May 11, 2024 - The 79th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day was recognized by VFW Post 8904 on May 8, 2024 before the Shelby County Veterans Memorial on the Center square.
Following the opening prayer and recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, the program ensued. Junior Vice Commander and Chaplain Kenneth Ramsey began, “Seventy-nine years ago, 1945 the war in Europe ended on what is commonly known as VE Day, both the American and British people gather to remember. The United States suffered over 213,000 casualties in Europe and today we remember them and those who served during that time."
"65 from Shelby County died in the service of their country during the war in Europe; 44 were killed in the chaos of battle. Two were brothers, Earl and Barron Davis, killed four months apart. Fighter pilot Robert E. Daw, Jr. is believed to have been executed by the Nazis after his plane ditched during the Battle of the Bulge. First Lieutenant William Todd was killed in action just one week after returning to duty from the hospital where he had recovered from his wounds." Ramsey continued, "Three were wounded in battle, and died of those wounds. Robert Wilburn was wounded in Italy on March 22, 1944 and died five months later in a military hospital in San Antonio, Texas. Thirteen are still missing in action with generations of family members passing on never knowing the fate of their loved ones. Ships cook, Ray Williams, was serving aboard the U.S.S. Maddox when it was sunk by German dive bombers. Only 74 of a crew of 284 survived. Ray's mother, Mattie, died two months after he was declared missing in action in 1944. Five died of non-combat reasons. One such was E.C. White who was in an England hospital recuperating from his wounds when he was killed in a bus accident. Another, Clarence Mahan died of a heart attack."
"These are 65, not just names, they once were in fact as alive as you and I are today. If still alive, they would mostly be in their mid 90s, but to us they will be forever young in our minds and hearts," Ramsey said. "Of the 16 million men and women who served in World War II, there are less than 500,000 alive today. Each day approximately 492 depart our ranks. The average age of the World War II veterans is 95. And while they may have lost a step, they too were once young and in that youth they truly saved the world. It is estimated that by the year 2035 there will not be any WWII veterans alive. We owe the World War II Veterans a debt that can never be repaid. Our presence here today is a small but heartfelt thank you for their service and what they did for us and our country. While the war in Europe ended on May 8th, the war in the Pacific continued until September of 1945. There are over 73,000 Americans still unaccounted for from World War II. They too have not been forgotten.”
All attending were given an opportunity to name and remember a loved one who fought in World War II.
Next, Post Commander Richard Lundie placed the memorial wreath in honor of those who served. Taps was played as presented by Past Post Commander Gene Hutto.
