War Memorial

War memorial to be dedicated By SCOTT BUTKI / Staff Writer Hancock's war memorial will be dedicated Saturday, Nov. 11, at Widmyer Park. The memorial is unusual because it includes not only the names of Hancock area residents who died in the wars from World War I to the Persian Gulf War, but also the names of those who served and survived, said Vicki Hott, treasurer of Hancock Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10502. "It is for anyone who answered the call for their country," she said.

Maugansville war memorial nears completion By DAN KULIN dank@herald-mail.com MAUGANSVILLE - Six years after deciding Maugansville should honor its veterans, the Maugansville Ruritan Club has almost finished building a war memorial in front of the town community center. "When we had the anniversary of World War II we thought we should have a World War II memorial. But then we thought why not make it for all conflicts?" said Robert Walton, a member of the Ruritan Club's war memorial committee.

FUNKSTOWN -- Fifty years from now, Funkstown citizens will still hold Memorial Day ceremonies at the war memorial rededicated Friday, Maryland Sen. Donald F. Munson, R-Washington, said during the afternoon ceremony. Munson spoke to a small crowd, many of them veterans, gathered near the WWI Doughboy monument in Funkstown for the rededication of a new plaque at the site. The plaque lists the names of Funkstown veterans of World War II, and the Korean and Vietnam wars, said David Unger, post commander for Dixon-Troxell American Legion Post 211. Funkstown Councilman Richard Nigh first approached Munson about a new plaque years ago, the senator said.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -The City of Martinsburg, through Ehrlich, will conduct ground fogging for mosquito control Saturday, Aug. 20, about 4:30 a.m., weather permitting, at War Memorial, Lambert and P.O. Faulkner parks in Martinsburg. The rain date is Saturday, Aug. 27. Mosquito dunks will be placed in Tuscarora and Dry Run creeks on Aug. 20.

By KAREN MASTERSON Staff Writer HALFWAY - Local veterans of war gathered Friday for a noon celebration of what they called the real Memorial Day. "Not too many people know (May 30) is really Memorial Day. We're stubborn and celebrate it," said Maj. Dieter Protsch, secretary of the Joint Veterans Council of Washington County. About 50 veterans in uniform and supporters congregated around the war memorial in Martin L. Snook Memorial Park. Sgt. Ray Linebaugh, president of the Joint Veterans Council, said the federal government "cheapens" Memorial Day by making it part of a long, commercialized weekend.

HAGERSTOWN As the guest speaker at a Memorial Day program attended by about 60 people on Sunday, Hagerstown Mayor William M. Breichner shared his memories of growing up during World War II. Morris Frock American Legion Post 42 hosted the annual Memorial Day and wreath-laying ceremony in front of the Washington County Courthouse. About 20 groups laid wreaths on a war memorial outside the courthouse. While Breichner and Chaplain Richard Hembrock of Boonsboro thanked veterans of all wars during their remarks, the focus of most of their words was on World War II. Breichner, 72, later said he focused on that war since it was in the news after the new World War II memorial was dedicated this weekend in Washington, D.C. The memorial is long overdue, he said.

HANCOCK - Bob McCusker was heartbroken when he saw the damage to the war memorial under construction at Widmeyer Park in the Town of Hancock on New Year's Day. Bright pink paint was splattered over the bronze form and listing of the names of veterans who served - as McCusker did - in World War II. "I didn't think we had boys and girls who would do that," he said. McCusker, who is commander of the Hancock Veterans of Foreign Wars, worked with its members to raise the $150,000 to build the monument.

  By ELLEN LYON Staff Writer Veterans organizations honored their fallen comrades in ceremonies Monday morning at the Washington County Courthouse and the Martin L. "Marty" Snook Memorial Park. William Proctor, American Legion 1st vice commander for Maryland, addressed about 100 people in front of the courthouse at 11 a.m., noting the origin of Veterans Day 78 years ago when an armistice ending World War I was announced in the 11th month, on the 11th day and at the 11th hour.

julieg@herald-mail.com This year's Sharpsburg Memorial Day Parade will have co-grand marshals who will speak about terrorism and the role of the military post-Sept. 11, a parade official said. Retired Col. John C. Truesdell, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force Reserve Affairs, and Maj. Gen. Boyd M. Cook will be the grand marshals, said Patti Hammond, a Sharpsburg Town Council member and parade committee member. The parade will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 25. The parade will have 80 units, including bands from Boonsboro Middle School, Boonsboro High School and Springfield Middle School, Hammond said.

gregs@herald-mail.com Former armed forces members gathered Tuesday morning in Hagerstown for a solemn ceremony to commemorate their fallen comrades, but they also used the occasion to reflect on current events. About 60 people gathered to celebrate Veterans Day in front of the Washington County Circuit Court building, where members of more than two dozen local service organizations laid wreaths at the war memorial on West Washington Street near its intersection with Summit Avenue.

