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USAF retiree wants to
educate veterans
The Daily Citizen 8 June 2004 Searcy resident Johnny VonRuedgisch is on a mission. The retired USAF staff sergeant wants to inform the community about the work of veterans organizations in the area -- with a little help from a Freedom Train. "A lot of your veteran organizations don't take the time to let this community know what we do. The big myth is we all gather in the post and drink. We're trying to break this myth," VonRuedgisch said. "We're going to be an educational organization for veterans programs, and let the community know that veterans organizations in this area help pay rent, utilities and lots of other things." Last year, veterans organizations in the northeastern portion of the state, including White County, raised $715,000 for rent, $215,000 for utilities, $215,000 for national disasters and an additional $995,000 for Christmas activities. VonRuedgisch wants to get those efforts out to the community by building a train from a 29-foot motor home with a storage trailer attached. "The veteran's organizations weren't relaying what they did. They weren't putting it out within the community, where it really needed to be," VonRuedgisch said. "So we're going to build a train. We'll be in parades with it, and it will be dedicated to the active military, reserves and veterans." The idea for the train came to VonRuedgisch while watching a fair parade one year. He was sitting in a coffee shop with friend, Harvey Powell, when the two decided the veteran organizations needed to do more. "We watched the parade, and we thought they needed something spectacular instead of the same old thing," Powell said. "Johnny said something about a train, and I said why don't we call it freedom train? He said, 'Oh, I don't know.' But we got to thinking about our POW boys, and I said yeah, we got to." From there, the idea grew to a 29-foot motorhome with a steam engine front end, a passenger car and a storage trailer for a caboose. The train will be numbered 350 after the American Legion Post in Searcy, along with other numbers signifying the Veterans of Foreign Wars post, the American Legion Post in Heber Springs and the Marine Corp. association in Little Rock. "We just wanted something that was unique and really look good," Powell said. "We are mostly representing the red, white and blue - the flag, what it stands for." The train will be painted by Powell, who had three brothers in the military. "I thought well, I'd like to hand-letter it. When you do that, it's from the heart. It has feeling to it," he said. "I told [Johnny] I didn't want it to look like a barbecue pit with a pipe on it. I told him we needed every bolt and everything on it. It's going to look like a real train coming down the road." Once the train is complete, it will be used in parades and be on display around the state, including Searcy, Little Rock Air Force Base and the VA Hospital in Little Rock. "It will be something that will draw people from all over the counties. This would be something you would see and keep for no telling how long," Powell said. "I can't wait to see it when we finish it. Johnny wants to build it yesterday. I want to build it now, but I know these things take time." The organization has already started work on the train, but members hope to raise $25,000 this year to help with the project and educating the community. Once the train is completed, the group wants to take its message statewide by 2005 and nationwide within eight to 10 years. "We decided this would help all the veteran's organizations. We're out here to help," VonRuedgisch said. "All donations are welcomed, and we want to thank the ones who have already donated to us." Those interested in donating or joining the group can contact VonRuedgisch for more information at 368-5115 or 268-7624. Yearly membership dues are $10 per person.
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