The Kent Historical Society and American Legion Post No. 496 will host a program on Veterans Day to honor all veterans and especially those from World War II.
The program, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the legion hall, 1945 Mogadore Road, Kent. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., pictures and memorabilia will be on display, and a tour of the legion facility will follow, guided by legion commander Fred Allan. The program will feature local speakers with ties to Kent who will tell their stories as they grew up, enlisted, experienced the war, and then returned home. Stories and events on the home front also will be featured.
Featured speakers include John Wunderle, Harold Snowberger, Harry Ruggles and Kay Burgess. Wunderle is a well-known local historian and historical society board member, who taught bomber pilots instrument flying in Pampas, Texas. Snowberger worked at Gougler Industries after graduation from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Kent and served in Europe in support in the 923rd Heavy Maintenance Company.
Ruggles, who is a descendant of Jacob Haymaker, one of Kent's early settlers, came through Omaha Beach in October 1944 as an infantryman and served until Germany surrendered.
Burgess, who is part of the well-known Hahn Bakery family, will share stories and events on the home front in Kent during the war.
Tom Fowler, a recent Kent State University graduate, who interviewed many of these veterans in documenting their stories in oral histories on file at the Kent Historical Society, will introduce the speakers and the other veterans present.
This free event is open to public and the groups especially welcome local veterans and their families to attend. For more information, call Mary Ann Green of the historical society at 330-678-2712 or John Caipen of the Legion at 330-673-9743.
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Ruggles
Wunderle
Allan