Roseburg, OR – June 2025 – Six years ago, the U.S. Congress enacted the Frank and Jeanne Moore Wild Steelhead Special Management Area, commonly known as the Sanctuary, protecting nearly 100,000 acres of U.S. Forest Service land in Oregon’s North Umpqua River basin. That same year, two local veterans began handcrafting a custom oak bench to honor the Moores’ extraordinary legacy of conservation and service.

After years of delays caused by wildfires, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other unforeseen challenges, the bench was finally installed in April 2025 at a fitting location: Steamboat Inn, originally built by the Moores themselves and long regarded as a gateway to the Sanctuary.

Frank Moore, a decorated World War II veteran, returned from the war carrying invisible wounds. He found healing in the wild waters of the North Umpqua River—through fly fishing, deep connection to nature, and ultimately, conservation. His tireless advocacy helped protect this river from the threats of heavy logging in the 1960s and 70s. Jeanne Moore, a wildflower expert and long-time chair of the Glide Wildflower Show, worked alongside Frank to preserve the region's natural beauty. Together, they also founded the Steamboat Inn, which has welcomed guests from around the world.

Frank and Jeanne led lives full of purpose and quiet heroism, and their story inspired generations. In 2013, during a trip to Normandy, France—his first time back since World War II—Frank fulfilled a lifelong dream: to fish the rivers he had seen as a young soldier. This once-impossible journey was made possible by John Waller of Uncage the Soul Productions, who helped organize and film the trip. That journey became the award-winning documentary Mending the Line. On that same trip, Frank met Rusty Lininger, a post-9/11 infantry veteran then living in Europe. That meeting sparked a lasting bond between two generations of warriors, rooted in the healing power of nature. Rusty later moved to Roseburg with his wife Elena and their infant son Lian, where they founded the nonprofit Source One Serenity to support veterans through outdoor stewardship and meaningful reconnection with the land.

In 2019, following the passage of the Sanctuary bill, John Waller and Rusty Lininger began envisioning a bench to honor the Moores. Rusty was joined by fellow veteran and Forest Service retiree Randy Bailey to begin work on the bench. The wood used for the bench came from a fallen oak tree at Laurelwood in Roseburg during the 2019 winter storm, identified with help from the City of Roseburg. Remarkably, Frank and Jeanne once lived in Laurelwood, making the wood’s origin all the more meaningful. When the bench was unveiled, Jeanne noted with wonder that the tree “already knew” them. Now, as a bench, it continues their story.

Now, at Steamboat Inn, visitors can sit on the bench and gaze upon the North Umpqua River, reflecting on the natural beauty the Moores fought so hard to protect—and the continuing legacy they’ve inspired.

Frank Moore sat on the bench made to honor him and Jeanne not long before his passing in 2022—a quiet moment that now carries even deeper meaning. John Waller, who grew up in Douglas County, was a key figure in honoring the Moores’ story and was involved at the heart of the bench project from the very beginning. He envisioned a tangible tribute to their legacy and helped bring it to life through the hands of Rusty and Randy, along with the energy and dedication of his friends, family, and community. John passed away in December of 2024, and this bench now carries the memory of both men—as well as the generations and community they brought together in the spirit of healing, remembrance, and stewardship of the land. This project was also made possible by donations from numerous individuals, as well as TEDx Portland.

This bench, placed beside wild waters, and born from the convergence of multiple lives and stories, stands as a lasting tribute—not just to Frank and Jeanne Moore, but to all those who find healing and purpose in service, nature, and community.