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American Legion Post 119 Visit: 850 N. St. Vrain Ave. Mail: P.O. Box 127 Estes Park, Colorado 80517 Phone: 970-586-6118 Fax: 970-586-2838 |
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| Club Hours of Operation: Open Daily from 2:00 PM (11:00 AM on Wednesdays) to 9:00 PM. Open one hour before all Broncos games We Offer Our Prayers For All Our Troops |
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Richard Oversteg, an officer of the Estes Park American Legion Post 119 and a Korean and Vietnam veteran, Donna Weber, a member the Estes Park American Legion Post 119 and a Gulf War veteran, recently arranged for six local veterans to receive Quilts of Valor during Veterans Day Week. The Quilts of Valor organization is a grassroots organization that is dedicated to honoring and comforting soldiers from the effects of war. There are approximately 500 quilters and numerous volunteers across the nation cutting, piecing, sewing and quilting these quilts. Quilts of Valor represent honor, courage and bravery. They are meant to be a hug and thank you, and a show of our gratitude for what the military has done for us and for our country.
Alicia Carmin and her quilting partners, Rubydell Bogeart (Air Force) and Harriett Crabtree (Navy wife)from Kersey drove to the Estes Park Legion to present the Quilts of Valor to six Legion members and veterans: Lucille and Albert Sager, Donald Bowen, Keith Machin, Kenneth Jandrain and Robert Dike. Carmin brought the project to her school in Kersey. She has been making quilts with the fifth-graders. They sew on Fridays and have a great time. The kids love learning to sew, and Alicia loves the chance to give something to the veterans who have made such a commitment to us. Carmin said a quilt normally takes three months to create, but when she`s working with fifth-graders, it takes nine months, but is worth every minute. The history behind the Quilts of Valor is, in 1993, Catherine Roberts of Seaford, Del., started the Quilts of Valor Foundation, when her son and his 630th MP Company were being deployed from Germany to Iraq for one year. She was working in a hospital and met a soldier who really touched her heart. So, she did what all quilters do -- she made him a quilt. She gave it to the chaplain to present to him. Later, she was talking with the chaplain and asked what more she could do. He said, "Make more quilts." So she did, and got lots of others involved.
Lucille Sager, a WWII veteran, served in the Army Nurse Corp. from 1944 to 1945. Her tour of service was aboard the military hospital ship, the “Marigold”. During this time, the “Marigold” supported both the Pacific and European Theaters, transporting injured servicemen back to the United States. The “Marigold” was anchored in Yokohama Bay, next to the USS Missouri when the peace treaty was signed. On that day, she remembers a Japanese pilot came aboard and helped guide our ship through the many mines into Yokohama; it was dusk at the time. The prisoners of war were brought aboard, including a patient by the name of General Wainwright who was the Allied Commander of the Philippines, and taken prisoner at time of their surrender during the Japanese invasion of that island. On the trip back to the United States, it was such a joy to see that everyone was so happy, knowing that the war was over.
Albert Sager, a WWII and Korean veteran, joined the Air Force on February 19, 1943 and went to Aviation Cadet Training. On completion of training, he was stationed overseas and flew many missions in Germany during WWII until the war was over. After completing his tour of service after the war was over, he joined the Colorado Air National Guard in 1951. He was then called back to active duty during the Korean War and was stationed in Korea until 1952. He also served in Portland Oregon and Buckley Field Colorado during 1957. His service medals awarded are: Air Medal, Good Conduct, American Campaign, European, Africa, Middle East with One Bronze Star, World War II Victory, Army of Occupation, National Defense, Korean Service with Two Bronze Stars, Air Force Longevity, Armed Forces Reserve, Korean Presidential Unit, and United Nations.
