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Crystal City VFW Post honors 13 Over 90 Club members

Larson Wile, 106, raises his hands while the crowd gives him a round of applause for his service.

Larson Wile, 106, raises his hands while the crowd gives him a round of applause for his service.

 Patty Meyer photo

Crystal City VFW Post 3777 holds a Veterans Day ceremony every year, but this year’s was extraordinary.

Of the post members in attendance, 13 ranged in age from 90 to 106.

In fact, two 106-year-old men who served during World War II attended the event, held Monday morning at the post, 900 VFW Drive.

Festus Mayor Sam Richards, a U.S. Marines veteran and a Purple Heart recipient, was the featured speaker. He said he was honored to be in the presence of the most veteran of veterans.

“I was very, very impressed,” Richards said. “I was glad to be able to speak with and meet these men. I thought it was a very special program.

“I was able to meet with both of the 106-year-old veterans and talk to them. It was really great.”

Terry Wagner, the post commander, told the attendees that Post 3777 has held special recognitions for veterans 80 and older before, but honoring those 90 and older was something new.

“We’ve started a 90-plus group (the Over 90 Club),” Wagner said.

He said the post has more than 13 members who are 90 or older, but the others could not attend due to medical issues.

The event nearly packed the VFW hall that holds about 350 and was the best-attended Veterans Day ceremony at the post in years, post members said.

The veterans said they appreciated the recognition.

“It’s nice to be remembered,” said Obie Young, 106, of Festus.

Two of Young’s daughters, Barbara Young and Nancy Rudolph, escorted him to the event and proudly spoke of his military legacy.

“He was in Germany in 1944 in the 3rd Armored Division under (Gen. George) Patton,” Barbara said. “He was in the Army Air Force.”

“He was in a tank (in the 3rd Armored Division),” Nancy added.

His time in the military ran from 1942 to 1948 and he was a staff sergeant when he was discharged.

Larson Wile, also 106 of Festus, served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II on a tender boat – a vessel used to repair or service other boats, like battleships.

Wile, who was a petty officer, first class when he left the Navy, praised those who put together the special event.

“It’s wonderful,” he said. “It’s wonderful they’re honoring all the veterans and the things they do.”

Another honoree, Ron Perryman, 93, lives in Farmington but is a Post 3777 member. He served in the Army Signal Corps during the Vietnam War and was a chief warrant officer 2 when he was discharged.

“This is far better than I expected,” Perryman said of the ceremony. “I appreciate it.”

Two of those honored – Fred Behr, 92 and Lowell Vipond, 95, both of Festus – are friends and regularly hang out together.

Behr, who served in the Army, was a private first-class when he was discharged.

“I think this (ceremony) is fantastic,” he said. “It’s really great.”

Vipond, an Air Force veteran, left the service as a sergeant.

“It’s nice that they’re having this ceremony,” Vipond said.

Jack Masters, 94, of Festus and Bill Masters, 93, of Festus sat at the same table. Despite sharing the same last name, they are not related.

Jack Masters, who served in the Air Force, left the service as a staff sergeant.

“I’m more than happy,” he said about the gathering. “It’s nice to be recognized.”

Bill Masters, an airman first class when discharged, also spoke highly of the event.

“I think it’s great,” he said.

Lester Collins, 93, of Mapaville served in the Army and Air Force and left the military as a senior master sergeant.

“This is great,” Collins said. “It’s great anytime they can acknowledge the military.”

Another vet, David Blum, 94, of Herculaneum, who left the Air Force as a staff sergeant, said he felt honored to be recognized at the event.

“I think it’s very nice,” Blum said. “I’m very proud to be here.”

Other post members recognized in its Over 90 Club were: Fred McMillan, 90, Albert de Wilde, 94, John Grillo, 97, and Donald Pogue, 97.

During a portion of the proceedings, Lynn May of the Quilts of Valor organization gave quilts to various members of the post.

The Scraps and Patches Quilters Guild, which meets at Post 3777, made the quilts.

Other Veterans Day celebrations were held on Monday in Festus.

American Legion Post 253 held a ceremony at the Larry G. Crites Memorial Park, and the Festus R-6 School District held a parade through town.

(2 Ratings)