INSIDE... Obituaries ................. 2 Police Report ............ 7 School News ............ 8 Classified Ads ........... 7 Sports ..................... 6
Serving Belmont, Mount Holly, Stanley, Cramerton and McAdenville
Volume 79 • Issue 47 • Wednesday, November 19, 2014
75¢
Mount Holly Heroes Honored On Veterans Day By Alan Hodge
alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The Mount Holly Historical Society held a Veterans Day event in First Presbyterian Church and so many folks showed up it was standing room only. “We are here tonight to honor all veterans from Mount Holly,” said keynote speaker MHHS vice president and treasurer Garrie Brinkley. “That is what tonight is really about. It's a chance for us to say to veterans that we remember you and that we thank you for your service.” The evening was a solemn remembrance to veterans of the past, and also a recognition of veterans of the present. The crowd was an eclectic blend of veterans, their fam-
of slides contributed to the MHHS over the past couple of months that had been created from photos of and by local veterans. Scenes included battle action, photos taken in camp, others taken on leave with loved ones, and newspaper front pages announcing the end of WWII. Brinkley said one of the best parts of gathering the photos was talking to the folks who contributed them. “It has been a personal privilege for me to hear the stories from some of our veterans and from their family members and friends,” he said. “They are stories of bravery, sorrow, discovery, stories of the joys of those returning home and stories of deep sadness for those that did not return.” A list was complied and presented at the event telling how many children Mount Holly families had sent to the military. Mrs. R.H. Stowe had five veterans- Ed, Bob, Larkin, Wearn, and Bill. Many others had two,three, and four names on the roster. Far-flung places that Mount Holly veterans had served in also got attention. Photo by Alan Hodge “Many of our veterans reU.S. Army veteran Raymond Vanni was on hand at the turned to Mount Holly to work, Mount Holly Historical Society Veterans Day event with raised families, and to live out some of his memorabilia. The photos show military ve- their lives,” said Brinkley. Then there were the medals hicles he's restored. these veterans have earned in ilies and friends, civic leaders, and people conflicts across the decades. These included who just wanted to say “thanks” to those 17 Purple Hearts, eight Bronze Stars, two who have and are currently serving in our Distinguished Flying Crosses, and a Silmilitary. ver Star. Two Mount Holly veterans were The event kicked off with a presentation POWS.
Photo by Alan Hodge Folks are seen standing at attention in First Presbyterian Church as Paige Sisk leads the National Anthem during the Mount Holly Historical Society Veterans Day tribute. The event saw a huge crowd turn out to honor veterans past and present. The names of the 13 veterans from Mount Holly who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country- five were from WWII, one from Korea, one from WWI, and six from Vietnam- were also recognized Finally, the names of all Mount Holly veterans were read and their photo flashed on the screen. This was followed by a moving rendition of “Taps”. After the First Presbyterian portion of the evening was done, folks filed next door to the MHHS museum to see a display of military artifacts, have refreshments, and mingle. Several uniforms that had belonged to local veterans were up for viewing as well as a display of items including canteens, grenades, various accoutrements, and a replica .50 caliber machine gun that drew a
Contributed Photo This picture was just one of dozens of local veterans that were flashed on a screen in First Presbyterian Church during the Mount Holly Historical Society Veterans Day event. lot of attention. The photos of the veterans will be displayed on a wide screen TV monitor in the MHHS museum window in the coming weeks. The military artifacts inside will be on view until January.
