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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.
[to top of second column] |
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] |
