“One Last Ride:” 1-82 CAV hosts final Regimental Ball to celebrate the unit’s proud legacy

As the sun dipped behind the Deschutes River on the evening of Sept. 19, 2026, more than 400 soldiers, spouses, retired service members, and friends gathered at the Riverhouse Convention Center in Bend to celebrate the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment’s “One Last Ride” Regimental Ball.

Earlier in the day, the unit was officially deactivated during a Casing of the Colors ceremony at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater. The ceremony marked the end of one of the Oregon Army National Guard’s last Cavalry units, which served in World War II in the Philippines and, since 2005, took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and supported the European Deterrence Initiative in Poland. The unit also supported relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in 2005 and 2006 and assisted with wildland firefighting operations in Oregon.

Planning began more than a year ago, with support from the 1-82 Cavalry Regimental Association and other key volunteers. By the time attendees arrived in formal dress uniforms for the evening, many wore their Cavalry Stetson hats and spurs dating back to the 1860s and associated with U.S. Army Cavalry units.

“I have 420 RSVPs for tonight's ball, and I am expecting even more as the evening evolves,” said Tanya Koski, who was instrumental in organizing the “One Last Ride Regimental Ball.’ “We knew that tonight was going to be special, so we went all out for this event.”

Tanya Koski, the spouse of Sgt. 1st Class Trevor Koski, has been a key volunteer for the unit for years. Their daughter, Kara Roatch, also joined the organizing team, which knew it needed to book the Riverhouse Convention Center to accommodate the large number of attendees.

“Some of these guys coming here tonight haven’t talked in over ten years. This is a chance to create camaraderie and celebrate one memorable night,” Tanya said.

Oregon Army National Guard Maj. Paul Brown, a key leader with the 1-82nd Cavalry Regiment Association, said plans began nearly two years ago, when they first learned of the unit's potential deactivation.

“I didn’t think it would look like this, but someone did, and Tanya came back and said we need to do this at the biggest and nicest place we can do this in Central Oregon,” Brown said to attendees. “I was skeptical of the price, to say the least, but I knew we were going to raise what we need when Tanya was in charge of making that money.”

During the Ball, the mother-daughter duo received The Shield of Sparta for their faithful and significant service to the Infantry’s Soldiers and Families.

“There is no doubt this could not have been done without her. She got the volunteers, she beat down doors, and she got the donations that will help keep this association alive for years to come,” Brown said.

As the evening's guest speaker, Col. Russell Gibson, Assistant Adjutant General, Oregon Army National Guard, addressed the group as they commemorated the unit's final day.

“All right, we are in 'CAV Country' tonight. Earlier today we heard a lot about this organization’s history, but tonight is not only about the past — but it’s also about the future,” he said. “This regiment will continue to pull together soldiers from all areas of service and impact families and communities.”

Gibson took a moment to thank the many sponsors, volunteers, organizers, and the band “Maverick Jones and the Silver Spurs,” which provided the music for the evening. He quickly noted that the Invocation follows the National Anthem, so the usual protocol is not to applaud. He asked those in attendance to thank the band before he proceeded. In keeping with the theme, the band later played a song they specially wrote for the event, “One Last Ride.”

“How did we get here this evening? If you ask me, this regiment's strength is its culture. This culture has been built over decades. I firmly believe that a culture in military units is driven by and owned by the NCO Corps,” Gibson said, describing his insight into military organizations. “Commanders set the tone…they provide the framework of the unit and shape the command culture, but you cannot command culture. Culture is not policy. Culture is the unwritten rules. It’s the ‘How we do it here’—everyday actions by soldiers.”

On culture, Gibson said one of his mentors, Col. Kevin Dial, who was in attendance, was one of those soldiers who carried the ‘CAV Culture’ with him after leaving the unit and taking other leadership positions in the Oregon Army National Guard.

“Things he (Dial) learned here, he brought with him. This is how culture is spread and how the ‘CAV Culture’ is carried on by great leaders,” Gibson said, as he asked former 1-82 commanders and command sergeants major to please stand to illustrate this lineage of former members still serving in other units. “That culture is strong, but cannot be taken for granted. It is now your job to carry it forward, as so many of your brothers and sisters did before you. Take what you have learned, keep it alive, shepherd it, and spread it to others.”

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