Donald Bowen joined the Army and is a veteran of the Korean War. A native of Colorado, Don was born in Denver, Colorado on October 16, 1931 to Ralph and Josephine Bowen. His early education was in Denver and his high school years were in Estes Park, Colorado. He graduated from Estes Park High School in 1949. He then attended the University of Northern Colorado and Colorado State University. His military service began in March of 1953. After basic training at Fort Riley Kansas, he attended Artillery Officers Candidate School at Fort Sill Oklahoma. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on April 20, 1954. The balance of his time in the service was at Fort Carson, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was discharged on August 6th, 1956. His duty assignment was Assistant Adjutant to the 8th Division Artillery Commander. He married Beverly Parton from Estes Park on August 23rd, 1953. They have two children, a son Ron, and a daughter Kristi. Subsequently, Don moved back to Estes Park in 1997. Upon leaving the service, Don spent 10 (not so happy) years in the insurance business in Denver. It was time to move on. He went back to school for a year and in 1968 began a new career in teaching business at Fort Collins High School. Don started a part time custom picture framing business during his teaching duties. Picture framing and teaching turned out to be a good marriage so in 1978, he left his job at Fort Collins High and pursued a brief stint selling framing products and also became an instructor for a national trade organization. He was active in this business until last year when he finally decided to really retire.
Keith Machin, WWII veteran, joined the Navy and served aboard the USS Wadleigh in the western pacific at Tokyo Bay. The Wadleigh took part in actions at Ebon and Marshall Islands, the Roi and Saipan in the Marianas, and Okinawa, and was part of the task force that hit the Japanese homeland. During the beginning of the year in 1945, the USS Wadleigh was at the Mare Island Navy Yard in California, undergoing repairs to the extensive damage resulting from the mine explosion in the Kossol Passage. After she was repaired, she conducted carrier air strikes in support of the Okinawa Campaign. Under frequent air attack, the USS Wadleigh acted as radar picket on many occasions. On June 9, 1945, the ship crew performed a bombardment mission on the Japanese held Island of Daito Shima, steaming up and down off shore, demolishing Japanese radar installations and buildings. On August 9th, 1945 the USS Wadleigh was under vicious enemy air attacks 50 miles off the Japanese mainland. The ship crew rescued the men of two carrier planes forced down at sea while returning from strikes on Tokyo. On August 29th, 1945, after passing beneath concealed shore batteries that flew white flags of surrender from the hillsides, and through mine fields in the narrow waters leading into Tokyo Bay, the USS Wadleigh anchored at Tokyo Bay, joining the USS Missouri, USS Iowa, USS South Dakota and the HMS King George V. The USS Wadleigh was anchored alongside the USS Missouri on the day that the surrender was signed in the historic ceremonies of September 2, 1946.
Kenneth Jandrain joined the Army and is a veteran of the Korean War. He started his Army life in the summer of 1951. He was called by the draft board to report to Milwaukee Wisconsin to take a physical for induction into the Army. He reported to Fort Sheredon Illinois to be processed for army training camp. He was then sent to Indiantown Gap Pennsylvania, for heavy weapons training in the infantry. On completion of training, he was sent to the European Theater. He arrived at Darmstadt, Germany and was assigned to the First Division, more commonly known as the “BIG RED ONE”. Kenneth had many jobs in the army, the last one being a Chaplin’s Assistant. He got engaged during his tour overseas to his high school sweetheart from Champion, Wisconsin. After serving his tour, he came home and married her. Six children and two dogs later, they both ended up in Estes Park and are the proud owners of the Carmel Crisp Shop for 36 years.
Robert Dike, a WWII veteran, served in The US Navy aboard ship from the time of his enlistment until the end of WWII. His travels took him to ports in Europe, and throughout the South Pacific. Bob was too modest to reveal which citations and awards he had received, but they were probably numerous and impressive.
I would like to say a big “Thank You” to the Quilts of Valor recipient’s for their honorable service to our nation. It was such an honor to recognize the history of your service and commitment to defend our country. Thanks also go to the American Legion Post 119, Sons of the American Legion, the Women`s Auxiliary, Amy Grewe, Dave and John Grewe, Robin Swan, Bonnie, Skip Oxsander our post commander, Lee Wicks, Richard and Erika Oversteg, Alicia Carmen and her crew from Kersey for making the quilts, and anyone else who made this night a great and special event for everyone.
Pictured left to right: Quilt Crew Harriett Crabtree, Alicia Carmen, Rubydell Bogeart, Quilt Recipient’s Kenneth Jandrain, Lucille and Albert Sager, Donald Bowen, Keith Machin and Robert Dike
Pictured left to right: Quilt Crew: Harriett Crabtree, Alicia Carmen, Master of Ceremony: Richard Oversteg, Donna Weber