Steve Pearce
Sixteen million Americans served in World War II. Their courage and sacrifice has rightfully earned the label of “The Greatest Generation,” and there are veterans throughout New Mexico’s Second District who deserve that same recognition.
Recently, I was honored to take part in an event hosted by the Spirit of ’45 in Roswell. The purpose of the event was to commemorate the victory of World War II.
Spirit of ’45 is a group that annually recognizes the service of WWII veterans. Their mission is “to preserve the legacy of the men and women of the Greatest Generation so that their example of courage, self-sacrifice, ‘can-do’ attitude and commitment to community can help inspire a renewal of national unity in America at a time when our country once again must come together to meet historic challenges.” This year’s event in Roswell was held to honor five WWII veterans: John Anderson, Fred T. Bartlett, James E. Goss, Rudy Cummins, and Lloyd Soleman.
As the inspiring stories of these five men were recounted and patriotic songs played, many members of the crowd were moved to tears. Hearing the emotional recounts of the struggles they faced stirred feelings of great gratitude and indebtedness. These men faced impossible odds and sacrificed more than most of us can imagine – all to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.
Their stories
John Anderson served on the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor, and he lost his twin brother when it sank. He saw the Japanese planes coming in and had to be forced off of the ship when he tried to go back for his brother. He exhibited the courage WWII veterans are known for by putting his commitment to camaraderie over fear of the enemy.
Fred T. Bartlett served in the Battle of the Bulge in the 3rd Army and 4th Armored Division. His division received the Presidential Unit Citation for their outstanding push to secure the victory at the Battle of the Bulge. Fred passed away on Dec. 26, 2009, but his legacy did not. The gratitude in the crowd was striking, even though he was not there to receive it.
James E. Goss served in the Battle of the Bulge with the 1252nd Engineer Combat Battalion. Along with being known as the bloodiest battle American soldiers ever fought, troops in the Battle of the Bulge also faced the coldest winter in years. Here, their courage and strength were greatly tested, and all who served earned the title of hero.
Rudy Cummins’ fighter plane was shot down in Italy, but he survived the crash. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross for his service.
Lloyd Soleman co-piloted a B-17 and flew 23 missions into Germany. When asked if his plane was ever hit by enemy fire, Lloyd replied, “The most bullet holes we ever had was 21.” In that instance, his plane lost two engines, which forced a landing on a runway away from the base.
For those of us who live in a free America every day, these five men were a powerful reminder of the thousands who fought and died to secure that liberty. The hundreds of thousands of heroes from hometowns across America who served in the name of liberty deserve our remembrance and respect.
I was not the only one who was deeply inspired and moved. Roswell Mayor Del Jurney was also touched by the ceremony. He told me, “it was a very positive way to say thank you to the men and women who fought and gave their lives. Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our freedoms, liberties, and the life we have today. We must honor that.”
I hope other communities will follow Roswell’s lead and take part in recognizing their veterans and restoring patriotism.
The home of the brave
Elmer Davis, Director of the United States Office of War Information during WWII, once said that, “This nation shall remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.” This truth needs to once again resonate within each of us, as we take the time to remember the great sacrifice of veterans and come together as Americans.
It is time for us to join together again, following the example of heroic men and women from the Greatest Generation, and face the mounting challenges ahead.
As we continue down the path of protecting America’s freedoms and working toward economic security, I encourage all Americans to thank veterans in their communities and to take pride in being Americans. I also encourage everyone to keep our military men and women, along with their families, in their prayers. We must always remember those who daily put themselves in harm’s way to make sure America remains the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Pearce, a Republican, represents New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District in Congress.