Photo By Sgt. Hunter Bomar | Oregon World War II veteran, Vern Staley, speaks with Lt. Col. Evan Hessel, 741st...... read more read more
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SALEM, Ore. – Oregon Spirit of '45, a non-profit organization, honored the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. The event featured speakers who discussed their experiences during the war, including 96-year old World War II veteran Vern Staley.
Other speakers included Ben Berry, son of a Tuskegee Airman Benny Lee Berry, who said, “We have to remember the history of how we got into that war, so we don’t have another world war again,” Berry said, adding “not only for those who are present, but also for the youth that need to be aware of how bad war is, because if you don’t know history, you are doomed to repeat it.”
The Oregon Army National Guard was represented by Lt. Col. Evan Hessel, 741st Brigade Engineer Battalion, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Hessel spoke about the 41st Infantry Division's history in the Pacific during World War II.
Barbara Jensen, the Oregon founder and President of Spirit of ‘45, and daughter of World War II veteran, Carl Stewart Beebe, also spoke during the celebration. When asked about her reflections on World War II she said, “So many people don’t recognize what we have today because of them, because they went to those battlefields.”
The Spirit of 45’ organization has actively worked to honor the World War II generation through hundreds of events including tributes, concerts, marches, and awards. In Oregon, the Spirit of 45’ has initiated tributes at state memorial sites, hosted marches in Veteran’s Day Parades, and planted ‘living memorial’ rose gardens in every Oregon congressional district.
| Date Taken: | 08.09.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 09.01.2020 19:30 |
| Story ID: | 375587 |
| Location: | SALEM, OR, US |
| Web Views: | 53 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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