By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon
May 12, 2008 11:16 pm
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CONNEAUT — In this month of memorials to war dead, members of Conneaut’s American Legion Cowle Post 151 have arranged a living-and-breathing way to thank a special group of military veterans.
The result is a dinner Wednesday night to pay tribute to World War II veterans still living in the Conneaut area. Organizers expect up to 70 veterans and at least that many guests to attend, said Paul Nelson, the post’s adjutant sergeant-at-arms.
“We should have more than 200 people here,” Nelson said. “It turned out much bigger than we expected. We’re very pleased with the turnout.”
The event begins with a 6 p.m. social hour, during which vets will have a chance to swap stories. Dinner follows at 7 p.m. The program includes remarks from guest speaker Ralph Dean, the Legion’s 9th District commander. Nelson will read the names of Legion members who died since July 1, 2007.
That list of deceased members helped prompt the post to expedite the dinner, Nelson said.
“Within the past fiscal year, we’ve lost 13 (WW II) members,” he said. “We’re losing them too quick. We needed to do something now.”
The planning began early this year, Nelson said. Notices were sent to post members, nursing homes and assisted-living centers in the area, he said. The oldest invitee may be a 100-year-old veteran, he said.
Nelson, who has pushed for the dinner the past three years, has a personal reason to salute members of the Greatest Generation. Nelson’s father fought in the Pacific Theater during World War II, while his uncle spent months in a German prisoner of war camp, he said.
“If it weren’t for what (veterans) sacrificed back then, we may not be living under the stars and stripes right now,” Nelson said.
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