VETERAN

in 1928 to Helen and Herman Yost

Sr. He attended Idaho Springs High

School and when he turned 16 in 1944, he joined the Navy. Two years younger than the required age to enlist and small in stature, he ate bananas to try to gain weight, Red’s son Ken said.

He served in World War II and

Korea until being honorably discharged on Nov. 23, 1954. After the service, he moved to Pennsylvania, where he married and had ve children. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and the Elks. Red died on Dec. 12, 2007.

About 25 members of Red’s family including four of his ve children, plus grandchildren and great-grandchildren attended the ceremony.

Red’s family learned of the oversight when grandson Bill Yost, who was named after his grandfather, moved from Pennsylvania to Lafayette, Colorado. He and his family made the trek to Idaho Springs to explore the town where his grandfather spent his childhood and found the World War II veterans memorial.

“I saw his name was not on the monument, so I contacted Troy (Erickson),” Bill said. “I was blown away by how quickly this came together.”

Erickson, who is the Clear Creek County’s veterans service o cer, said he went to Idaho Springs ofcials, telling them, “We’ve got to make this right.”

He said he was grateful the family brought the oversight to his attention.

Harmon said this was the rst name added to the World War II memorial, which has about 400 names on it, since before the pandemic.

“It’s a real honor,” Harmon said. “I’m glad we could add a name. We are committed as a city not to let the World War II memorial fall into disrepair.”

Bill told his family members and others attending the ceremony that his grandfather was the person he wanted to be most like. His grandchildren were the lights of his life, and he had many stories to tell.

“Popa is looking down and very happy about this,” he said, referring to memorializing him on the Idaho Springs World War II monument. Red’s son Bill Yost said his dad talked about his time in the service often, adding, “He was very proud of the Navy.”