KOREAN WAR EXHIBIT - 50TH ANNIVERSARY
| As partners with the Korean War 50th Commemorative Anniversary organization in Washington, D.C., The Lexington Veterans Association sponsored a comprehensive time line Exhibit describing the events of the Korean War 1950-1953 on Saturday, January 18, 2003 at the Island Club. More than 300 residents attended the event. It was extremely well received and informative. During the Korean War Lexington residents were well represented in the various branches of the Armed Forces - Army - 25 - Navy - 13 - Marine Corps - 4 - Air Force - 3 and the British Army - 2 and the ROK Army - 1 |
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| Posters depicting the chronological events of the Korean War | Vets President Rich Hill conferring with VP - Public Affairs about the exhibit | Vets and wives help take down exhibit after over 300 people visited |
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| ROK War veteran Yong Ahn and wife, Eleanor, visit display | Vets wives Rose Giacchetti and Betty Davis sign up Vets for the Veterans History Project | Korean War British Army Vet Peter Pritchard exchanges stories with Ko War Navy vet Rich Hill |
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| A big crowd attended the Korean War 50th Commemorative Anniversary Exhibit | Korean War Army Vet Jay Burgess recalls the experience | A major attraction of the exhibit was the 7 video presentation of the War played continuously during the day |
THREE EVENTS - VETERANS DINNER/DANCE OPERATION GIFT DROP & SUPPORT THE TROOPS RALLY - APRIL 2003
| Three recent events involving the Lexington Veterans occurred in April 2003 and all were outstanding in result. Record attendance, great food and outstanding music plus a moment of serious support for the current military sent everyone home feeling very good. In collaboration with the Red Cross, our veterans and residents sorted and packaged 167 big boxes for our troops in Iraq. The culmination of the week was a Sunday "Support the Troops" Rally at the corner of Summerlin and Bass Roads. One hundred twenty strong showed waving the American Flag and signs and responding to literally thousands of waving and honking cars passing by showing their support. |
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| Great music - The BrunoConnection of Sarasota | Young active duty Marine with his wife | Monica Hill, mother Betty Hellner & best friend, Diane Glasspoole |
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| Rich Hill, Jim Sims & Phil Loparo | Piper George Cook playing as people arrive | The BrunoConnection with saxophonist Rich Hill |
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| Millie & Ben Polk | The Sims & The Loparo's | The Junck's & Rae Smith. Where's Ernie? |
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| Phyllis & Bob Kelley | Roses for Betty, Rose, Joan & Monica | Standing for your service song - Air Force & B-17 pilot Hal Bootz |
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| The Captain & his Submarine | The Sunday Rally warming up | Linda Zimer supporting the troops |
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| And honk they did! By the Thousands | Penny Kohler & friend | Lots of action that day |
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| Operation Gift Drop Volunteers at work for our troops | Monica, Ernie and Joe working hard | Coordinator Ben Polk with Red Cross Van |
| MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY AT 10:30 am WAS ATTENDED BY NEARLY 400 PEOPLE. THE PROGRAM FEATURED THE LEXINGTON VETERANS HONOR GUARD - THE LEE COUNTY PIPES AND DRUMS BAND - FAMED DIXIELAND JAZZ TRUMPETER JOE BRUNO PLAYING "TO THE COLORS", "TAPS" & "THE BALLAD OF THE GREEN BERET" - U.S. AIR FORCE CAPTAIN, AL KINKLE, JR., DELIVERED A TERRIFIC KEYNOTE ADDRESS THAT REMINDED US ALL THAT "FREEDOM IS NOT FREE". DECEASED LEXINGTON VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE HONORED BY A SPECIAL HONOR GUARD CEREMONY OFTEN PERFORMED AT ARLINGTON ACCOMPANIED BY THE NAVAL TRADITION OF RINGING THE SHIPS BELL. TWO CYPRESS H.S. STUDENTS PARTICIPATED - MONIQUE PISANO SANG "GOD BLESS AMERICA" & "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL" AND IN A SPECIAL CEREMONY TO THE ACCOMPANIMENT OF "AMAZING GRACE", JENNIFER KINKLE PERFORMED A BALLET DANCE. LCA PRESIDENT TERRY CULLINS QUOTED THE WORDS TO "ON THIS DAY", A NEW SONG ESPECIALLY DEDICATED TO MEMORIAL DAY. IN A MOVING SPECIAL CEREMONY, LEXINGTON AND AREA VIETNAM VETERANS WERE HONORED. RICH HILL AND BEN POLK WERE CO-MASTERS OF CEREMONY. Photos by Penny Koehler |
