An eagle has "landed" in front of the VALOR Clinic in Jonas. It has made a permanent perch and couldn't have found a more worthy home.

Several months ago, Mark Baylis, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces SGM, and veteran Tony Cross, co-founded VALOR Clinic. VALOR stands for Veterans Assisted Living Out Reach. It is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit program and shelter for homeless veterans at the former Hotel Jonas. The vets in the program will stay at VALOR between 90 and 120 days. They will go through counseling and a life skills program, teaching them how to survive on their own, help them get jobs and how to manage a checking account.VALOR Clinic is named the Major Paul Syverson Veterans Sanctuary, or "Paul's House," named after Baylis' friend who died June 16, 2004, in Balad, Iraq.Syverson came from a unit with the motto, "To Free the Oppressed," an appropriate slogan for the mission of VALOR.It has taken an army of volunteers and an incredible outpouring of support from the community and area businesses to get the former hotel in ship shape for its dedication from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday.One of the key figures in the renovation is Alma Ruiz-Smith, vice president of RSVP. Her handiwork in the inside and the outside of the building is evident. She was fearful of a large maple tree in the front of the building falling and doing damage. She wanted it cut down but thought it would be a cool idea to then have someone chain saw an eagle out of the remaining tree trunk. She thought the eagle would be appropriate because it represents freedom and all that freedom stands for, and is worth fighting for, something all our veterans did for us.The eagle symbolizes honor, respect and dignity, something VALOR Clinic hopes to help some of the area's veterans who have lost their way, find again.Ruiz-Smith was talking to Rita Lacey, founder of Close the Loop LLC of Kunkletown, about her idea and Lacey told her she had just the person for the job."I wanted someone to do a chain saw sculpture of our late dog, Boomer, a St. Bernard, as a gift for my husband. I found Aya Blaine through East Stroudsburg University's Innovation Center. I was very impressed with her work and asked her to do the project. My husband and I were just blown away by the amazing likeness she did of Boomer. I recommended her to Alma," says Lacey.So on Monday, Sept. 29, Blaine, a member of Chainsaw Chix, arrived with several different size chain saws and tools to begin the eagle sculpture.Blaine, 39, was born in Osaka, Japan. She loved art in high school and took many classes in the arts and design. But it wasn't until she was married and she and her then husband, bought property in the country. They had to clear some of the land and they bought chain saws to do the job. Having never used one, Blaine went online to do research when she came across a website on chain saw art. She became very intrigued. Not only did they clear their land, they also tried their hands at chain saw art."My first attempt was an owl. Owls are lucky charms for the Japanese people. I was so excited, I did another one because I wanted to improve it. My third one was the best," she smiles.It became a hobby for her and she tried to attend every carving event in Japan. She moved to the United States 10 years ago. Now single, she lives in Pocono Pines with her son, Freddy. She travels all over the United States to carve, taking on many private commissions and demonstrating at various carving events.When Lacey told her about the job, she wanted to do it and donated her time as her way of honoring the veterans."I feel so sorry that they fought for their country and now have no place to live," she says.It took her three days to complete and she hopes the eagle will inspire and bring some pride to the veterans who pass through the doors of the VALOR Clinic.