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Memorial Day 1942
On Memorial
Day 1942 we had an all-girl drum and bugle
corps started by a lady named Emily Wilson. In the beginning it was made up of boys
and girls">
Memorial Day 1942
On Memorial
Day 1942 we had an all-girl drum and bugle
corps started by a lady named Emily Wilson. In the beginning it was made up of boys
and girls, but because of World War II all the
fellows went in the service and the girls took over. Doris Wilson Jones was drum major and
I was captain of the color guard. In those days there
was always a lot of excitement. My dad was in charge
of the Memorial Day parade and he
always exceeded expectations. He would get Army, Navy, and
Marine companies from local bases, and an Army band. Ocean City High School
Band always came, lots of Army trucks, fire engines from Somers Point, and
the usual local organizations. The parade started at
the old Dawes Avenue school and marched down Shore Road to City Hall, where
there was a monument in honor of those in WW ll. Different dignitaries would
give speeches. We then marched down to
Somers Point beach to the memorial to honor those in
previous wars. The whole town would
come out. You could feel how proud the people were to be a part of this
celebration to honor our men in the service and those who had lost their
lives. At the beach they would put a wreath or small boat made
of flowers in the bay and a Boy Scout would be on the pavilion to play taps,
with another in the distance to play the echo. After the parade
everyone would go to the firehouse for refreshments. I met a soldier that
day (I was only 15). I dated him a few times before he went overseas to the
Pacific Theater and became a prisoner of war. In 1992 he
looked me up in Somers Point, saying he had never forgotten me nor my
parents and wanted to see if I was still living. He wanted to go to
the cemetery to say a prayer for my mom and dad and to thank them for all
the meals he ate at our house. My Dad and Mom always
allowed us to have anyone we met come to the house. That way they knew where
we were and were like a second set of parents to the servicemen that we met.
Many a meal was eaten with a couple of soldiers or sailors at the table.
Some of them came back to see my parents, bringing their wives and kids. I was so lucky to
have been a teenager during that time in American history. I
think the whole country felt so proud. Everyone cared about each other
and we all had something in common, working, praying
and helping any way we could in this great effort toward world peace. I was married to Lyn
Bader for 17 years, divorced after four kids and never remarried.
---Violet Bader--- 1999 |