Published: November 11, 2009 10:08 am      

Groups hoping to ID WWII vets

Proclamations were made around Elkhart County within the past couple of weeks, designating November as World War II Veterans Month.

“This is a wonderful expression of community support,” according to Chic Lantz, organizer of the World War II Veterans to Washington, D.C., trip. “One of the greatest needs is to develop a database with as many World War II veterans as possible identified with contact information. If the need is there, we hope to organize another trip to Washington in the spring.”

Jim Miller, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 985, said, “We hope that total community will get behind this united proclamation and help encourage World War II veterans to identify themselves. I know that the 11 other veterans organizations in Elkhart County will join VFW Post 985 in enthusiastically supporting this intiative.”

World War II veteran Al Lane, who is also the retiring president of Goshen’s Celebrate America, said, “It would be delightful if we could extend our expressions of gratitude and honor to veterans, especially World War II veterans, throughout the year. Lane went on the Washington trip in August.

Veteran Frank Coyne said, “Once our World War II veterans are identified, we hope that their families, community organizations, schools, churches and businesses will recognize them in various expressions of honor and gratitude and engage them in various ways, especially with the younger generations.

Coyne was interviewed in a pilot effort to help World War II veterans complete video documentaries of their lives and times as part of the Oral History Project launched several years ago by the Library of Congress. A voluntary group of Goshen residents from various educational and community organizations, including goshen College, have formed to assist the World War II veterans on the trip and any others who are interested in participating in the project.

Daniel Coyne, who accompanied his father on the trip, is organizing the effort and reports that the first 10 veterans they have contacted have agreed to be interviewed. The interviews follow the Library of Congress guidelines. Cooperating veterans will receive a video tape of the interview for their family heritage collection.

Any World War II veteran is asked to contact their veteran’s organization, including goshen VFW Post 985 on Pike Street at 533-6460 or Chic Lantz, 807 Plymouth Ave., at 533-0160 to provide their contact information.

World War II veterans interest in participating in the Oral History Project should contact Mearl Grabill, Hartland Heritage Center, 22606 U.S. 6 West, New Paris, at 354-2628.