Two Wednesday nights a month at a Redmond community bar are dedicated to Bingo for Veterans
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, in the cozy community bar Otto’s Landing, there's a special event bringing together a diverse group of individuals with a shared bond — veterans of war.
It was not the usual solemn gathering one might expect elsewhere. Instead, it was a lively game of bingo filling the room with laughter, camaraderie and a sense of belonging.
Among the attendees this week were Navy veteran Drew Davis and Army veteran Gene Kalar.
Davis said, "I was on the flight deck around F-18s all the time, and it was crazy being away from home and seeing the world. But it was a great experience, and it taught me a lot about life.”
Kalar said, “Germany was where I was stationed, at a medical depot. We traveled all over Europe. I also went to Brussels, Belgium, for NATO's conferences in 1967, and it was quite an experience.,”
Nicholas Olson, the owner of Otto’s Landing, says he's honored to host Bingo for Veterans: “Otto is my great grandfather. He was a veteran. I've got a lot of friends that are veterans. I have a really good friend that helped build a veterans ranch, so when this opportunity came around, it was a no-brainer for us.”
Between bingo rounds, the conversation flows freely, with veterans sharing memories, jokes and words of encouragement.
For some, it was the first time they'd opened up about their experiences since returning home. For others, it was a chance to relive cherished memories with fellow comrades. As the veterans made their way home, their hearts were full, knowing they'd found a place where they were truly valued and appreciated.
