Thu Sep 02 2010
The flags were flying high and proud at Laurel Lake on Veterans Day.
Hundreds of miniature Old Glories lined the walks leading to the community center and nearly everyone inside sported military caps or dressed in shades of red, white and blue. The patriotism so tangible it embraced you.
The day was dedicated to veterans of all wars, the greatest generation honoring every warrior of every war and police action.
The Color Guard from the Naval Reserve Center in Akron presented the flags to those assembled. Navy members Melissa Moore, Joey County, Ken Jones and Herman Horner carried the flags.
The room was charged with emotion when those assembled saluted the flag they fought for. And when they said the pledge of allegiance, they did it with fervor.
Laurel Lake Chaplain Mary Tatman presented a moving video tribute to veterans entitled "Before You Go" that touched many of the more than 100 veterans that filled the community room ceremonies.
One of the lines of the song which accompanied it was particularly poignant "You did what you thought was right ... and you would quietly cry at night."
Tatman said nine of Laurel Lake's veterans had passed away since the last Veterans Day observance. As she read each of the names -- Stuart Alspach, Celeste Brauer, Robert Cable, Anthony Catalino, William Cole, Victor DeWolfe, Dwight Knapp, Duncan McCrae, and Hugh McLane -- a bell tolled. Each of the widows present were given a rose in memory of their husband.
Several of those widows -- Eleanor Cole, Marjorie McCrae, JoAnn Leavenworth and Betty Cable -- shared a table at the Veterans Day luncheon.
All agreed it was a difficult day for them. For JoAnn, this was the second Veterans Day since her husband, Ralph "Bill" Leavenworth, died. He was in the Navy.
Eleanor Cole said her husband, William, served on a destroyer escort in the South Pacific.
"He was a good talker," she recalled. "He shared lots of stories about the war, mostly funny stories."
The widows said their men really didn't talk much about the hardships they faced while serving their country.
"Men just didn't talk about it back then," Chaplain Tatman said. "They came home and kept the bad stuff to themselves."
E-mail: dmarkulis@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3943
Comments
By Posting to this site, you agree to our Terms of Service Be polite.
Inappropriate posts may be removed.
Hudsonhubtimes.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.
Login above or Register to comment.
0 Total Comments Home | Back
Copyright Record Publishing Co, LLC. 1995-2010. All Rights Reserved.
Content may not be republished without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Content may not be republished without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Dix Communications