OUR YOUTH: 

HONORING AND PRESERVING THE LEGACY

OF THE WORLD WAR II GENERATION

Anna Tinseth

Anna is a high school graduate of Salem Academy. Runner, triathlete, and recipient of the Marine NROTC scholarship, she is a member of National Honors Society, Leadership Youth, and a graduate of the FBI Youth Academy. She is a team captain for her soccer and swim teams, and serves on the board for Salem’s YMCA. Anna joined the Spirit of ’45 ‘Remember and Be Inspired’ youth team to recognize and honor her grandfather who served in WWII, but is now passionate about recognizing and honoring all members of the Greatest Generation, specifically those in her home state.

Testimony: I joined the Oregon Spirit of ’45 early last summer. I saw participation in this organization as a way of representing my grandfather and practicing the values he set for our family. A retired Army LTCol and a member of the Greatest Generation, he showed us what it looks like to be an American patriot. His example of servitude, community involvement, strong work ethic, and encouraging spirit has inspired me to seek out challenges in school, sports, and activities in my community. Although he passed when I was still in elementary school, I accredit to him the forming of the fierce patriotism I bear today.

In coming to Washington, DC, I thought that I would be representing only my grandfather in the Memorial Day Parade. However, after almost a year with the Spirit of ’45 (www.orspiritof45.org), I have met and talked with so many other veterans, war brides, and Americans from the home front that my one grandfather has turned into many other grandfathers and grandmothers. For this reason, I have come to the nation’s capital to honor and represent each member from the Greatest Generation from my home state so as to express my inspiration.

I practice living out the Greatest Generation’s values in school where I seek the most rigorous courses and strive for the best grades possible. I continue this inspiration in athletics, where I aim for a diverse and challenging set of sports. Looking toward the future, I aspire to serve in the Marine Corps before working counterterrorism in the FBI or doing research for the World Health Organization. It is my hope that through my actions and life testimony, I may speak volumes of the Greatest Generation and of their influence on today’s youth.

Victoria Jacoby

Victoria is a member of National Honor Society, French Honor Society and a recipient of the highly selective Jack Kent Cook Scholarship. She plays shortstop on the JV softball team and French horn in West Salem’s state champion Wind Ensemble and award winning Symphony. Victoria is a member of the Oregon Spirit of ’45 Youth “Remember and Be Inspired’ Youth team and an Airman 1st Class in the Civil Air Patrol, an official auxiliary of the United States Air Force. With a passion for American History and appreciation of our service men and women, she plans to pursue a career in law and serve as a United States Air Force JAG.

Testimony: My interest and later participation in the Spirit of ‘45 spurred from my love of history, and the lessons it carries. Two of my great-grandfathers served in WWII, one in the Army, and the other, Navy. I was still in my early youth while they were still with us, but although my young mind couldn’t yet grasp the importance of their dedication, I knew they were both incredibly hardworking men. My mother was very close with her grandparents, and I recognize their influence in my own upbringing. She learned from them the power of accountability, self-responsibility, a do-it-yourself attitude, and perseverance. But above all, she learned to put others before herself. And I believe the greatest memorial to them both was passing on the principles of their generation onto the next. The Spirit of ’45 Youth Team provides an outstanding opportunity to not only say thank you to the men and women who sacrificed so much for our country, but to listen to their lessons, and exercise their teachings in our own lives.

In my future, I plan to pursue a career in law and serve in the JAG Corps. I play French horn in the state champion West Salem Wind Ensemble and Symphony. I play shortstop for my school’s JV softball team, and an Airman First-Class in Civil Air Patrol, an official auxiliary to the Air Force. I am also a member of National Honor Society and French Honor Society.
As a member of the Youth Team, I hope to honor the men and women of the WWII generation and encourage other generations to “Remember and Be Inspired.” www.OrSpiritof45.org

Landen Van Dyck

Landen is graduate of McNary High School. As a member of the National Honor Society and the NSHSS, he engaged in school leadership and participated in McNary’s Swim Team and Cross Country. He has years of experience as a boy scout senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader and patrol leader and desires to complete his Eagle Scout badge very soon. He played in the high school band at multiple State Championships for Wind Ensemble, Small woodwind Ensembles and Symphony.

Landen is a member of the Oregon Spirit of’ 45 “Remember and Be Inspired’ youth team and spoke in six cities across Oregon during the WWII 70th Anniversary Spirit of ’45 Commemorative week, 2015. Sponsored by the Oregon Spirit of ’45, he was part of the team that introduced the statewide concert tour and spoke of behalf of our youth on the importance of the values of the WWII generation. With appreciation of the ‘Greatest Generation,’ his college plans include participation in the NROTC program and becoming a U.S. Navy Pilot.

Testimony: My life goal is to follow in the footsteps of my both my grandfathers and serve in the U.S. military. Through scouts, I learned the values of citizenship, community service, life skills and leadership. I plan on getting a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical or mechanical engineering through the Navy ROTC program and plan to be a Navy fighter pilot. I believe that there is no greater honor then giving back to your country, and wish to do so in my life.

I have a deep appreciation and respect for all members of the World War II generation because of my grandfather, a Lt. Col. in the Army who served in WWII and Korea. He modeled values of honor, respect and patriotism that I subscribe to today. It was his influence that prompted me to joined the Oregon Spirit of’ 45 ‘Remember and Be Inspired’ youth team and be one of its first members.

I am proud to carry on the values on of duty and service of the Greatest Generation to future generations and express the never-ending appreciation and gratitude we owe the men and women of the ‘Greatest Generation.’

Grace Warde

Grace is a graduate of Salem Academy Christian School. She is a manager of two pools in the Salem — the Salem Swim and Tennis Club and Olinger Aquatics. Over the last four years, she has helped foster a swim program for Native American kids and children with autism.

She has participated in club swimming for six years and high school swimming for four years. Throughout high school, she has gone on various missions trips to Eastern Oregon and has volunteered at her church, pool, and school.

She has recently been accepted to University of Richmond and plans to attend there this coming fall. She is new to the Oregon Spirit of ’45 ‘Remember and Be Inspired’ Youth team and will represent us in Richmond VA as we continue to work with other states, national officials and build Oregon’s ‘Wall of Honor, Faces of Heroes’ to engage our youth – ‘Remember and Be Inspired.’ www.OrSpiritof45.org.

Grace has also been accepted into the pre-freshman research and internship program called URISE this coming summer where she will work alongside fourteen other students and various faculty in cutting-edge research and technology. Currently she is working on staffing and scheduling sixteen employees for this coming summer.