 This
year, there were 13 men and women veterans,
many of whom fought on the shores of North
Africa, on into Sicily and Italy, on the
shores of Normandy through France into
Germany and Czechoslovakia, and men who
fought in the Pacific Island campaign.
One, Navy Lt. Emmett Shellhammer, was
stationed on the USS Missouri when Gen.
Douglas MacArthur accepted the unconditional
surrender from Emperor Hirohito of Japan in
the Bay of Tokyo (Yokosuka).
One could not hold in their hands all the
medals and citations that these men and
women earned in their war campaigns during
World War II and Korea. There were many
supporters, onlookers and well-wishers at
this short service -- family, friends and
fellow Vonderlieth Living Center patients --
and not too many dry eyes could be noticed.
Following the Memorial Day services (see
pictorial) the Legion held their annual
luncheon. This year's luncheon was a
celebration of Mount Pulaski's 90th year as
an American Legion post -- established in
1920, just one year after the American
Legion organization was established in
Paris, France, by Teddy Roosevelt's son,
Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr.
Roosevelt Jr. served in both World War I
and World War II, earning the Congressional
Medal of Honor for his bravery and valor
during World War II.
[By PHIL
BERTONI] |
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