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The day began at 9 a.m. with the students,
faculty, and staff, and guest veterans gathered in the gymnasium.
Jim Turley played the bagpipes as the American Legion
Post 263 Color Guard presented the American Flag. Logan County
Veteran Assistant Commissioner and Superintendent Dan Benedict led
the school in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Parents, students and teachers sang the National Anthem.
The Wolverine Pom Poms team performed an outstanding
routine to Bruce Springsteen's song, 'Born in the U.S.A.' and
honored the vets with red, white and blue colored poms.
Emcee, Mr. Joe Schaler, present Commander of the Military Order of
the Purple Heart and Chairman of the Veteran Assistance Commission,
welcomed the veterans and thanked them for being the reason why we
have our freedoms. "I am thankful for all the sacrifices veterans
have made and what America has become," said Schaler.
The American Flag was then presented by the American Legion Post 263
Color Guard.
A positive video tribute of army officers active in the military and
greeting one another was shown to the students by Erin Shiffer.
Then service theme songs such as the Army, the Navy Ship-to-shore,
Coast Guard and Marine songs were played to be recognized by the
students and community. The gymnasium resonated with glee as people
joined in singing and each military officer stood up and saluted to
their coinciding song.
A tribute was made to congratulate the representatives of the
Lincoln Police Department by Mr. Schaler. Another tribute was made
to the Honor Flight Day, where once a month service men get to take
the opportunity to visit the monuments in Washington D.C. "This
shows gratitude for their service in the United States," said
Schaler.
Guest speaker and retired math teacher at WLB and
history buff Bill Donath introduced his book called, Generosity: The
Story of Logan County Illinois during the Great War 1917-1919. He
taught education at Lincoln Public School many years and attended
Lincoln College. He now volunteers at the Logan County Historical
Society as a historian.
Although he is not a vet, Donath's book has vital information about
WWI and in-depth research about Logan County's contributions to the
war.
"When I write books, I look at the effects the war had on Logan
County," said Donath. His book includes what happened out there in
Europe (who the United States helped), and what was happening back
home.
"A chapter is dedicated to the ladies who organized the Hoover
Pledge to get food to Europe and encourage food conservation in the
U.S.," he said.
"It took team effort to help the Army men," Donath said.
He found hidden treasures in his book research such as the Red Cross
would have auctions to help the war. One auction was in Emden and a
chicken sold for $1. However, that same chicken would get
re-auctioned and re-auctioned until it made $100.
Mr. Donath said he believes that women got the right to vote in 1920
because of their great contribution of diligently working in
factories, making ammo, sewing military uniforms, conserving food
and buying bonds in 1919 to help the war.
Mr. Donath's book is available at the Lincoln Public Library, the
Genealogy Center, and at the Depot on 101 Chicago Street. At the end
of his speech, Mr. Donath gave Principal Heather Baker a copy of his
book.
 Three story boards were presented by
Mr. Donath. The first board had posters from the First World War to
encourage men to go off to war. Donath said, "The Red Cross posters
had circle icons that showed materials for wounded soldiers, and
manufactured clothing, and depicted the conservation of coal.
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 They would then post these circles on their coal
bins as a reminder to save coal for the war industry and to fuel
energy to take men over seas. Food conservation was also promoted in
the county to ship food to Europe; for the armistice in Belgium was
at the end of their season and they were starving. The YMCA made a
great impact on WWI. They were known as the USO of World War I."
The second story board presented had pictures in support of people
purchasing Liberty Bonds. Donath said the Boy Scouts did a good job
selling them.
Another poster read, "WOMEN! Help America's sons win the war, Buy
U.S. Government Bonds of 1917." He said women took their egg money
to buy what was known as War Stamps or Bonds that had a cash value
of $50. Interesting to note one bond could buy:
One rifle at $19.50
One bayonet at $2.15
One bayonet scabbard at $1.13
One cartridge belt $4.08
One hundred cartridges $5.00
One steel helmet $3.00
One gas mask $12.00
One trench tool .50
Transportation cost $2.64
"Five bond issues were made in 1912. The first to support war
efforts, the second issue went to build camps, the third and fourth
supported the war, and the fifth went to bring men home. Many
military men occupied Germany and stayed there till late 1919,"
Donath said.
The bond program was oversubscribed in all five drives!
"Out of 52 Counties, Logan topped the sell of bonds. They received,
in honor, a German canon. It was last seen in the scrap drive to
build WWII ammunitions, (it went back to Germany)," said Donath.
The third story board showed posters of Uncle Sam wanting people to
join the army. One showed team work to the war effort. Another
poster read as a quote, "Rivets are as important as bullets!" A
Marine poster read, "I want you in the Navy." There was a poster of
a one-year-old child, who would now be 101 years old... possibly a
veteran.
Mr. Donath was the guest speaker at the Armistice Day 100-year
Celebration on Sunday, November 11, 2018. The posters and WWI
artifacts were displayed throughout the weekend at the Depot to
highlight Veteran's Day.
Donath also encouraged the community to visit the Logan County Court
House and see the plaque that inscribes a list of everyone who has
served from the county. The plaque was refurbished this last summer.
"That is a great memorial," he said.
Veterans C. Wayne
Schrader and Dan Benedict After Donath's
speech, past Commander of the American Legion Post 263, C. Wayne
Schrader, led all in singing, 'God Bless America'. Colors were
retired and then interviews by the fifth through eighth grade
students began.
Army veteran Casey Lore, who served in 2009 in Iraq, told an
interviewing student the army food was bad while in station, but the
Iraq food was great. He said he ate lamb and goat cheese. "I was
what is called an A 14 G-Man with a mission to run the radar
equipment," said Casey. He then recalled how his jeep got blown up
and rolled over in Iraq. He survived but said he was very angry
about it.
Casey said he has 10 medals and the most important one is the Iraq
Campaign Ribbon.
He moved to Lincoln from Texas and went to Lincoln College and is
currently the commander for the VFW.
The students gave a thank you to the veterans for making this a free
country and risking their lives and being out in the open to fight.
The next time you meet a veteran, get to know him and find out what
they are all about. Ask where they are from and what they got to do
in the service. Have them tell you about their communication with
their family while in the service. Find out where they served and
what experiences they had in that country. What likes and dislikes
they had with food, people and entertainment during the holidays.
Find out how they returned to the United States of America after the
war was over.
Our country's freedom is all because of the veterans who served with
honor and gratitude during WWI and WWII, and involvement in other
wars since. We have a beautiful nation rich in natural resources,
national parks, forests and ocean side beaches, with the freedom to
enjoy these and so much more. We owe it all to the veterans who
protect our land.
Joe Schaler said it is all about patriotism in this country and to
recognize our vets for that. They fought for you. Thank you
veterans!
[Catherine Carkulis] |
