Also, install the screened gasket which will prevent large chunks of carbon from getting to the valve.
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Would it be possible for me to get a small piece of screen from the hardware store and attach that over the small bottom intake hole on the EGR gasket? I'm going to try this because there are no auto supply stores that have the screened gasket in stock in this area...

Also, after I get the EGR out again and re-clean, I'll perform the suggested test below...
I also liked the paper-towel in socket trick and will use that today

(put your Ohm-meter on the 2 outer pins (or 2 left pins) where the plug goes
into the EGR. It should read about 4ohms... Then push the plunger down most of
the way, the resistance should jump up to around 9.... If it doesnt, then there
is a problem inside it.)

 

I believe the large port is the supply port.

 

Yep, the bottom port is the screened port.

 

Okay, good news and bad/good news;
The good news is that the Blazer is up and running fine,
The bad news is that when I did the continuity test on the old EGR, it tested 10.5 ohms open and the same closed. Good news is that the auto supply had one in stock for $100.