4B    Sunday, November 9, 2014   TRI-COUNTY HONORS VETERANS www.tctimes.com

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World War II vets fought for our freedom

TRI-COUNTY TIMES | SUBMITTED PHOTO

Elmer Schupbach is pictured here to the right of President and Mrs. Laura Bush, while he and his family were invited to The White House for Veterans Day in 2006. Schupbach and Laura Bush’s father, George Welch, both served in the same battalion during World War II.

u16 million Americans fought in World War II, and slightly more than a million are still livingBy Sally Rummelnews@tctimes.com; 810-629-8282  Elmer  Schupbach,  89,  is  one  of 1,034,727  World  War  II  American veterans still  living  to share  their war stories and life history.  A member  of  the Curtis-Wolverton VFW Post #3253 in Fenton, Schupbach went into the Army at 18 and was dis-charged before he turned 21. He served in the Battery C 555th Company attached 

to  the  104th  Infantry,  according  to  a Times story written by Jan Rynearson on Nov. 23, 2006. They were called the Timberwolves.  Schupbach  fought  in the  Battle  of  the  Bulge near the Ardennes Forest on  the  German-Belgium border,  which  according to history, was  the worst battle  during World War II  in  terms  of  losses  to Americans.   “We were one of the first troops into Germany,” said Schupbach. “I was on 

uLocal observances planned in tri-county areaBy Sally Rummelnews@tctimes.com; 810-629-8282  This Tuesday, Nov. 11 will mark  the 96th observance of Veterans Day, which marks  the  official  end  of World War  I. An armistice, or  temporary cessation of hostilities between the Allied nations  and Germany, went into effect on  the 11th hour of  the 11th day of  the 11th month.  Many  local  observances will  honor  Veterans  Day 2014:•  The  Fenton  Rotary  Club will host its annual Veterans Day  Breakfast  on  Tuesday, Nov.  11  at  7:15  a.m.  at  Spring  Mead-ows  Country  Club.  Guest  speaker  will be author Teresa Irish, who will present “The Journey of the Letters,” sharing her father’s 1,000 letters written from World War II, to his parents and his sweetheart, who would become his wife.  The public is invited at a cost of $10 per 

the  front  lines  for  195  consecutive days.”

  What he didn’t know then was that one of the young  men  he  served with would later become a father to a little girl who grew up to become First Lady  Laura  Bush.  Her father,  George  Welch, was  a master gunner  in the headquarters battery.  Laura Bush planned a 

Veterans Day Breakfast at The White House  on Nov.  11,  2006  in  honor  of her  dad  and  fellow  Timberwolves, including  Schupbach.  In  October,  he received a phone call from The White House  regarding  the  event,  followed by engraved invitations for him and his children. Several of his grandchildren also joined them on the trip.   In addition to the honor of meeting and  dining  with  President  and  Mrs. Bush, Schupbach was able to meet with the 40  living vets from  the 555th Unit Battalion and their families.

Observe Veterans Day in your hometown

I was on the front lines for 195 consecutive days.Elmer SchupbachWorld War II Army veteran

‘‘’’

  Almost  70  years  after  his  involve-ment in World War II, this recent war memory  in happier  times  remains his best  memory  of  deadly  battles  well fought. Today, he enjoys socializing at the VFW hall with other veterans, and will  definitely  be  observing Veterans Day this Nov. 11.

person and veterans are  free. To RSVP, contact Scott Ward at (810) 241-4848 or sward@dtidental.com.• The Curtis-Wolverton VFW Post #3243 will hold a ceremony at the Fenton Gazebo at 11 a.m. The Honor Guard will conduct a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial.•  One  day  prior  to  Veterans  Day,  the Curtis-Wolverton VFW Post #3243 will 

observe  the  national  birth-day  of  the Marine Corp.  on Monday, Nov. 10, beginning at 3 p.m., with a cake cut by both the oldest and youngest Marine in attendance.• The American Legion Post #149 and VFW Post #5587 will hold a ceremony at 11 a.m. at Lakeside Cemetery in the vil-lage of Holly.

• The Great Lakes National Cemetery will hold its 10th annual Veterans Day program at 11 a.m. Guest speaker will be Patrick Lafferty,  state adjutant of  the American Legion,  Department  of  Michigan.  The ceremony  will  include  patriotic  music, presentation  of  colors,  a  cannon  salute, rifle salute and taps.

uThis Tuesday, Nov. 11 is the 96th observance of Veterans Day, which marks the official end of World War I on 11-11-11.

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HONOR OUR VETERANSTHIS TUESDAY,

NOVEMBER 11TH

THANK YOUFOR YOUR

SERVICE TO OUR

COUNTRY

www.tctimes.com  TRI-COUNTY HONORS VETERANS  Sunday, November 9, 2014    5B

Show your patriotism on Veterans DayuDisplaying the flag on Nov. 11 is a show of patriotic support to all veterans, both living and deceasedBy Sally Rummelnews@tctimes.com; 810-629-8282 Veterans Day is a day of celebration and honor, so it is a very appropriate day to fly a flag. Because it’s not a day of mourning, flags are not flown at half-staff. Here’s how to honor Veterans Day by flying Old Glory:• Attach the flag to the flagpole with the blue field in the upper left corner.• Raise the flag to the top of the flag-pole as early as possible in the morn-ing hours (sunrise at the earliest).• Leave the flag flying throughout the entire day of Nov. 11 as long as there is no inclement weather. If rain or snow develops, take the flag down unless the flag is made of weatherproof fabrics that won’t suffer damage from moisture.• Take the flag down at or a few min-utes before sunset.Source: eHow.com

Veterans DayThe members of American Le-

gion Auxiliary 119 Linden would like to express our sincere appre-ciation  for  the men  and women who served  in  the United States Armed  Forces.  Thank  you  for serving this great country. Thank you for protecting us. Thank you for the security we have and feel here at home. We know you sac-rificed much for your country and all of us. And though you may no longer wear the uniform, we know you’re always on call to serve and protect the freedom and security of the United States of America. We invite everyone to pause today to remember those who have fought for our freedoms. Thank you to all who have so bravely protected us. 

Pat Lozano, American Legion Auxiliary 119

Linden

uVietnam veterans recall their lack of support from government and countryBy Sally Rummelnews@tctimes.com; 810-629-8282  Gerald  “Hawk”  Hawkins,  68,  re-members  coming  home  from  Vietnam after serving  in  the U.S. Marine Corps in the north part of South Vietnam from 1966-67.  “The  guys  who  came  back,  from Vietnam especially, were not welcomed home,” said Hawkins. “Not by our coun-try, not by our government. Simply put, we gave the right of freedom to all U.S. citizens, while sacrificing our own.”  All  that has changed  in  today’s non-wartime  climate.  “People  stop me  and come up to me at the grocery store and thank me for my  time of service,” said Hawkins, who always wears his “colors” on his cap, so they can see he is a Vietnam veteran from the U.S. Marine Corp.  “It means a lot to me. There’s not much else I can say in return other than, ‘thank you for giving me this honor.’”

Notes of thanksThanks came later for many Vietnam vets

TRI-COUNTY TIMES | SALLY RUMMEL

Gerald Hawkins stands in front of the wall of veteran’s photos at the Curtis-Wolverton VFW Post #3243.

  Hawkins has put a lot of his energy into veterans’ advocacy issues, with active in-volvement at the Curtis-Wolverton VFW Post #3243, where he is Past Commander and Past Honor Guard Commander.  “I was the only All-American Commander this post has ever had,”  said Hawkins, who led the post from 1992 through 1994.

PROUDTO BE HOME TO SO MANY

VETERANSH H H H H

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