Vernon Community Memorial Day Service 5/29/17

This 2017 Memorial Day Service is dedicated to the "Greatest Generation", those brave Americans who served so nobly in World War II.

The speaker and many participants in today's program have personal memories, family stories, or maintain deep connections to relatives and friends who served at that time.

According to availble statistics, there have been approximately one million, three hundred sixteen thousand American lives given in various wars and conflicts over the span of years beginning in the year 1775 through this present day. This figure does not include those who are missing.

Our Program Speaker is 1st Lt. Jay H. Karpen, a decorated WW II bombadier and nose gunner.  Lt. Karpen enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on June 24, 1942.  He transferred to the U.S. Air Force 8th Detatchment England in May, 1944 serving his first mission on D-Day June 6, 1944. He flew a total of 35 combat missions as well as other secret and supply missions. Among his many awards Lt. Karpen received the Presidential Group Citation for 493rd Group from President Rosevelt, The Distinguished Flying Cross, a Citation by General James Doolittle, and the Legion of Honor Medal from the French Government.

Thank-you Dane Mulverhill for his help with the programs.

We are grateful to the Yellow Ribbon Operation: S.O.S. (Support Our Soldiers) for the responsive reading.

This Program was hosted by The Vernon Historians, Inc.