Billie Clark of Moran reports that $9,000 of the necessary $15,000 has been raised to buy a new van to transport veterans to and from the Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center in Iron Mountain.

A fish fry is being planned in the spring to continue fundraising. Other fundraisers have included a fish fry in October, a "Forget Me Not" drive at the St. Ignace Car Show in June, and a bake sale on Veterans Day.

The current van has turned 128,000 miles in its two years of service, picking up veterans throughout the Eastern U.P., transporting them to Iron Mountain, then taking them home after their medical appointments. There is no cost to veterans for the service.

Iron Mountain is 396 miles round trip from St. Ignace, and the van's 30-gallon tank holds just enough fuel to make that journey.

The VA supplies gasoline at its Iron Mountain facilities, plus $25 gas cards should more be required.

There are six unpaid volunteer drivers: Ron Dahms, Christopher Stearns, John McKinnon, and Joe Thibault, all of St. Ignace, Wayne Harding of Rudyard, and Gino Giordani of Moran.

Veteran status is not necessary to be a driver, Mrs. Clark reports. "We need drivers," she said.

Some drivers log 600 to 800 miles a day transporting vets from Cedarville, Sault Ste. Marie, or Drummond Island.

Mrs. Clark, adjutant and treasurer of the St. Ignace Disabled American Veterans Chapter 93, is the scheduler, matching drivers and veterans with the veterans' appointments.

Donations to the program, sponsored by St. Ignace DAV Chapter 93, may be made by calling 643-9369. Checks should be written to DAV Chapter 93 and mailed to P.O. Box 42, Moran, Michigan 49760.