To put on a military uniform of the United States -- any branch, any rank, any time, any place, any task -- requires sacrifice. Sometimes it's only a weekend a month; sometimes it's the ultimate price.

To the Veterans of Oregon and Members of the Community (VOAMC), the effort of every military man and woman deserves recognition. That's why VOAMC has created and awards its Honorable Service Medal. Every honorably discharged veteran -- not just those from Oregon -- qualifies for one. To receive the medal, a veteran need only apply for it and accept it in person (which can also be awarded posthumously to next of kin).

The medal's obverse (or "heads" side) features the American flag as a symbol of its importance to all veterans who served under it and are entitled to have it drape their coffin at time of burial. Overlaid is a silhouette of Oregon. The medal's reverse features the words "Duty," "Honor," "God," and "Country," as well as the names of the five branches of the Armed Forces of the United States.

Medals are awarded publicly, and perhaps the most public venue is the organization's annual Veteran's Convoy. Traveling the full length of Interstate 205 from the Clark County Fairgrounds in Washington State to the Korean War Memorial in Wilsonville, Oregon (a distance of about 40 miles) will be a procession of veterans and those honoring the service of veterans. This year's convoy will take place on November 9.

Anyone may participate, so long as they display the flag and drive with headlights on. The VOAMC hopes that the first vehicle will arrive in Wilsonville before the last has left Clark County.

The convoy's grand marshals will be family members of those veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan deployed from Oregon and Washington who lost their lives. They will be followed by families of remaining deployed veterans and those who have already returned. Any vehicle may participate, and any individual, organization, club, or civic group may participate. (If you are interested in participating or securing an Honorable Service Medal for yourself or for a qualifying veteran, you may contact VOAMC at http://www.veteransoforegon.com.)

The highlight of the ceremony at the Wilsonville Korean War Memorial will be the presentation of the Honorable Service Medals. Committee Co-Chairman John Neuman expects to add another 100-300 medals to the 7,000 already personally given out at ceremonies large and small all across Oregon. Medals have been presented to honor veterans who have served in every conflict in American history — one was presented to the family of an aide to General George Washington during the Revolutionary War.  The oldest living recipient was Howard Ramsey, who, at the age of 108, was the last surviving World War I combat veteran in Oregon. Recipients also include the President of the United States and the Governor of Oregon.

Since being founded in 1984, Northwest Territorial Mint has earned a reputation for creating outstanding personalized designs for custom challenge coins and commanders' coins for all branches of America’s military. Its veterans, too, have embraced the company's work, especially pleased with Northwest Territorial Mint's ability to mint its products wholly in its U.S. facility in Auburn, Washington.