thedrifter
06-14-08, 05:18 AM
All stripes of uniforms, flags at Allen Flag Day
12:00 AM CDT on Saturday, June 14, 2008
By CHRIS COATS / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
Chris Coats is a freelance writer in Richardson. ctcoats@aol.com
When the Allen Heritage Guild sought artifacts for today's Flag Day celebration, Winifred Zepp proudly handed over a treasure trove of history.
Her husband, Bill Zepp, 89, was a major in the Marines during World War II and the Korean War and was a member of the Marine Raiders, an elite troop.
"These men are very humble on what they accomplished," Mrs. Zepp said. "I want the future generations to see what they went through and suffered for us to have freedom."
The guild and the city of Allen will be hosting a patriotic celebration honoring Old Glory and the armed services today at the Allen Heritage Center.
"We wanted an event to show our patriotism," said guild president Paula Ross. "Military members and their families shared their stories and pieces of American history."
The festivities include the Flags and Uniforms exhibit, which began last month and runs through July. The exhibit is a collection of military uniforms and showing of flags, American, state, military and more.
The event will also include a flag program by the Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard. The Veterans of Foreign Wars will toot their horns with bugle calls to show how they were used for wartime communication.
For those looking to meet celebrity patriots, civil war re-enactors will set up camp for a living history lesson.
"They will have a campground and go into life on the battlefield," Ms. Ross said. "It's interesting stuff, like the crude ways legs were amputated during a time of no anesthesia."
A highlight of the event will be the real life heroes on hand – people such as Mr. Zepp, said Tom Keener, local historian and city of Allen cultural arts coordinator.
"We have a lot of family members offering uniforms of their relatives who served in World War II or other wars but have since passed," he said. "To meet a war hero who can share his experiences is priceless."
Mrs. Zepp said her husband endured malaria, dengue fever and encephalitis while serving and many died fighting alongside him. On display will be items such as his Bronze Star.
Mr. Zepp modestly declined to elaborate on why he received it.
"People go off to war, and I just happen to be one who lived to talk about it," he said. "It's important to not forget those who fought and even died for our freedom and the troops that are fighting to keep it."
Chris Coats is a freelance writer in Richardson. ctcoats@aol.com
Ellie
12:00 AM CDT on Saturday, June 14, 2008
By CHRIS COATS / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
Chris Coats is a freelance writer in Richardson. ctcoats@aol.com
When the Allen Heritage Guild sought artifacts for today's Flag Day celebration, Winifred Zepp proudly handed over a treasure trove of history.
Her husband, Bill Zepp, 89, was a major in the Marines during World War II and the Korean War and was a member of the Marine Raiders, an elite troop.
"These men are very humble on what they accomplished," Mrs. Zepp said. "I want the future generations to see what they went through and suffered for us to have freedom."
The guild and the city of Allen will be hosting a patriotic celebration honoring Old Glory and the armed services today at the Allen Heritage Center.
"We wanted an event to show our patriotism," said guild president Paula Ross. "Military members and their families shared their stories and pieces of American history."
The festivities include the Flags and Uniforms exhibit, which began last month and runs through July. The exhibit is a collection of military uniforms and showing of flags, American, state, military and more.
The event will also include a flag program by the Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard. The Veterans of Foreign Wars will toot their horns with bugle calls to show how they were used for wartime communication.
For those looking to meet celebrity patriots, civil war re-enactors will set up camp for a living history lesson.
"They will have a campground and go into life on the battlefield," Ms. Ross said. "It's interesting stuff, like the crude ways legs were amputated during a time of no anesthesia."
A highlight of the event will be the real life heroes on hand – people such as Mr. Zepp, said Tom Keener, local historian and city of Allen cultural arts coordinator.
"We have a lot of family members offering uniforms of their relatives who served in World War II or other wars but have since passed," he said. "To meet a war hero who can share his experiences is priceless."
Mrs. Zepp said her husband endured malaria, dengue fever and encephalitis while serving and many died fighting alongside him. On display will be items such as his Bronze Star.
Mr. Zepp modestly declined to elaborate on why he received it.
"People go off to war, and I just happen to be one who lived to talk about it," he said. "It's important to not forget those who fought and even died for our freedom and the troops that are fighting to keep it."
Chris Coats is a freelance writer in Richardson. ctcoats@aol.com
Ellie