Veteran's Day

The community came together for annual Veteran’s Day observance at Cronin Brothers VFW

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[November 13, 2017]   LINCOLN  - A large crowd was in attendance for the Cronin Brothers VFW special Veteran’s Day celebration on Saturday.





The celebration began at 11 a.m. with welcoming comments from VFW Commander Michelle Ramlow and prayer offered by Chaplain Jim Cravens. The Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag was followed by the singing of the National Anthem by local vocalist Emily Johnson.

Ramlow returned to the podium to recognize the many branches of military as well as military organizations that were present for the services. Included on that list was American Legion Post 263 Commander John Diarnelis, Vfw Post 1756 Ladies Auxiliary President Lois Allen, American Legion Post 263 Ladies Auxiliary treasurer Glady Stacy, Sgt, Robert E. Graue Detachment 1336 Marine Corp League Commandant James Harnacki, members of the Sons of the American Legion, Patriot Guard Riders and representatives from the local chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Also on hand was Joe Schaler, Commander of the 159th Military order of the Purple Heart. Lincoln Mayor Seth Goodman was on hand along with Lincoln Ward 4 Alderman Rick Hoefle.

Ramlow also took a moment to acknowledge VFW members who had passed away in the past year: Eugene V. Barr, James D. Moriearty, and Ramlow’s grandfather, Emil C. Ramlow.



The guest speaker for the day was Bill Gossett, a World War II (1939-1945) veteran. He left college in 1943 and enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was stationed overseas in 1944 at Orly Airfield, a French held air base just outside of Paris.

As Ramlow introduced Gossett, she noted that it has been a busy week for the veteran, who was now standing before his third audience, talking about veteran’s and Veteran’s Day.

Gossett took the podium and talked about some of the odd things that happened during World War II, things involving German Soldiers, one who showed compassion toward his enemies, and one who disregarded the orders of Hitler in order to save the city of Paris. Gossett noted these were defiance’s that should have earned severe punishment from the Hitler Regime.

Gossett began by reading a quote from Vernon J. Baker, a U.S. Army Medal of Honor recipient whose portrait hangs in the Pentagon building in Washington D.C. “War is the most regrettable proving ground. Those who rush to launch it, and those who seek to create heroes from it, should remember its legacy. You have to be there to appreciate its horrors – and die to forget them.”

Gossett noted that Veteran’s Day is a day to remember all veterans, and that it first began as Armistice Day. He said that the day was the result of the World War I, but didn’t actually come to be until eight years afterward. He said that Veteran’s Day was to honor all veterans, while Memorial Day is the day to remember those who lost their lives.

Gossett moved on to two stories from World War II. In his first story, as World War II was nearing its end, and the Nazi Regime was doomed to failure, Hitler sent word to his commanders in German occupied Paris to plant incendiary devices throughout the city. When the troops pulled out of the city, they were to set off those devices and destroy the city entirely.

A German general named Dietrich von Choltitz was the one to carry out the order. He defied Hitler and refused to do so, thus saving the city of Paris as the World War drew to an end.

In his second story Gossett told of a lone B-17 bomber, caught partially disabled and “limping” along in German occupied air space. A German pilot encountered the bomber in the air. As the German approached, he noted that the bomber was making no attempt to fire. Drawing still closer, the German pilot realized the bomber was shot up, with its guns hanging useless. The German pilot drew his plane up alongside the American bomber, and the soldiers on the bomber felt their lives were about to end at the mercy of the German pilot. But it didn’t happen. Through a series of hand signals, the German pilot convinced the bomber pilot to follow him, escorting the bomber to safe territory at the English Channel. The German pilot saluted the Americans and turned his plane, heading back to Germany. Gossett noted, “Had that been known by the German higher command, he would have been executed.”

For the most part, Gossett said, as World War I and World War II veterans came home, they began the process of fitting back into civilian life. He noted it was not as easy for Vietnam veterans who returned home from a war that was so political, and many of those veterans were treated very badly.

He added,” All of us, each and every one of us who served, we served proudly under the red, white, and blue of our American Flag.”

Gossett, who had kidded earlier that he planned to keep his talk short on this day for the sake of his brother who was in the audience, began wrapping up his speech after only a few minutes, saying that he wasn’t looking to be “political” on this day, but he did have something to say. “We’ve had a lot of kneeling and burning of flags and so forth. I would like to just simply suggest that the kneelers and the flag burners get on their knees every night and thank God Almighty that they live in a country that allows them to act so stupid.”

He also said that now-a-days, soldiers do hear more “thank-yous” than they have in the past. He noted that it is young and older people who will say to a veteran ‘Thank-you for your service.’ Gossett concluded saying, “We do appreciate that.”

He then ended by expressing his own appreciation to all those seated in front of him. Gossett noted that each year there are fewer remaining from world Wars one and two and closed with the solemn pray, “God bless our flag, God bless the United States of America.”

Representatives from the Daughters of the American Revolution were on hand giving out small American Flags with "The American Creed" by William Tyler Page attached.

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Ramlow read this creed at the end of the day: “I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.”




Lois Allen and Gladys Stacy performed the wreath presentation ceremony. The American Legion Post 263 Color Guard presented a three shot volley as John Sutton played Taps and then Chaplain Cravens delivered the benediction.




The final event in the service was an acknowledgement of a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Marlene Schrader, whose birthday was November 11th. She was presented with a beautiful patriotic bouquet as the audience sang Happy Birthday.



The day ended when Ramlow reminded everyone that the traditional ham and bean lunch was now being served, and everyone was invited to participate.

[Nila Smith]

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