All gave some, some gave all Linton honors vets living and gone

World War II veteran Orvel Stremming. (Greene County Daily World/Mark Stalcup) [Order this photo]

Orvel Stremming sat proudly in the Linton-Stockton High School gymnasium, smiling broadly as he stood to salute the flag before him.

Over 65 years ago, Stremming, 89, helped invade Normandy during D-Day.

The former technical corporal of the U.S Army's 826th Aviation Engineers spent "39 months and 21 days" overseas, before returning home.

Now, Stremming has to strain a little to hear the cheers and speeches honoring veterans. Still, if his hearing's faded a bit, his pride never will.

"Veteran's Day? It's a wonderful thing," he said, beaming. "I really appreciate it."

The sacrifices of noble men and women, living and dead, were on the minds of LSHS students as flags unfurled and songs were sung during the 11:30 a.m. ceremony Wednesday.

"We can never fully repay our gratitude to the more than 650,000 American service members killed and the more than 1.4 million wounded in battle," said Student Council President Amy Goodman.

The late Herbert Adrian Rehner, co-founder of Shawnee Theatre, was one of only 317 sailors who survived the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, said featured speaker Bob E. Smiley, a veteran submariner.

Days before, his crew had delivered the two atomic bombs that ended World War II, then lost nearly two-thirds of the 900 men aboard Indianapolis when their ship was sunk in shark-infested waters.

Rehner spoke little of the time in the ocean, telling his brother only how salt water stung a shrapnel wound on his forehead.

"You don't talk much about terrible things," Smiley told the students.

Today, he observed, only 68 men from the Indianapolis remain alive, but emphasized that the sacrifices of veterans living or dead must never be taken for granted.

"Like all veterans, we wrote a blank check to the U.S. government. We gave them our lives 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year," Smiley said.

"When you see a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, think of what they have offered, and what they often gave."

Students and speakers emphasized remembering and honoring the men and women who served.

Danny Pruett, a member of the American Legion Post 22, lit a candle sitting atop an empty chair, honoring prisoners of war and those still missing.

"This light, and freedom's light, will always burn bright," Goodman said.