Millersburg veteran attends dedication of WW II Memorial

Veteran George Freel, 85, of Millersburg, his wife Shirley, and daughter Terry Crooks were showered with kindness and hospitality at every turn when they attended the dedication of the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. over the Memorial Day weekend. The three traveled to the nation?s capitol on one of five buses which left Traverse City last Friday. The half-day journey didn?t come without a problem or two, as the bus ran over a screw and flattened a tire. The group was traveling to the Elks Lodge in the D.C. area for dinner, and was expected about 6 p.m., but ended up arriving fours late.

When the bus finally pulled in, Freel remembers Elks members coming ?out with tin cans and pans. They sang patriotic songs for at least 15 minutes. That was quite an experience. It brought everybody?s eyes to tears. They accepted us as brothers and sisters. I was no more an individual, I was part of a great team.?

?THEY WERE dressed in red, white and blue vests,? Crooks said, ?and everyone of them had to shake every veteran?s hand as they came in.? Veterans were told: ? ?We are so glad you came. We?re so thankful for what you did,? ? Crooks said. ?It just gave you goose-pimples.? Freel, the oldest living veteran of VFW Post 8751 of Millersburg, served in the Philippines in field artillery, and was with his unit when both atomic bombs were dropped on Japan more than 59 years ago. Crooks prompted her father to attend the dedication after hearing of a promotion being offered by Brown Lumber on a Traverse City radio station. Brown Lumber was offering to pick up the expenses of veterans interested in attending the dedication. ?I called and asked if I could pay my way and accompany them,? said Crooks. There were no objections and the veterans, along with family members, gathered in the parking lot of the Turtle Creek Casino outside of Traverse City to depart early Friday morning. ?Brown Lumber was fantastic,? said Freel.

ON APRIL 29, 2004, as a service and tribute to members of the World War II Generation, the National World War II Memorial opened for public viewing, exactly one month prior to the formal Dedication Ceremony taking place Saturday. The World War II Memorial is the first national memorial dedicated to all who served during the Second World War. The memorial, established by the American Battle Monuments Commission, honors all military veterans of the war, the citizens on the home front, and the nation at large. The Second World War is the only 20th-century event commemorated on the Mall’s central axis. The memorial is located between the Washington and Lincoln memorials. With so many people on hand, Freel?s group could only see a portion of the memorial from where they ended up standing for the event. ?We weren?t real far back, but if we stood up and looked, we could see the stage where Tom Brokaw and President Bush were, but we couldn?t actually see them,? said Crooks. ?There were five speeches, and everyone just gave you chills. I had tears running down my face most of the time. Nobody really repeated themselves but they all said such nice things.?

GETTING BACK to Michigan proved to be quite a chore for Freel and company — and the troublesome road home started with a turn of the charter bus key. The key turned completely around in the ignition and had to be

repaired, forcing a late departure. The group didn?t get back in to northern Michigan until early Sunday. Freel and his wife left the west side of the state about 5 a.m. and got as far as Afton before George lost control of his vehicle on M-68 and went into the ditch.

?They were so darn tired from all the staying up late and getting up early, he dozed off on the way home,? said Crooks. Both George and Shirley were still healing from their injuries Wednesday. Their vehicle was totaled. The accident didn?t seem to curb the enthusiasm of Freel and Crooks in retelling of their special experience at the dedication.

?I thought it was an absolutely wonderful tribute to the veterans,? said Crooks. Of his service to his country, Freel said, much like many veteran, he was ?just doing his job.?

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