The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Shirley Linder, Quill Editor
Stronghurst: Thirty-six World War II Veterans were honored locally over Memorial Day weekend.
Tom Brokaw calls them "The Greatest Generation." Men and women who "went on to build modern America- whose everyday lives of duty, honor, achievement and courage gave us the world we have today."
Henderson County American Legion Commander Gene Heap along with his post and auxiliary members were proud to honor each of them.
The thirty-six area World War II veterans along with their spouses and family members, 80 in all, were treated to a World War II Veterans Brunch, Friday, May 28th.
All Legions and Auxiliaries were asked to do something special for veterans in their area in conjunction with the dedication of the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. that was held on Saturday, May 29th,
After guests were seated, Post Commander Heap welcomed the veterans and guests. Lois Campbell offered a prayer.
While the guests enjoyed a breakfast casserole and muffins, Bonnie Hensley sang a medley of songs popular during that era as well as some patriotic songs.
Bonnie was accompanied on the piano by Dorothy Simpson, both of Stronghurst.
A Certificate of Appreciation with a colored picture of the WW II Memorial that was to be dedicated in their honor, along with a lapel pin, was presented to each World War II veteran.
Ralph Tatge spoke briefly of his having been in Washington D.C. recently and viewing the memorial.
He spoke of how impressive it is and how appreciative other visitors were when they discovered he had served during World War II.
The $170 million National World War II Memorial was built in less than three years beginning in September 2001 with private funds. It is located on a 7.4 acre site at the center of the National Mall in Washington D.C. between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
This new addition to the Mall has a little-known neighbor: a memorial to those who served in World War I. It opened in 1931 and was built by Washington, D.C., to commemorate the sacrifice made locally to support the war effort.
According to the Veterans Administration, there are fewer than 200 veterans of the Great War still alive today. Historians say their average age is 103-104 years old.
The Memorial also joins the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, John Ericsson Memorial, and the George Mason Memorial
Visitors enter a bronze and granite memorial plaza through a 43 foot arch. In the center of the plaza stands a rainbow pool with fountains and the plaza is ringed by 56 granite pillars representing the wartime U.S. states and territories.
A wall with 4,000 sculpted, gold-plated stars commemorate the 400,000 American soldiers who died in the war. Many veterans had been looking forward to the dedication of the National Memorial with some impatience. Most veterans are in their 80's.
One could understand the impatience since U.S. statistics report that 1,056 WW II veterans die each day.
Although the dedication in D.C. was expected to draw the largest number of WW II Veterans since the end of the war, many across the United States could not attend.
Henderson County Legion and Auxiliary members were proud to be able to show their appreciation to their local WW II veterans and to assure them that with the dedication of the National WW II Memorial, Henderson County is a part of a grateful nation that will long remember their sacrifices.
Area's "Greatest Generation" of World War II Veterans Honored at American Legion Post #765 - Stronghurst:
Front Row: Lowell Cortelyou, Harold Wunnenberg, Gail Babcock, Marian Cooley, Verna Gibb, Gerald Thompson, LeRoy Wallace. Back Row: Ray Shafer, John Allaman, Arthur Gilensky, Merwin P. Smith, Max Galbraith, Robert M. Smith, Wendell Slover, Harold Bowen, Ivan Jacob, Harold Lumbeck, Ben Heap, Earl Booton, Roy Drevland, Robert White, Gerald VanTine, Wendell Fox, Curt Eisenmayer, James Paris, Edward Gibb, James Kettelkamp, Richard Oge, Raymond West, Jack Brokaw, Arnold Siens, Dean Kemp, Kenneth Brown, Ralph Tatge, Kenneth Diers, Paul Vice