 Cub Scout Pack 121 presented the colors and led the Pledge of
Allegiance. Lily Escobedo invited the audience to sing the national
anthem. Fourth-grade students recited several points to state the
program's purpose.
A greeting to the audience and veterans was given by Hartem
Junior-Senior High Principal Terri Wisniewski, who is a former
member of the Marine Corps. The principal said he was in college
when his older brother entered military service and was sent to the
Persian Gulf. Since he was an unhappy student, Wisniewski decided to
drop out and also join the military. He enlisted with the Marine
Corps and was with that branch of the armed forces for six years,
stationed in Albania prior to and after the outbreak of the Bosnian
War.
"I have been out for almost 16," he said, "and I am even more
honored and proud today to have served with the Marines."
Fourth-grade students Matthew Nowatney, Zoi Dunse, Wyatt Hopkins,
Nate McAfee, Luke Mason and Kaleb Painter distributed handmade cards
to members of the respective branches of the military. Members were
present from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and National
Guard.
"I've been doing this for six years," Mrs. Willmert said, "and
there has never been anyone here to represent the Coast Guard. Maybe
if I'm here long enough, I'll get to see someone raise their hand
from that branch of the service."
The special guest speaker was World War II veteran Roy Redding,
of Towanda. He is the great-grandfather of fourth-grade student Evan
Rohlfs and grandfather of Cari Rohlfs.
Redding shared a picture of the LST-504, his home and workplace
during the war. An LST is a landing ship tank, built to carry
troops, tanks, trucks and equipment overseas and land on shorelines.
Redding's LST-504 was built in Jeffersonville, Ind., where he and
other assignees began their journey. The LST had a crew of 150 men
and could carry 500-600 soldiers.
The ship went down the Ohio River and Mississippi River to the
Gulf of Mexico, around the Florida peninsula, up the East Coast,
entered the Potomac River and loaded supplies in Maryland.
"It took us three weeks to cross the Atlantic Ocean in the LST,"
Redding told the students, "and we were part of the invasion at
Normandy. Then we went to France and traveled to Africa. When you
saw the people living like you'd never seen anyone live, and watched
the sunset over the ocean -- those were wonders of the world.
"I grew up in the Midwest with cornfields and things you see
around here," he continued. "To see things like whales in the water
and sometimes dolphins jumping out of the water ... those were
wonders to guys like me."
[to top of second column] |
Redding left college and enlisted in the Navy when he was 21
years old, 70 years ago. He was discharged in 1946.
When asked what his favorite place was that he visited, he said
it was Naples, Italy.
"The city was a beautiful place, and it is close to a place
called Pompeii," he told the students. He explained some of the
things he and his friends saw at the ancient ruins of the
volcano-covered city.
Mrs. Willmert presented donations collected by the students to
Wayne and Marlene Schrader, for the Danville Veterans Hospital, and
to Ray Wiedle, for the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight. The Schraders
thanked the students and said the $60 would mean a lot to the
veterans who needed things they couldn't afford.
Wiedle asked how many WWII veterans were in the audience and how
many had been on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Nine veterans
present had served during WWII and five have taken the trip. He
suggested anyone interested in making the trip should see him after
the program. He thanked the students for the check and said it would
help someone go to Washington to see memorials to veterans.
Superintendent Mary Manos closed the program with final comments
to the veterans.
Assistance in organizing the program was provided by Mrs. Jordan
with the music and by teachers in helping students make cards for
the veterans.
___
For a description of the exact ship Redding served on during
WWII,
click here.
[By MARLA BLAIR]
 |
