Hiawatha Post 66 dedicates fallen Vietnam hero's marker

Hiawatha Post 66 dedicates fallen Vietnam hero's marker

On Memorial Day 2014, a day on which we remember those who made their final call while on active duty, American Legion Homer White Post 66 of Hiawatha, Kan., made a special dedication to a fallen Vietnam hero and a tribute to all veterans with a U.S. flag pole and a special carved stone.

The stone reads, “DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF CPL JAMES “JC” STRUBE US ARMY KILLED IN ACTION JUNE 11, 1969 VIETNAM A TRIBUTE TO HIM AND ALL VETERANS LET US NEVER FORGET THEIR SACRIFICES.” The post's Memorial Day activities included speeches by Lt. Col. Erich Campbell and Col. William W. Vonderschmidt, an invocation by Rev. Michael Dunnaway, and special vocal performances by Debby Fee and Becky Schwanke accompanied by published composer pianist Rev. Shane Spangler.

The activities ended with a three-volley salute and Taps by Dave Wilson with the dedication of Strube’s special marker. Construction was led by Commander Steve Winter, while funding was coordinated by Sam Schuetz and Jay Brock, a longtime Legion supporter and co-founder of the Hiawatha Honor Guard.