Veterans honored, BTS announces free rides
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KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Veterans were honored today in a ceremony at Veterans Park organized by Basin Transit Service and the Klamath County Commissioners. It was not a traditional Veterans Day ceremony, but one with roots in tradition and featured a new transportation option for local Veterans.
The 20-minute ceremony began with the Kingsley Field Color Guard posting colors and the playing of the National Anthem and ended with the first Veterans taking a ride in the newly wrapped bus, “Sand Man.”
The exterior of the BTS bus is decorated with a tan desert camo color scheme and includes the facial likeness of Lt. David R. Kingsley the namesake of Kingsley Field. The naming of the bus in honor of Lt. Kingsley’s regular WWII aircraft. Also named Sand Man.
Several local guests and dignitaries including veterans employed by Basin Transit Service along with POWs and MIAs were also recognized during the ceremony.
BTS Board Chairman, Erik Nobel announced that all Klamath County Veterans with a Klamath County Veterans ID Card can now ride Basin Transit Service for free when they show their ID card.
“This whole thing started with just a conversation between Commissioner DeGroot and BTS General Manager Adrian Mateos. When they got together to learn about each other’s programs,” said Nobel.
According to Nobel, in meetings between DeGroot and Mateos; they collaborated and developed this program to help further enhance the lives of 1,800 local Veterans and their transportation needs.
While displaying a Klamath County Veterans ID Card, Klamath County Commissioner, and U.S. Navy Veteran, Derrick DeGroot said, “[To] anybody that has served; take your DD214 down to the Clerks Office and you can receive one of these cards.”
“They are quick, easy, and free,” DeGroot added.
More than 1,800 Veterans are currently signed up for the Klamath County Veterans ID Card, yet over 7,000 Veterans currently live in Klamath County. DeGroot asks that anyone not already signed up should do so to receive free benefits and discounts from local businesses and services.
“Veterans represent 1% of the nation’s population,” said DeGroot. “In Kamath County, that number is over 12%. We are a military town, we are a Veteran town and we do honor our veterans and look for ways to do that every day.”
Learn more about the Klamath County Veteran ID Card, apply and see the available benefits at klamathcounty.org/239/Veterans-Service-Office.