Tara Viands joined a parade of nearly 300 people who walked a three-mile loop around War Memorial Park on Saturday morning to raise money for the March of Dimes' March for Babies. “I walked because my daughters can't walk,” said Viands, a mother of two from Hedgesville, W.Va. On July 25, 2006, her twin daughters, Macy and Carly, were born six weeks prematurely at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va. Macy weighed 3 pounds, 6 ounces. Carly was born two minutes later weighing 3 pounds, 3 ounces.

War Memorial Hospital and Valley Health Heart & Vascular Services will offer the Heart Attack Risk Program from 8 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, in Education Room A at War Memorial Hospital, 1 Healthy Way in Berkeley Springs.  Test results from a finger stick blood draw will provide participants with information on their total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol/HDL ratio, triglycerides, blood sugar, blood pressure and...

With each passing day, the population of living World War II veterans continues to dwindle across the nation, and with them go stories about one of the most earthshaking periods in history. Since this past June, a group called Friends of the National World War II Memorial has been seeking out the country's remaining WWII veterans and interviewing them, cataloging audio and video accounts to serve as an educational and cultural tool for generations to come, according to James Percoco, director of education for the group based in Washington, D.C. “It doesn't matter where they're from because we are losing between 600 and 1,000 World War II veterans a day as the generation passes from us very quickly,” Percoco said.

Hagerstown's newest Ravens Roost donated $3,000 toward the planned Korean War Veterans Memorial. A check was presented to members Les Bishop and Jim Mobley, from Antietam Chapter 312 of the Korean War Veterans Association, to be used for the memorial planned to be built near Mealey Parkway and Potomac Avenue  in Hagerstown's North End.  Hub City Ravens Roost 124 raised money by sponsoring a golf tournament at Beaver Creek County Club on Sept....

The preliminary hearing for a man accused of shooting another man and an 8-year-old girl at Martinsburg's Fourth of July celebration was continued for a second time Wednesday. Daniel Lee Herbert, 28, who has been incarcerated since shortly after the July 4 shooting, requested the continuance in Berkeley County Magistrate Court to allow his newly appointed defense attorney time to review his case. Herbert is charged with two counts of malicious wounding, three counts of wanton endangerment and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

War Memorial Hospital's Center for Rehab & Wellness will offer a free program "Eating Out Tips," at 4:30 p.m. Monday, July 23, at 261 Berkmore Place, Suite, 2A. Registration is required by Wednesday, July 18. The program will also be offered at noon Wednesday, July 25, in Wednesday, July 25, at noon in Education Room B at War Memorial Hospital, 1 Healthy Way in Berkeley Springs. Registration is required by Friday, July 20. To register, call 304-258-8377.

The new War Memorial Hospital on Fairview Drive will open to the public Saturday, hospital officials said Monday. Despite the drizzling rain and cold temperature, more than 250 people - many in winter coats - attended Monday's dedication ceremony for the new hospital. A tour of the new building followed the ceremony, which was held under a tent in front of the south entrance.  As part of the dedication ceremony, an American flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., was raised next to the main entrance by members of the West Virginia Air National Guard's 167th Airlift Wing.

The Maryland Senate has approved a fiscal 2013 funding for Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park improvements in Williamsport and a Korean War veterans memorial in Hagerstown. The two items were among the projects in a $1.12 billion capital budget tentatively approved Wednesday and passed Thursday by a 39-7 vote. The House of Delegates is getting closer to having its own version of the capital budget ready for a preliminary vote. The General Assembly has until April 9 to pass the legislation and reconcile any differences in bills supported by the House and Senate.

War Memorial Hospital will offer the American Heart Association's CPR for health care providers course from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, at the hospital, 109 War Memorial Drive, Berkeley Springs.   This course is designed for licensed health care providers who need to obtain or renew their CPR certification. A $50 fee is charged for the course. Class size is limited so advance registration is required.   For more information or to register, call Deb Unger at 304-258-6525 or Paul Cooper at 304-258-6577.

War Memorial Hospital and Valley Health will offer the Heart Attack Risk Program from 8 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, in the education room at War Memorial Hospital, 109 War Memorial Drive, Berkeley Springs. Individuals will have their risk of heart disease assessed by participating in a simple health screening that will provide participants with information on their total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol/HDL ratio, triglycerides, blood sugar, blood pressure, and body weight/body mass index.