MARK BUCHHOLZ | Chairmen

Mark is a Veteran of the US Air Force as well as the US Air National Guard and served from 1984 to 1992. After his basic training in Texas and technical school in Illinois he was stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. While in the military he was assigned as a heavy equipment mechanic/operator and refueling specialist. Mark volunteered for deployment to Germany for multi-country war games and assisted in the rebuilding of schools in Jamaica after Hurricane Hugo. Mark has always been fascinated with the military. His father is a proud US Army Veteran and Mark always enjoyed hearing the stories about his father’s travels and experiences.

Mark married Apryl Brown in 1994. Apryl retired from the US Army National Guard as a Sergeant First Class. They have four adult children and 7 grandchildren. Mark worked as a Corrections Officer at the Oregon State Penitentiary for over 28 years and retired in 2019.

While growing up Mark had an opportunity to live in multiple states, but Oregon has been his home since 1980. He enjoys traveling, camping, sports, wood working, history and WWII aircraft, but his true passion is rock-hounding. Mark is happiest when he’s out in the mountains, deserts or wilderness looking for thundereggs, petrified wood or other interesting rocks.

In 2009 Mark heard a radio interview about Veterans that were currently serving in Iraq. The troops were reporting they were without certain basic hygiene items and necessities. Mark teamed up with a few other co-workers and they decided to hold a fund-raiser to collect the items the troops were requesting. The fundraiser was a huge success and they were able to send 68 large care packages to the troops in Iraq for Christmas. The cards and thank you letters received from Soldiers, Marines, Airman and Navy personnel were tremendously touching. This encouraged Mark and others to continue their fundraising efforts.

The 13 years have been exciting and rewarding. “Honoring Heroes” has become an official non-profit organization and Mark has coordinated and participated along with others, to hold many fundraising events; poker runs, auctions, raffles, t-shirt sales and more. Honoring Heroes has sent hundreds of care packages to Iraq and Afghanistan; assisted in the funding of homes built for veterans who have suffered catastrophic injuries; partnered with local transitional centers to assist Veterans move into their new housing. Assisted other nonprofits such as; The Returning Veterans Project, Ft. Kennedy, VETcare, Easter Seals of Oregon, Oregon National Guard and more. Honoring Heroes also assists homeless veterans receive basic necessities, provides funding for returning Veterans and their families suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and assists Veterans with their basic needs and other projects.

Steve is a veteran of the United States Navy. He attended boot camp and training in San Diego, California. After training, he was assigned to the USS Barbour County LST-1195.

He served as active duty from 1989 to 1992. While on board the USS Barbour County, Steve spent 7 months deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm. Steve was also in the Naval Reserves from 1992 until 1997. Steve’s dad and three of his brothers served in the military as well. You could say patriotism runs high in Steve’s family!

Steve has three children from previous marriages and with the exception of Steve’s active duty time, he has always lived in the Salem-Keizer area. In his free time, Steve enjoys riding dirt bikes & quads, four-wheeling, shooting guns and spending time with his kids.

Steve has been employed by the Oregon Department of Corrections as an Officer at the Oregon State Penitentiary, since 2001. Steve volunteered at the Second Annual Honoring Heroes "Poker Run". Shortly after the event, he was asked to join Honoring Heroes; since Steve enjoys helping Veterans and hearing others stories from when they served, he gladly accepted the invitation.

Erin was born in Portland, Oregon, and has lived there for the majority of her life. She graduated from Oregon State University with a BS in International Business and from the University of Oregon with a Masters in Accounting. She started her career in public accounting and then moved into SEC reporting at a large public company. She now works as an application developer for the same company’s financial planning and reporting tool. Although she no longer works as an accountant, she maintains an active CPA license in the state of Oregon.

While at Oregon State, Erin met the love of her life and eventual husband, Adrian, who is the stepson of Mark Buchholz, Honoring Heroes Chairman. She married into a family with deep military ties. Erin’s family also has military military connections; her maternal grandfather served as Aviation Radioman Second Class with US Navy Composite Squadron Twenty Three on combat planes in the Pacific during WWII. Her paternal grandfather also served in the US Navy during WWII as a Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class aboard U.S.S. Mount Vernon in the South Pacific.

Erin is awed by the sacrifices made by the members of the armed forces. She is proud to be a part of an organization like Honoring Heroes where she can give back to those who have done so much for our country.

Diana has not personally been in the military but comes from a long history of service members. Her father was “Secretary to the General” stationed in Germany during the Korean War. Her grandfather was a Seabee on Manus Island during World War II. Her ex husband (and still friend) was in the Navy on the USS Callaghan in the Persian Gulf and is still a member of the Oregon National Guard. It was as a child observing her father’s commitment to the VFW that created a soft spot in her heart for all things related to military and the needs of our veterans.

Diana, born in Michigan, moved to Salem in 6th grade has one daughter and two grandchildren all living in the Salem area. She is a caregiver for her elderly mother and works as an Office Manager.

