DIXON, CA (MPG) - Faithfully, Roger Schaller, the Veteran of the Year, sets up his music and plays guitar at almost every veteran dinner on Friday nights. He also performs at his church, for other veteran events, and at local charities like Grillin’ & Chillin,’ and the Scottish Game. He has gifted Dixon with his talent over the past many years and has used his musical prose since he was drafted in 1969 for the Vietnam War when he was just 18.

He had several assignments in the military beginning at Ft. Dixon in New Jersey. In 1970, he went to Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Eustis, Virginia and was an Honor Graduate at Cobra Crew Chief School and was later stationed at Camp Stanton in Korea with Company B in the 2^nd Aviation Battalion.

He was assigned to two new Bell 206 helicopters and “flew observer every chance I could,” he said. He earned the IMJIM Scout Award and in 1971 was transferred to Delta Troop, 4/7 Air Crew. He and his wife, Lynne, moved to Dixon in 1990 and he has been a member of the American Legion Post 208 for more than 20 years as an officer and also as Chaplain. Lynne is in the Women’s Auxiliary.

He also served as a Little League Coach and Manager for several years while his two sons, Eric and Patrick, were young.