By ERIN MATHEWS

Salina Journal

About 20 seventh- and eighth-graders surrounded Korean War veteran Merlin Stephens at Sunset Park on Tuesday as he described what life was like when he was just a few years older than them and parking airplanes on a Navy aircraft carrier with a flight deck three football fields long.

Stephens described himself as a "punk kid just out of high school with a monkey wrench" in 1951 when he found out he was nearly at the top of the Smith County draft list. His draft number was 2.

"Now, you've got your choices," Stephens said, but, for him, it wasn't a matter of whether to go but which branch of the service to go in.

On the advice of his father, he chose to serve in the Navy -- despite the fact that he didn't know how to swim.

"Dad told me to go to the Navy because you can't dig a foxhole in water," he said.

Now Stephens, who was clearly touched by the Southeast of Saline students' interest, had some fatherly advice for them following the annual Veterans Day observance in front of the war memorial in Sunset Park.

"You kids need to go to Washington," Stephens said. "You can see all the monuments there. This one is small compared to those.

"Stay off the streets, and stay off drugs," he said. "I wish you kids would take heed to what's coming on in the nation after the election. This is a fitting time for you to learn about the nation and our allies."

Saying thank you

The nearly 110 students who arrived in three buses made the most of the opportunity to meet and listen to veterans describe their experiences, as groups of students gathered around several of the estimated 150 veterans in attendance following the ceremony.

Seventh-grade humanities teacher Mike Garretson said the school usually plans a trip to the observance, unless Nov. 11 falls on a weekend.

"One of the kids asked me, 'Why are we going?' " Garretson said. "I said, 'We're going to say thank you.' "

Veterans, cadets from St. John's Military School and grateful community residents stood in drizzling rain throughout the ceremony, which included a 21-gun salute and the playing of "Taps" by three St. John's buglers.

"I thank all of you for joining me in this nice weather," said American Legion Post 62 Commander Cecil Haney. "I know there are other places you could be, but I'm thankful you are here."

Didn't forget old boys

Salina veteran Bob Vidricksen, who served in Europe during World War II, said he was amazed at how many people showed up for the ceremony despite the weather.

"I guess people haven't forgotten old boys like us," he said.

Saline County Commission Chairman Randy Duncan addressed the crowd, recounting the history of Veterans Day. Congress officially declared Nov. 11 Armistice Day in 1938 to commemorate the end of World War I, which concluded with the signing of the armistice on Nov. 11, 1918. In 1954, Congress changed the name of the observance to Veterans Day, Duncan said.

While veterans who died in battle are remembered during Memorial Day observances, living veterans are recognized on Veterans Day, he said.

Maneuvers

Salinan Jack Stewart served in the Navy after the end of WWII; his wife, Marsha, was in the Women's Army Corps.

Stewart's experience in the armed forces was wholly different from that of high school friends just a year older.

"Guys a year older than me finished high school and went right into the war," he said. "I served on ships that did maneuvers in Long Beach Harbor. Once we did maneuvers off Mexico."

n Reporter Erin Mathews can be reached at 822-1415 or by e-mail at emathews@salina.com.

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WhatsUp says....
The sad fact is that today's military vets are facing criminal charges for what the veterans of WWII did on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. We're not supporting our troops when we let them face prison time for acts of war!
11/12/2008

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