Visit brings memories to those who served
Area veterans attend WWII Memorial Dedication
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

Thirty-eight people from this area - nine of them World War II veterans - made the trip to the dedication of the World War II Memorial on May 29 traveling with Croswell Bus Lines and Tour Director Alethea Jacobs of Versailles.

The local travelers boarded the Croswell bus at 3:00 a.m. on Friday, May 28, from Ehlman's Restaurant in Versailles and then picked up passengers in Sunman and Batesville. Clermont County veterans hosted a special breakfast in their honor at the Batavia, Ohio Armory before their departure for Washington, D.C.

According to Jacobs, Croswell Bus Lines took 500 veterans and their guests from Southeastern Indiana and Southwest Ohio to the dedication of the World War II Memorial.

"This tour was the greatest challenge for me since I have been escorting tours," said Jacobs, "but it was also the most rewarding experience, and I will never forget it."

As the group traveled, and especially during their stay in Washington, D.C., Jacobs says the veterans were shown so much respect. "People stopped them to say thank you for their sacrifices."

Among those participating in the official ceremony on Saturday, May 29, were members of the Armed Services; News Anchor and Author Tom Brokaw; National Spokesman for the World War II Memorial Campaign Tom Hanks; Co-chairs Frederick W. Smith and Senator Bob Dole; President George W. Bush; the United States Navy Band, the United States Marine Band, and the United States Army Chorus.

Situated on a portion of the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial honors the 16 million Americans who served in the United States Armed Forces during World War II, the more than 400,000 who died, and the millions who supported the effort from home.

In his dedication remarks, President Bush said, "Our Nation is strong because of the brave men and women who have sacrificed to protect the democratic ideals that are the foundation of America. After the Second World War, returning veterans often
said they had just done their jobs. Yet, these proud citizens and their families knew the stakes of the fight they had been in and the magnitude of what they had achieved."

Highlights of the Memorial

President Bill Clinton signed Public Law 103-32 on May 15, 1993, authorizing the first national memorial dedicated to all serving during World War II. A fund-raising success and approval of the final architectural design in September 2000 cleared the way for groundbreaking on Veterans Day 2000. Construction began in September 2001.
The dedication marked an 11-year effort and for those of the World War II generation, a 59-year wait. Built of bronze and granite, the memorial contains 17,000 pieces of granite.

Etched at the base of the memorial are these words: "Here in the presence of Washington and Lincoln, one the eighteenth century father and the other the nineteenth century preserver of our nation, we honor those twentieth century Americans who took up the struggle during the Second World War and made the sacrifices to perpetuate the gift our forefathers entrusted to us: A Nation Conceived in Liberty and Justice."

The monument can be entered from pavilions on either the north or south end of the plaza. At the western side of the memorial, a field of 4,000 sculpted gold stars on the Freedom Wall honors the more than 400,000 Americans who gave their lives. During the war, the gold star was the symbol of a family member's death.

Within the pavilions, four American eagles hold a suspended laurel wreath to memorialize the victory of the World War II generation. Inlayed on the floors is the World War II victory medal surrounded by the years "1941-1945" and the words, "Victory on Land," "Victory at Sea," and "Victory in the Air."

Adding to the beauty of the entire memorial are the historic waterworks of the Rainbow Pool and the semi-circular fountains at the base of the two pavilions. There are also waterfalls flanking the Freedom Wall.

Each state and territory from that period as well as the District of Columbia are represented by 56 pillars adorned with oak and wheat wreaths, symbolic of the industrial and agricultural might of the nation.

Two flagpoles adorned with service seals of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Army Air Forces, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine flank the ceremonial entrance. Along the entrance walls are 24 sculpture panels depicting Americans at war on the battlefield and on the home front.

Impressions of veterans who attended

Among the World War II veterans who attended, Army Nurse Wilma Patterson and Army Veteran Ray Nicholson talked to us about the trip and the thrill of getting to see the memorial and participate in the dedicatory activities.

" I am really glad I went; it was wonderful," said Patterson, a resident of Versailles. "I was really impressed with the way Washington, D.C. handled the crowds - 140,000 people were there for the dedication. I have never seen so many chairs - nor so many wheelchairs."

