, on July 4, 2026. Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers presented the colors to kick off the celebration as attendees celebrated the 250th Anniversary of American Independence with food, music, carnival games, and an old-fashioned Pie Eating Contest. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

260704-Z-CH590-1083: The Oregon Army National Guard 741st Brigade Engineer Battalion Color Guard conducts the Presentation of Colors to start the Star-Spangled Parade & Celebration in Lake Oswego, Oregon, on July 4, 2026. Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers presented the colors to kick off the celebration as attendees celebrated the 250th Anniversary of American Independence with food, music, carnival games, and an old-fashioned Pie Eating Contest. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

260704-Z-CH590-1168: A Soldier with the Oregon Army National Guard 741st Brigade Engineer Battalion Color Guard prepares to present the colors to start the Star-Spangled Parade & Celebration in Lake Oswego, Oregon, on July 4, 2026. Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers presented the colors to kick off the celebration as attendees celebrated the 250th Anniversary of American Independence with food, music, carnival games, and an old-fashioned Pie Eating Contest. (Oregon National Guard photo by John Hughel)

260704-Z-CM403-1002: Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Andrew Magnuson, a bass guitarist with the group "45 Away," performs at the 4th of July Family Festival at Happy Valley Park in Happy Valley, Oregon, on the evening of July 4, 2026. This high-energy, 12-member band plays family-friendly songs ranging from the 1970s to today's most popular hits. They are part of the Oregon Army National Guard's 234th Army Band, which performs at public events throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. (Oregon National Guard photo by Aaron Perkins)

260704-Z-CM403-1001: Members of the music group "45 Away" perform at the 4th of July Family Festival held at Happy Valley Park in Happy Valley, Oregon, on the evening of July 4, 2026. They are part of the Oregon Army National Guard's 234th Army Band, which performs at public events throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. (Oregon National Guard photo by Aaron Perkins)

260704-Z-ZJ128-1002: A flag rider carries the U.S. Army flag around the arena during a salute to the armed forces at the St. Paul Rodeo in St. Paul, Oregon, July 4, 2026. The rodeo honored each branch of military service by presenting its flag on horseback as the community celebrated the rodeo's 90th anniversary and the nation's 250th anniversary of independence. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

260704-Z-ZJ128-1001: Soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, display an M-ATV (MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle) during the St. Paul Rodeo in St. Paul, Oregon, July 4, 2026. The static display gave rodeo attendees an opportunity to meet Oregon Guardsmen and learn about the armored vehicle, designed to protect troops from improvised explosive devices, as the rodeo celebrated its 90th anniversary and the nation marked 250 years of American independence. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

260704-Z-ZJ128-1003 & 1004: Two HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters assigned to Company G, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, pass over the grandstand at the conclusion of the national anthem during the St. Paul Rodeo in St. Paul, Oregon, July 4, 2026. The flyover honored the rodeo's 90th anniversary and 250 years of American independence. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)

260704-Z-NJ272-1004: Soldiers with the Oregon Army National Guard's 234th Army Band perform a musical set at Riverview Park, July 4th, 2026, in Independence, Oregon. A smaller subsection or ensemble from the full 40-person band, called "No Brass, No Ammo," performs traditional, jazz, and contemporary brass arrangements at both military functions and public performances. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Military Department)

260704-Z-NJ272-1003: Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Bethany Valencia, a baritone saxophone player with the 234th Army Band, performs during a musical set at Riverview Park on July 4th, 2026, in Independence, Oregon. Valencia is part of a smaller music performance team, or ensemble, called "No Brass, No Ammo," a brass band that performs at both military functions and public events. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Military Department)

260704-Z-NJ272-1001: Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Michael Rodriguez, a tenor saxophone player with the 234th Army Band, performs during a musical set at Riverview Park on July 4th, 2026, in Independence, Oregon. Rodriguez is part of a smaller music performance team or ensemble called "No Brass, No Ammo," which performs traditional, jazz, and contemporary brass arrangements. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Military Department)

260704-Z-NJ272-1000: Oregon Army National Guard Spc. Dominic Stub, a trumpet player with the 234th Army Band, performs during a musical set at Riverview Park on July 4th, 2026, in Independence, Oregon. Stub is part of a smaller music performance team or ensemble called "No Brass, No Ammo," a brass band that performs at both military functions and public performances. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. Leslie Reed, Oregon Military Department)

142nd Wing To Conduct Independence Day Flyovers (Photo) - 07/02/26

The 142nd Wing out of Portland Air National Guard Base, Portland, Oregon will conduct July 4th flyovers for ceremonies throughout Oregon and southwest Washington.

Col. Joshua Hovanas, a pilot with the 142nd Wing says he's proud to conduct these flyovers.

 “Every time the F-15s fly, it is a demonstration of our commitment to defending this nation,” remarked Hovanas. “These flyovers are our way of celebrating our nation’s heritage while directly connecting with the communities we serve and protect here in the Pacific Northwest. It’s a visual representation of the readiness, dedication, and patriotism of the Oregon Air National Guard.”

Historically, the 142nd Wing has conducted mostly northern Oregon holiday flyovers with the 173rd Fighter Wing out of Klamath Falls, Ore. covering the southern part of the state, but the 173rd recently began a transition to a new airframe and will no longer operate any aircraft until late next year. This Independence Day, the 142nd will cover the southern part of Oregon as well, making this the most flyovers the wing has ever conducted on the 4th of July.

"To honor America’s 250th, the wing developed a unique flight plan specifically designed to maximize community engagement across the Pacific Northwest," explained Hovanas. "Rather than keeping a single, traditional flight path, the pilots made the strategic decision to split the formation into separate elements. This division will allow the F-15s to cover significantly more territory simultaneously, bringing the historic celebration directly to the maximum number of communities across both Oregon and Washington – all this while still maintaining the unit's primary aerospace defense mission."

The F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets are scheduled to conduct flyovers at the following community locations at, or around, the designated times on Saturday, 4 July:

All passes will be approximately 1,000 feet above ground level and about 400 mph airspeed. Flights could be canceled or times changed due to inclement weather or operational contingencies.

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Aerial b-roll: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/752272/142nd-wing-f-15-flight-gopro-footage

About the 142nd Wing:

The Portland Air National Guard Base employs 1400 Airmen who provide an economic impact of nearly $500 million to the region. The 142nd Wing defends our homeland with F-15 Eagle fighter jets, guarding the Pacific Northwest skies from northern California to the Canadian border through their Aerospace Control Alert mission as part of Air Combat Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Their mission is to provide unequalled, mission-ready units to sustain combat aerospace superiority and peacetime tasking any time, any place in service to our nation, state and community.

Photo Caption:

An F-15 EX from the 142nd Wing turns sharply during a fly-by at the Oregon International Air Show at Hillsboro, Ore., on May 17, 2026. The presence of the EX at the semi-annual air show gave Oregonians an up-close look at their hometown Air Force stationed at Portland Air National Guard Base in Portland, Ore. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexander Frank)

For more information, contact 142nd Wing Public Affairs at 142.wg.pa@us.af.mil

Oregon Army National Guard Engineers Demonstrate Innovative Drone-assisted Breaching Concept During Annual Training (Photo) - 06/25/26

ORCHARD COMBAT TRAINING CENTER, Idaho — Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers demonstrated an innovative new approach to one of the Army's most dangerous battlefield tasks during annual training June 22, using a heavy-lift drone to remotely deliver and detonate a live Bangalore torpedo through a wire obstacle.

Oregon Army National Guard Recognized With Strength Maintenance Awards Program (Photo) - 06/24/26