Diana is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and learned about Honoring Heroes through Facebook. She immediately felt the need to get involved and help in any way possible to hopefully make a difference for our Veterans.

Apryl Buchholz, Member at Large

      Apryl has been volunteering with Honoring Heroes since its inception clear back in 2008.  Prior to that she retired from the Oregon Army National Guard in May 2001.   She began her career with the “Guard” at the age of 17 back in January 1977.  Many of those years in the Army National Guard were working full time at the Oregon Military Department in Salem, Oregon. For a brief stint she spent some time in the Texas Army National Guard and had the great opportunity to spend a few years living abroad in Germany in a USAR status. 

After twenty-four years, she retired from the Oregon Army National Guard and transitioned directly into a career of Massage Therapy.  She had been going to school nights and weekends while still working at the Military Department.  She was successfully self-employed for 20 years as a Licensed Massage Therapist and retired from that in September 2021.

Apryl was born in Salem Oregon but grew up and went to school in Washington then moved back to Salem not long before joining the National Guard.

She is married to Mark, an Air Force Veteran and, the Chairman and Co-founder of Honoring Heroes.  From combining forces, they are thankful to have four wonderful children, seven awesome grandchildren, one handsome dog, and three cats with special personalities. 

Apryl’s Dad also served. He was in the US Army stationed at Ft Lewis, WA and at Ft Benning, GA in the 1950’s.

Outdoor activities, such as gardening or hiking in the high desert looking for rocks is some of her favorite things to do, as well as fiber art crafts and painting. Ranking highest of course of favorite things to do, is seeing and spending time with family and friends.

Believing that “The Glass is Half Full” as opposed to “Half Empty” outlook is the approach on life she likes to take.  She feels that it is important to give back and do whatever you can to help make our world a better place.  She feels helping Veterans, service members and their families is just one of the many ways to reach that goal.

CHRISTINA PRIES, MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Christina was born in Newberg Oregon Living in Dundee Oregon, She has moved around a lot in her life having lived in Madras Oregon, Bend Oregon, Celletes France, Liege Belgium, Tacoma Washington, Kona Hawaii, Gladstone Oregon and is now settled in Salem Oregon with Her Husband Steven Pries, and their 3 children Acacia, Wylde, and Tyler. Christina has been a registered nurse since 1998. Christina started her career in the medical field, young at 18, working in hospitals holding positions such as a food service worker, transport aide, and as a CNA. She continued with her education, filling every position she could along the way including getting her degree as an LPN and RN and then later in 2015 she continued her education to get a Bachelor degree of Nursing as well as obtaining education as a Legal Nurse Consultant. Her life has been devoted to caring for others and developing healthy lifestyles for her clients. While living in Hawaii Christina became involved in the restaurant and catering industry owning a popular catering business on the Big Island of Hawaii in Kona. Christina worked in the catering business while also holding the position of Nursing Supervisor and Nurse at Kona Community Hospital. The catering developed into a full-time business that eventually grew into a full-service restaurant and bar which she owned and operated by herself. This is where she became adept at event planning and coordinating as well as financial management and budgets. After 8 years in Hawaii Christina made the decision to come home to Oregon for the sake of providing her daughter, who suffered from a seizure disorder, appropriate health care, and better education. After living in Bend Oregon and Gladstone Oregon Christina settled into the Salem Keizer area in 2011 obtaining a position with the Oregon Department of Corrections as a staff nurse. She was quickly promoted to Nurse Manager at the Oregon State Penitentiary and held that position for 10 years. She also held the position of Medical Services Manager at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility for 2 ½ years. Christina accepted a new position as the CEO of Northbank Surgical Center in Salem, Oregon in May of 2021 and continues to work there today. Christina volunteered during the 2014 Annual Honoring Heroes “Poker Run”. During the event, she showed great excitement about helping Honoring Heroes during future events. She also demonstrated skills that could contribute to the program. Christina joined the Board of Directors and held positions such as Secretary and Treasurer and currently remains on as a “Member at Large”. While Christina has no military background, her service to community and families over the years and her devotion to helping others as well as her business experience makes her a perfect fit with Honoring Heroes and their mission to help U. S. soldiers and military families all over the world.

DARRIN DECOSTER, MEMBER AT LARGE.

Darrin has lived in Michigan, Florida and Oregon.  He joined the Marines after high school, going to Boot Camp and MCT in sunny California.  He then went to Armorer training in Maryland before getting stationed at Camp LeJeune.  After only a month there, he was deployed for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm as the Battalion Armorer supplying the forward deployments with their armaments.

After serving the remainder of his sentence at Camp LeJeune, Darrin returned to Oregon where he got into the Limited Energy Apprenticeship, receiving his license and continuing in that trade for over 26 years.

He currently enjoys spending time with his beautiful wife of 9 years, bicycling, GOLFING, going to concerts (usually going to 10 or more each year) and volunteering to help Veterans and other non-profits.