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| Memorial wreath | New Sun Tent | Lexington Honor Guard with new "Freedom Is Not Free" banner |
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| Proud Kinkle family - Captain Al, jr., Mom Debbie, Dad Al, Sr., and Jennifer | Jennifer Kinkle performing Ballet to "Amazing Grace" | Close up view of some of the crowd of nearly 400 |
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| HG Rifleman Bob Kelley in special ceremony honoring deceased | Jennifer again | U.S. Air Force Captain Al Kinkle, Jr., giving keynote address |
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| Lee County Pipes & Drums performing | Lexington & area Vietnam Vets being recognized | Honor Guard participants, Henry Zemel, Phil Loparo, Ernie Smith & Bob Kelley |
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| THE VETERANS DAY CEREMONY AT 10:30 am WAS ATTENDED BY NEARLY 300 PEOPLE. THE PROGRAM FEATURED THE LEXINGTON VETERANS HONOR GUARD AND THEIR SNAPPY RIFLE DRILL EXHIBITION - THE LEE COUNTY PIPES AND DRUMS BAND - FAMED DIXIELAND JAZZ TRUMPETER JOE BRUNO PLAYING "TO THE COLORS", "TAPS" & "THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER" - MUSIC BY YOUNG SINGER LAUREN L'HEUREUX AND TRUMPETER JOE BRUNO. "FREEDOM IS NOT FREE" SCHOLARSHIP WINNER KELLIE DILLON OF EDISON COMMUNITY COLLEGE WAS THE MAIN SPEAKER AND ONLY A FEW SENTENCES INTO HER TALK IT WAS CLEAR WHY SHE WON THE LEXINGTON VETERANS SCHOLARSHIP AWARD. LCA PRESIDENT TERRY CULLINS AND KOREAN ARMY GENERAL SHIN EACH PRESENTED A FURTHER UNDERSTAND OF WHAT PRICE FREEDOM IS. GENERAL SHIN AND TWO OF HIS FELLOW OFFICERS OF THE ROK COALITION AT MACDILL AFB IN TAMPA CAME DOWN TO HONOR LEXINGTON KOREAN WAR VETERANS IN THE FINAL CEREMONY COMMEMORATING THAT WAR'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY. GENERAL SHIN PERSONALLY SHOOK HANDS WITH AND THANKED EACH OF THE 58 KW VETS. NEWLY ELECTED COMMANDER ERNIE SMITH SAID A FEW WORDS AND PINNED THE HONOR GUARD MEDAL ON TWO DEPARTING GUARDS, JIM SIMS AND PAUL GIACCHETTI AND ALSO RETIRED HONOR GUARD CAPTAIN FRANK HAMMOND. VICE COMMANDER BEN POLK WAS MASTER OF CEREMONIES. ALSO PARTICIPATING WERE VICE COMMANDER WES HART AND CHAPLIN, THE REV. STAN LAZARCZYK. OVER 180 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE PATRIOTIC LUNCHEON FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY. Photos by Penny Koehler, Rae Smith, Monica Hill & a Marine buddy of Ben Polk. |
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| Lexington Veterans Honor Guard marching in | Lee County Pipes & Drums | Vice Commander Ben Polk & Korean War Veteran Joe Bruno playing Taps |
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| LCA President Terry Cullins delivering a few remarks | New Commander Ernie Smith addressing the large crowd | Departing Honor Guard members, Paul Giacchetti & Jim Sims with retiring Honor Guard Captain Frank Hammond received HG medals |
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| Special Rifle Drill | 6 year old Lauren L'Heureux singing "It's A Grand Old Flag" | Main Speaker & Veterans Scholarship winner Kellie Dillon of Edison Community College |
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| Korean Army General Shin | Gen Shin thanking each of the Korean War vets for their service | Chaplin The Rev Stan Lazarczyk |
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| Capt. Jerry's submarine | Past Commander Rich Hill & new Commander Ernie Smith with General Shin | Over 180 people attended the Patriotic luncheon after the ceremony |
A very successful SUPPORT THE TROOPS RALLY ON "PEARL HARBOR DAY" SUNDAY DEC 7 from 10 am until noon was sponsored by the Lexington Veterans Association. This is the second such rally this year dedicated to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Rally on Sunday was held at the corner of Summerlin and Bass Roads with about 75 of us waving the American Flag and signs and responding to literally thousands of waving and honking cars passing by showing their support. Capt. Jerry Sternagel and his submarine was there in his never wavering support for the vets and the troops. Remember "Freedom Is Not Free". Photos by Rich Hill
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Big supporters - Koehler's & Chapp's |
Marion & Ralph Allen with "Freedom Is Not Free" | Capt. Jerry's submarine & vets |
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| Paratrooper Shawn Davis talks to old Korean War vet Paul Tenenbaum | Two Korean War vets and one WWII vet - Goldberg, Tenenbaum & Zemel | Three Veterans' spouses join in |
