LOWER AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP - Lawrence Ross stood tall among the crowd at Lower Augusta Township Municipal Building. For a brief moment, he remembered. And the gathering remembered him among others by recognizing the roles they played in World War II. All of them were instrumental in preserving America's freedom.
In a solemn ceremony, municipal and state officials, residents, veterans and members of the American Legion post of Northumberland paused on a cloudy but hot and humid Saturday morning to officially dedicate a memorial containing the names of all township residents who served in the armed forces during World War II.
Ross was the only veteran of that war in attendance. He is one of 90 township residents whose names are enshrined on the new, freshly painted memorial erected on the eastern wall of the municipal building, fronting Hallowing Run Road, for their service and dedication to their country.
"It's a wonderful tribute," Ross said, recalling his own service as an aviation machinist mate in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. "This honor roll tells me how some people are remembering that war, those who served and those who gave their lives for our country. My own experience serving my country at that time is something I'll always remember."
In recognition of his service, Ross was asked to participate in placement of a wreath at the memorial honoring those who died during World War II. Participating with him was Felicia Renn, a college student whose suggestion for the new memorial was the basis for a senior project in high school two years ago. As the wreath was placed, Taps was played by a member of the Northumberland American Legion Honor Guard.
State Rep. Lynda SchlegelCulver (R-108), guest speaker, traced the sacrifices by service men and women as well as people on the home front during what was termed "the people's war and everyone was in it."
"To fight and win on two fronts, Americans had to work and save and ration and sacrifice as never before," said Culver. "War production plants operated around the clock across the country. Residents planted victory gardens productng 40 percent of the nation's vegetables in backyards and on rooftops. Two out of every three citizens put money into war bonds."
Culver congratulated Renn for her interest in taking on a project that required patience, dedication and achievement in honoring service men and women, acknowledging that "this young woman took the the time not just to record their names but bring meaning to the memorial and keeping the memories of veterans from that war alive."
The program opened with welcoming addresses by Dean Lusby and Kevin Brosious, members of the Lower Augusta Township Board of Supervisors. Ryan Beddall sang the "National Anthem" and "God Bless America." Members of the Northumberland American Legion Honor Squad fired a volley of rifle shots. Paul Ruane, commander, and Richard Simpson, service officer and sergeant-at-arms, gave brief presentations. Simpson gave a prayer dedicated to the veterans and all servicemen and women.
Along with the memorial, a display of memorabilia including photos and articles dealing with World War II was available inside the township municipal building before and after the ceremony.
The World War II Memorial Honor Roll is a rebirth of one that formerly had been located along Route 147 on the border of Lower Augusta Township during and for a period after the war years, township officials said. Like many honor rolls of that era, it deteriorated and the names of people who served was briefly forgotten until resurrected by Renn as her senior graduation project.