By Donald Hafner and Rick Wiggin
Did you know that today is the 75th anniversary of the formal end of World War II?
And did you know that 227 Lincolnites, 217 men and 10 women, served in WW II and that five of these men lost their lives in the war: Leland M. Burr Jr., John M. Fradd, Whiton Jackson, Donald L. MacLea, and Domenic Panetta? Their names can be found in the War Memorial Book, located on the second floor of the Lincoln Public Library on the display table in the periodical/reading room, just outside the Tarbell Room.
The War Memorial Book of the Town of Lincoln was given to the town in 1960 by the Veterans Memorial Committee, which consisted of Leo J. Algeo, Clifford W. Bradley, Edward J. Chisholm, Andrew J. Dougherty, Harriet Rogers, William Whalen, and E. Donlan Rooney, chairman. The calligraphy was done by Al Sturgis. The book has been recently edited and updated by Agnes and Rick Wiggin.
The current display cabinet for the book was provided by the Lincoln Historical Society and the Friends of the Lincoln Library. Learn more about the book and its history, and see the names of those who served in World War II on pages 72-104. As you scroll through the names, many will be familiar. Most are now gone.
On this day, Sept. 2, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the signing of the surrender documents by Japan, ending World War II, we honor them and thank them for their service.
Hafner and Wiggin are members of the Lincoln Historical Society.
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Thank you all for your good work.
Mary Ann
The Greatest American generation. These incredible, selfless people – perhaps some are still with us – may be a bit disappointed today…
Rick and Don,
Thank you for calling attention to this. A plaque in the First Parish listing “members of this Sunday School” who died in the Second World War also has Edward Ingersoll Seeger’s name.
Dwight Gertz