 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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