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SIERRA VISTA - Some former soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen of what has been called "the greatest generation" sat in the sun, while others were under the shade of trees.
But they all were in the spotlight Saturday.
More than two dozen were honored guests at the unveiling of the World War Two Memorial Dedication postage stamp, Sierra Vista's scaled-down version of the large memorial in Washington, D.C.
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The stamp's design incorporated part of the memorial in the nation's capital.
For Archie Campbell, the memorial speaks to the nation about what those who served during World War II did.
"I think it's beautiful," he said.
During the war, he served in the Army in Europe. His brother, Burt, was in the Navy and served in the Pacific. After World War II, Campbell enlisted in the Marines and saw another combat stint in Korea.
Deciding to have a national monument to those who served during World War II was a long time coming, Campbell said.
Archie Woodin, who served in the Army in the Pacific Theater of the war, agreed.
"It's long overdue," Woodin said.
Those who served in the war were not concerned about a monument after they came home. "We just went on with our lives," Woodin said.
Saying he contributed "a lot of money" to the memorial, he called the monument an important part of recognizing what millions who served in the nation's armed forces during World War II contributed to America's freedoms. More than 16 million men and women served in the nation's armed forces, and millions more were part of supporting the war effort on the home front.
"It (the memorial) is symbolic of what we did," Woodin said.
Saturday's stamp unveiling at Sierra Vista's Veterans' Memorial Park, attended by nearly 200 people, will have to suffice until Woodin gets a chance to travel to Washington, D.C., to see the seven-acre memorial.
Former State Rep. Gail Griffin read a proclamation from Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano naming Saturday as World War II Memorial Day throughout Arizona. The proclamation noted that when World War II began, Arizona's population was a half million and that 30,000 residents of the state served in the armed forces and 1,600 of them were killed in action. The document also noted the state was a major training ground for pilots and aircrew members because of excellent flying weather.
Thousands of enemy prisoners of war also were kept in Arizona during the war, according to the proclamation.
Fort Huachuca was noted as playing an important role during the war. Two black infantry divisions trained on the post before one headed to combat in Europe and the other fought in the Pacific.
Before unveiling a large-size rendition of the stamp, Sierra Vista Postmaster John LaFreniere had a number of postal employees join him on the stage, noting that 60 percent of the Sierra Vista post office employees are veterans.
There will be a big interest in the stamp, LaFreniere said. For that reason, 96 million stamps were printed.
The 36th U.S. Army Band played the five service songs. As each one was performed, people who served in those branches stood or waved. For some of the World War II veterans, it took a little time to get up and stand. Others who were wheelchair bound waved.
SENIOR REPORTER Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.
Tony P wrote on Nov 25, 2008 12:24 AM: