Houck Veterans Organization planning for memorial building to showcase, honor community veterans

By Jan-Mikael Patterson
Navajo Times

HOUCK, Ariz. – The Houck Veterans Organization is looking to build a veterans memorial building to showcase the history of veterans serving from the community.

“We got the backwall up,” said Lois Watts, the vice commander of the organization. “Just fundraising alone, we collected $5,000 with yard and food sales.”

The cemetery and memorial structure its south from the Navajo Housing Authority complex across Interstate 40.

All fundraising, planning, and construction is all on a volunteer basis.

“We are volunteers,” said Ronald Daw, the commander of organization and a U.S. Marine veteran. “We don’t get paid.”

Call it a grassroots effort but the organization relies on itself when it comes to veterans work in the community. They are not alone in their efforts.

“A lot of the community members helps out when they can,” Watts said. “They’ll donate what is needed whether is the yard sale where they bring items to donate or food. When it comes to food sales a lot of the families step up and donate items or their time to help.”

Donating items or time is appreciated.

Houck community sits along I-40 west of Lupton. The chapter has 123 veterans listed through the Fort Defiance Agency and 19 are women that have also served. There are 26 veteran’s organizations listed and operating.

Currently there are 98 members in the veterans organization.

“There are some that moved away or have passed away,” Daw said. “This memorial is a good idea. This will give a good idea to have people go see who served from this community.”

Right now, the organization is going to raise $30,000 more to complete.

Recently the organization received its 501(c)(3) status making them a non-profit exempt from federal tax.

The veteran’s organization first worked to get their memorial cemetery so they could honor their fellow servicemen.

“It’s been…longer than 15 years since the idea of the memorial building came up,” Daw said. “It will be the first of its kind.”

As a volunteer organization every member makes time not just to serve their comrades but the community.

In the Armed Forces the soldiers learned to serve and to commit.

“I’d say that is very much true,” Watts said.

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