Mecklenburg Tribune to profile 27 veterans in 2026 special section

The Mecklenburg Tribune will publish a special section dedicated to 27 veterans this week.

This annual Salute to Veterans feature marks the latest entry in a long-running series. The newspaper has produced this section every year to honor local service members. The 2026 edition continues that tradition without interruption.

The selection process for this year's section focused on individuals who made Oregon their permanent home. The featured group includes men and women who served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. Their service dates range from the Cold War era to more recent deployments. One profiled woman served in the Women's Army Corps during the 1950s. Another woman later became the Director of the Oregon Department of Veteran Affairs. A third veteran conducted surveillance of East German and Soviet installations during the Cold War. A fourth veteran, a Navy Corpsman, served in Vietnam and continues to process the traumatic experiences of that deployment.

The newspaper notes that approximately 17.3 million veterans are currently living in the United States. In Oregon, that number stands at about 266,000. The state hosts two major Coast Guard Air Stations and nine active Coast Guard Stations. It also contains two Air National Guard bases and 46 Army National Guard Armories. These installations exist in a region where neighboring states to the north, south, and east also maintain active-duty military facilities.

The 2026 section includes a reprint of the Gettysburg Address. Abraham Lincoln delivered that speech in 1864. The text emphasizes dedication to the cause for which soldiers died and the preservation of government by the people. The newspaper uses this historical reference to frame the purpose of the modern profiles. The stories aim to show how veterans contribute to their communities through ongoing service. Some continue to serve in civic roles after leaving active duty.

Local businesses sponsored the featured veterans for this week's edition. Their financial support allows the newspaper to print the section and share the individual stories with readers. The newspaper thanks these sponsors for enabling the publication of the profiles. The section serves as a public acknowledgment of the veterans' service.

The publication encourages readers to view the profiles as a reminder of the contributions made by these individuals. The newspaper hopes the stories prompt readers to express gratitude. The section is available in the current issue of the Mecklenburg Tribune.