PENINSULA At noon on Friday, Nov. 11, the Long Beach Elks,

the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Don R. Grable Post No. 48 of

the American Legion and Auxiliary will host an observance of

Veterans Day for our community at the Elks Lodge in Long Beach.

Soup, sandwiches and dessert will be provided free of charge for

all veterans and active-duty persons and their families, and

community members.  Members of the public will be asked to make a

small donation toward phone cards and other gifts for those serving

overseas.

   

   There will be a short program, which will include guest speaker

Jerry Nichols. In 1953, Jerry Nichols was a photographers mate for

the Navy, stationed on the USS Point Cruz, in the waters off

Inchon, Korea.  An abandoned baby was found at a military depot in

South Korea.  The child was ill and since he was blond and

blue-eyed, his survival was questionable.  A nun knew the chaplain

of the USS Cruz and through their efforts, the baby was allowed

on the ship. Jerry tells of the tales involving this unusual rescue

and of the ship that flew diapers from the yardarm.  Jerry and his

wife, Tanya, currently live in Ocean Park. After leaving the Navy,

Jerry returned to work in the paper mill in Camas, retiring in

1988, after 38 years. Jerry and Tanya have been married for 60

years; have four children, five grandchildren, and 11

great-grandchildren, and one special baby they still follow from

the USS Point Cruz.

   

    Veterans Day is a time when we honor Americas veterans for

their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and

sacrifice for the common good.  Veterans Day came from Armistice

Day, a day set aside to remember the armistice that ended the First

World War on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of

1918.  On June 1, 1954, President Eisenhower wrote: We solemnly

remember the sacrifice of all those who served so valiantly to

preserve our heritage of freedom Let us reconsecrate ourselves to

the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall

not have been in vain.

   

   For further information, please call Post Commander Dick Wallace

at 642-4188 or Unit President Connie Soditus at 665-6626.