Explaining that their group was seated in Section 1, Patterson said she thought that was pretty good until she discovered that there were 50,000 seats in that area. "We could barely see the stage, but they had TV monitors all around, and we could watch the dedication program on those."

The next day, however, their bus driver returned them to the memorial so they could walk all around it and view what they had missed because of the enormity of the crowd the day before.

Patterson was also impressed with the social activities planned for the dedication. "They entertained us well," she said as she described a special program at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. on Friday, May 28.

A "Salute to World War II Veterans" featured a narrative and musical tribute by members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard.

Then after the dedication ceremony on Saturday, the group attended a gala dinner and dance for men and women of the World War II generation, featuring favorite wartime tunes.

For Ray and Ada Nicholson the experience was unforgettable. "We had a lovely trip," both agreed. "The driver and Alethea Jacobs, the hostess, impressed us the most. They did a wonderful job."

Seeing the memorial was the highlight for Ray, who had served in the Army Infantry during World War II. "It was just wonderful to be there with all those people. It was a good trip; we got to see the things we wanted to see. The driver made sure we got to all the places and were able to see everything."

Both natives of Perry County in Southwestern Indiana, Ray says he graduated from high school in 1937 and was drafted in December 1945. "In my lifetime I wouldn't give a million dollars for what I've done, but I wouldn't give a dime to do it again."

After six weeks of training in Little Rock, Arkansas, Ray was put in charge of training other men for a period of time. Then he was sent to the European Theater of war, where he was in charge of 48 men in the 65th Division.

Noting that their division was used to plug holes, Nicholson speaks
highly of General George Patton, whom he describes as "one of the best guys I've seen in my life. I thought the world of that guy."

Although he could write a book on his experiences, Ray Nicholson was reluctant to speak about them. "I've been in 12 different countries," he says with a smile. "I can thank my uncle for that - Uncle Sam, that is."

As he speaks of different occurrences during his two-year tour of duty, he talks but asks me not to take notes. Emotion fills his voice on several occasions as he remembers his buddies dying on either side of him, the horrors of enemy fire, landmines exploding, and aircraft circling.

He has prepared notes for me on four different experiences. The first has to do with being transported aboard the USS LeJuene, a ship found around Cape Horn and made into a troop ship. As his division was being transported, the ship was fired upon and sank in the English Channel.

His long exposure to the cold water left him with frozen feet that had to be treated later in an army hospital before he was sent back to the front lines to continue fighting.

The second experience Ray wrote about was the wiping out of the Rainbow Division (the 42nd). "They called on us to plug the hole; that's what we did."

His third note about crossing the Rhine River recalls an experience where "our artillery was behind us. A piper cub was circling just overhead. We lost a battalion of men in a little over an hour."

Finally, he remembers that after the war, they took half tracks to Metz, France. It was on that trip that he saw General Patton's jeep turn over - an accident that eventually led to his death.

Although Ray's war injury to his feet has caused him much pain and the necessity to be in a wheelchair or scooter most of the time, it hasn't dampened his spirit nor his desire to go places and see things.

His wife of 32 years has accompanied him on travels that have taken them to all 50 states. "We've worn out two Volkswagen campers," he laughs.

From October to May, the Nicholsons reside in Lake City, Florida. Presently they are living in St. Peter's near Sunman, and Ada is preparing for her booth at the Friendship Flea Market this week .

SUBMITTED/MARY MARGARET MOORHEAD PHOTOS

Area veterans who attended the World War II Memorial Dedication in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, May 29, are: First row: Wilma Patterson (army nurse), Frances Johnson, and Ray Nicholson, Second row: Abell Hooton, Harland Delap, Al Kerner, Earl Kreinhop, Jim Lemon and Leroy Schuman.

SUBMITTED/MARY MARGARET MOORHEAD PHOTOS

Ray Nicholson and wife Ada, discuss their recent trip to the WWII Memorial Dedication. Ray served with the Army Infantry in the European Theater under General George Patton.