Thursday, May 28, 2009

Memorial Day 2009 ... World War I (1914-1918)

By Commander Tom Nelson (Ret), U.S. Naval Reserves
Memorial Day Remarks, May 25, 2009
Gypsy Hill Park Gazebo, Staunton, Virginia

Number of deaths: 116,516

Enemy forces were on both flanks when this soldier made the decision that the position should be “put out of action” in order to spare the remaining men. His sergeant stated that it was “sure death to show yourself” and related how his Lieutenant “jumped up on the top himself” while firing a rifle and "loaded down with bombs" in an effort to lead his men to a safer position.

At this time, the lieutenant was wounded by machine gun bullets. Various accounts were given to his family as to the exact manner of his death. By some accounts he died shortly after, but other reports state he was captured and died in a German prison. His official date of death is September 7, 1918.

HONOR: Lieutenant Lane Schofield Anderson, hero of World War I

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