No matter what the disability, Veterans Outdoor Adventures Ohio is committed to providing the support needed to get veterans outdoors
The veterans in attendance at the VOA Ohio event in Strasburg with the 1966 Corvette.Teri Stein
Teri SteinTeriSteinThe Bargain Hunter
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It was a touching moment when new owner Curt Baumann of Zoar, an Air Force veteran, and former owner Jim Baird, an Army veteran, drove a cherry-red 1966 Corvette to the tune of “Driving with Private Malone,” at a Veterans Outdoor Adventures Ohio event May 9 in Strasburg.
Country singer Ricky Lee entertained at the event and even sang a special rendition of “Riding with Private Malone.”Teri Stein
The song was performed by Ricky Lee, a Nashville recording artist, who enjoys performing at veteran’s events. The event was held at Culture Customs.
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Baird of Pennsylvania was inspired to give away the Corvette he had owned for 46 years when he heard the song “Driving with Private Malone” by country artist David Ball and realized that his car was identical to the one used in the video for the song.
Ball was involved in the giveaway, and Baumann was selected as the winner after Baird and his wife reviewed 72 final nominations received.
The song is about a service man who buys a dusty old Corvette and finds a letter from the original owner in the glove box, a man who was killed during his tour of duty.
The inside of the 1966 Corvette shows the glove box, which is signed by David Ball, the country artist who sang “Riding with Private Malone.”Teri Stein
“This car was once a dream of mine, now it belongs to you. And though you may take her and make her your own. You'll always be riding with Private Malone,” the lyrics read in part.
The event was a fundraiser to support the nonprofit Veterans Outdoor Adventures Ohio organization and honor veterans. They also showed off the organization’s new trailer donated by the members of the Streetsboro VFW Post 9716.
No matter what the disability, Veterans Outdoor Adventures Ohio is committed to providing the support needed to get veterans outdoors. It all began when Baumann helped with getting a World War II veteran, Harry “Pete” Shaw, approved for a trip back to Normandy, France.
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Later, due to family caregiver health issues, Shaw moved in with Baumann.
“He was just a very lovable guy; he changed our lives,” Baumann said. “That's how this foundation really started is with him moving in with us, and he wanted to go deer hunting."
Harry “Pete” Shaw inspired Baumann to create the VOA Ohio group. This banner, featuring Shaw’s photo, hangs in the organizations new trailer.Teri Stein
Baumann wanted to grant that wish but wondered how to get the 96-year-old into a tree stand.
“So, we built one that was accessible for him,” Baumann said.
Among their projects, Baumann was pleased that they were able to host two active-duty Navy SEALS for a deer hunt with another foundation last year.
The organization is also involved with building decks with the Patios for Patriots group. VOA Ohio already has two decks, and another deer stand blind to build this year.
Baumann works with veterans at his job. Many of the board members and volunteers that work with VOA Ohio are still employed too.
“We try to stick within, I would say, just an hour and a half drive around this area, because it's so hard for all of us to get away and line volunteers up. It will take 20 volunteers sometimes to do a job because we try to knock stuff out in one day,” Baumann said.
“It's been very rewarding, but now being on the other side of it, the receiving end is different, very, very, very different," Baumann added referencing the win of the Corvette last year.
It’s harder to accept gifts, but Baumann plans to use the car to draw attention to veterans and help them. The car will travel to Michigan soon to another event. Then, the car was registered to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Grand Parade in Canton this summer Aug. 8. It will follow a float dedicated to veterans.
Curt Baumann, left, presents Jim Baird with a toy Corvette. Baird gave his 1966 Corvette to Baumann after he was inspired by the song, “Riding with Private Malone.”Teri Stein
Mary Ann Shaw, daughter-in-law of Pete Shaw, attended the event and spoke about how meaningful activities provided to veterans can be. At the time Pete Shaw was considering a return to Normandy, she was unable to help with the requirements and depended on Baumann.
“(World War II) was something that Pete had never spoken about. In all the years that I knew him, all the years of my husband growing up, he never spoke of it, but going back to Normandy really touched him,” Mary Ann Shaw said. “After that, he started speaking about it and talking to groups.”
Pete Shaw was in the third wave to hit the beach on D-Day at Normandy as part of the first mechanized unit that landed there. He was also among the troops that liberated the Dachau concentration camp.
After Pete Shaw died, Baumann and others took some of his ashes to Normandy and held a ceremony to scatter them on the beach.
The event was sponsored by Cronebaugh Auction & Realty, Operation Flags of Freedom, Lowe’s, Pennsylvania Gunsmith School, Culture Customs and Scent Armor.
