Veterans' van ready for next owner

The van that has transported local veterans to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Spokane for the past six years has been retired from use and awaits its next mission and owner.

The nonprofit Disabled American Veterans, Fort Sherman Chapter 9, has the 2004 12-passenger Ford E-350 van for sale for $7,500 or best offer.

The van has 162,000 miles, but Bob Hunt, DAV chapter adjutant, said those are mostly highway miles and that the vehicle has been well-maintained as a government vehicle under the VA.

"It's in very good shape," Hunt said. "It's been driven carefully by veterans transporting veterans to the hospital. It was never abused.

Drinking, eating and smoking were not allowed in the van."

Proceeds from the sale will be used to purchase another van in the future.

"We recently had it detailed, put on a new windshield and had the decals taken off," Hunt said.

The nationwide DAV/VA van project has been around for about 20 years. The local program is on its fifth van. Local veterans are transported to Spokane Monday through Friday, a 75-mile round trip.

Under the DAV/VA agreement, the VA owns, insures and maintains the vans. The DAV hires the drivers, who are disabled veterans, and handles the scheduling.

The local program is currently operating its fifth van. It replaces vans every five to six years.

Idaho has 16 vans that transport vets to Salt Lake City, Boise, Walla Walla and Spokane.

"It is an immense effort to keep it all going,"

Those interested in the van should call Greg Bacon at 262-9113 or Hunt at 773-1074.