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  • Seven of the eight World War II veterans pictured Tuesday at the Milledgeville Country Club after the Kiwanis Club's 90th birthday celebration of dedicated service within the community. Vaishali Patel

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June 2, 2010

Local Kiwanis Club honors its WWII veterans

Vaishali Patel The Union-Recorder

MILLEDGEVILLE — The Milledgeville Club of Kiwanis International commended and honored many past club presidents and eight World War II veterans during a special Memorial Day service and a 90th birthday celebration at the Milledgeville Country Club Tuesday.

Kiwanis Club Program Director Tug Greer said about 1,200 WWII veterans die each day. Eight of the 59 club members are also WWII veterans, representing a total of almost 25 years of service, along with 16 million men and women who served in the armed forces during WWII.

“We thought we would recognize the members of our club today who served our country and express our collective thanks,” the eight-year Kiwanis member said during a welcoming speech.

Many Kiwanis members and guests applauded for Lee Dickens, Ben Gautier, Jake Goldstein, Fermor Hargrove, Wayne Monroe, Pat Neligan, Gus Pursley and John Williamson as Greer and Charles Moore, club member since 1979, took turns sharing each veteran’s stories and profiles during their years of active duty.

“Each of the eight had different experiences, but they all had rigorous training ... and they all left their loved ones behind,” Greer said. “Each played a different hand, but they dealt with the hand they were [served].”

Kay Quattlebaum created a three-layer birthday cake for the club’s 90 years of dedicated service within several district organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club of Baldwin and Jones Counties, Boys Scouts, Head Start, Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life, Meals on Wheels, 4-H Club, River of Life and the Immunization Project among many other Baldwin County causes. Kiwanis member Dr. Rob Wilson played a birthday song and war-time tunes on the piano.

“You get to meet a lot of good people, but the real enjoyment is the service we provide to young people,” Kiwanis Club Secretary Don King said. “I’m not sure that feeling of service is there as much today as it was before.”

Twenty-four-year-old Laura Burns decided to join Kiwanis this year, following her father’s example as a dedicated club member for many years with the local organization. She said the club is for any age group, and her peers should take initiative and participate in club activities to spread the Kiwanis mission.

“This is an international organization, and it’s all about children, helping them in any way possible,” Burns said. “This is a good way to get involved in service projects, so get yourself out in the community and I’d love to have company.”

According to the Kiwanis web site, Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time since 1915.

“I like the fellowship and this is a good venue for [all types of service projects],” Moore said. “I think people these days are not as inclined to get involved, but there are lots of opportunities [Kiwanis offers] to get involved if you’re willing to participate. I hope it’s still here and going strong [the next 10 years for our 100th birthday].”

Kiwanis gather at the Milledgeville Country Club every Tuesday at noon for their regular club meetings.

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