War World II Reenacting Veterans Day in Belmont By Alan Hodge
By Alan Hodge
alan.bannernews@gmail.com
alan.bannernews@gmail. com
“As a kid I grew up talking with guys who were in WWII. They were my heroes then and they are still my heroes.” That's what Al Kirby, 62, of North Belmont says led him into reenacting a soldier of the “Greatest Generation” over 17 years ago and still drives that passion to this day. Contributed Photo Kirby's fascination with the WWII era has seen him Al Kirby, second from left rear row, is seen with other WWII travel to places like Nor- reenactors in the field. Kirby has more recently put down his mandy, France, where he rifle and now portrays an army chaplain. and others portrayed U.S. those hallowed shores. he said of the switch. Army soldiers during reenKirby has also traveled Before moving to North actments of D-Day. extensively in the Northeast Belmont three years ago “As early as age sixteen taking part in reenactments. with his wife, Kirby also fed I knew I would go to NorPrior to getting involved his WWII appetite by servmandy one day,” Kirby with WWII reenacting, ing as a docent at the Battlesaid. Kirby, a native of Massa- ship Massachusetts site. That vision came true not chusetts and a retired fire“I organized WWII once but five times. During fighter, did the Civil War weekends and living history his visit in 1999, Kirby thing for eight years. programs,” he said. made time to comb Omaha “World War II is more When it comes time to and Utah beaches, and bring fun and there are still veter- go out in the field, he's a home a vial of sand from ans around you can talk to,” member of the 1st Div. 26th Inf. reenactment group. “We portray the average soldier of WWII,” said Kirby. “We try to spend the weekend like they did.” Recently, Kirby has transitioned his WWII impression from a rifle toting infantryman to a field chaplain impression. “I saw a need and felt a calling to do it,” he says of that switch. A member of Park St. United Methodist Church, Photo by Alan Hodge Kirby can do religious serWWII reenactor Al Kirby of North Belmont shows off the vices and give communion replica bazooka he made from a piece of pipe and other bits. at reenactment events. Kirby has taken his fasKirby has traveled extensively, including multiple trips to Europe, taking part in WWII living history programs and battle cination with WWII to the next level, or split level as reenactments. the case may be. He's transformed the basement of his home into a replica WWII Army Air Corps officers' club complete with bar, period radio, copies of WWII newspapers, booze brands, blackout curtains, and pinup girl pictures. Another part of his basement has been See WWII, page 2
Eleven rings of a bell in front of the Spirit of the Fighting Yank WWII memorial statue in Stowe Park, under brilliant blue skies, marked the start of Belmont’s annual Veterans Day ceremony last week. The tones marked the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Photo by Alan Hodge World War I – known at the time Dave Robinson delivers the keynote address at Belmont's Veterans as “The Great War” Day event in Stowe Park as the Fighting Yank statue looks on. – officially ended when the Treaty of In November 1919, Pres- ber, and U.S. Army veteran, Versailles was signed on ident Wilson proclaimed gave the POW ceremony June 28, 1919, in the Pal- November 11 as the first after ringing the bell. Forace of Versailles outside the commemoration of Ar- mer Belmont mayor Billy town of Versailles, France. mistice Day. The original Joye, a USAF veteran However, fighting ceased concept for the celebration welcomed the throng. The seven months earlier when was for a day observed with South Point High JNROTC an armistice, or temporary parades and public meetings group presented the colors. cessation of hostilities, be- and a brief suspension of The Pledge of Allegiance tween the Allied nations and business beginning at 11am. was led by Post 144 memGermany went into effect In Belmont a nice sized ber and USAF veteran Fred on the eleventh hour of the crowd assembled on Main Dixon. This was followed by a nice rendition of the National Anthem by Janice Bell. Mayor Charlie Martin, a US Navy veteran and son of a WWII POW, spoke. “We need to appreciate the sacrifices of our men and women veterans,” he said. “We are so blessed to have our freedoms.” Dave Robinson, a US Army veteran of Korea and Vietnam, gave the keynote adPhoto by Alan Hodge dress. “We should be A large crowd, including Pearl Harbor survivor Gene Reinhardt in forever humbly grateblue shirt, showed up at Belmont's Veterans Day ceremony in Stowe ful to veterans living Park. and dead,” Robinson said. “When freedom eleventh day of the eleventh St. to hear veterans, their had to be fought for, they month. For that reason, No- service, and sacrifices, re- stood the test. They are solvember 11, 1918, is gener- membered. diers of democracy. Amerally regarded as the end of Larry Norwood, Ameri- ican veterans brought more “the war to end all wars.” can Legion Post 144 mem- freedom to more people See BELMONT VETERANS, page 2