MEMORIAL DAY STARTED off as a day of remembrance, a day where we Americans go to cemeteries and place flags or flowers on the graves of our war dead.
It is a day where we remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones who have given the ultimate sacrifice.
On Memorial Day 1969, state Commissioner of Public Lands Bert Cole dedicated a monument at the Forks Cemetery. The marker was unveiled to show all the names of the servicemen from the Forks area having died during military service.
The ceremony included a march from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall to the cemetery, where the VFW color guard conducted the flag raising.
The American Legion Junior Auxiliary placed white crosses and poppies on the graves of veterans. The Poppy Girl and Boy that day were Heidi Lohneis and Billy James.
Our local servicemen did their duty, their youth forever frozen in time in family photos or on the memorial page of a Forks High School yearbook.
And certainly there was more to their lives than the few words that follow, describing their service to our country:
• George C. Welch, Army, World War II, killed in action July 31, 1943.
A resident of the Bogachiel area, he was the first World War II casualty from the West End.
• Frank Daman Jr., Navy, World War II, missing in action and presumed dead, Mediterranean, May 9, 1944.
He was awarded the Purple Heart.
• Arthur R. Wittenborn, Army, World War II, killed in action, Europe, Oct. 9, 1944.
He landed at D-Day and held the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
• Sebastian George Vogel, Navy, World War II, killed in action, Philippines, Nov. 27, 1944.
He left behind a wife and young son.
• Walter A. Fletcher, Army, World War II, killed in action, Netherlands, April 15, 1945.
It is believed he was killed just minutes before the last shot of the war was fired.
He was awarded the Bronze Star, Silver Star and Purple Heart posthumously.
• Lorrel L. Cassell, Army, World War II.
He survived combat only to be killed in a plane crash returning home from his tour of duty, Dec. 8, 1945.
• Earl K. Brandeberry, Army, World War II.
He survived combat but was killed after re-enlistment. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross.
• Robert Guy Price, Marine, Korean War, killed in action Nov. 30, 1950.
He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.
• Arthur J. Munson Jr., Germany, killed in a vehicle accident, May 1, 1952.
• Vernon E. DePew, Marine, South Vietnam, killed in action May 20, 1967.
He was the first Vietnam War casualty from the West End.
• Norman E. Lodholm, Army, South Vietnam, killed in action June 13, 1968.
• Douglas G. Foster, Marine, South Vietnam, killed in action on his second tour, Sept. 15, 1968.
He was recommended for three Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star and the Navy Cross.
• Donald R. Kraft, Army, South Vietnam, killed in action May 13, 1969, just 12 days into his tour of duty.
There should be one more addition to the monument:
• Jason Hanson, Marine, Iraq, killed while conducting combat operations July 29, 2006.
When I went looking to take a picture of the monument that was dedicated at Forks Cemetery that day in May 1969, it was gone.
A few phone calls later, I discovered at some point the monument was moved to Forks City Hall.
In addition to the names, the words “In memory of those who gave their lives in the service of their country” are engraved in the stone.
A Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Fletcher-Wittenborn VFW Hall, 110 S. Spartan Ave., at 10 a.m. Monday, May 31.
Everyone is welcome.
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Christi Baron is a longtime West End resident.
She is the office and property manager for Lunsford & Associates real estate in Forks. She and her husband, Howard, live in Forks.
Phone her at 360-374-3141 or 360-374-2244 with items for this column, or e-mail her at hbaron@ centurytel.net.
West End Neighbor appears on this page every other Tuesday.
