“Everything seemed to happen at night, ” Aldrich said. “I landed in Korea at night. We got on a train and went way, I don’t know how far we went up in there. First thing I know we started hearing kaboom…
LINDEN, MI — Stanley Aldrich sat in a white limousine Monday morning outside the Linden VFW Post 4642 bearing seals of the different armed forces branches.
The 90-year-old U. S. Navy and Army veteran watched May 29 as parade-goers assembled outside the post for the 70 th annual Memorial Day parade, hoping people would remember the true reason for the day of remembrance.
Having helped build the Linden VFW block-by-block, Aldrich talked his father into letting him join the Navy at 17 in 1945, the year World War II came to an end.
“I had two brothers that were in the Navy and I wanted to be in with them, ” said Aldrich, dressed in full uniform.
He spent time “here, there, and everywhere” in Korea, helping bandage up wounded soldiers being dropped in the country.
“Everything seemed to happen at night, ” Aldrich said. “I landed in Korea at night. We got on a train and went way, I don’t know how far we went up in there. First thing I know, we started hearing kaboom, kaboom. We were getting close, but I was lucky. I got to come home.”
Linden resident Dafne Ward offered her thanks in a message scribbled on the Patriot Wall outside the VFW hall.
Ward’s husband, Dave Ward, served in the U. S. Army, having headed to Panama during the December 1989 invasion of Panama.
“It’s a way of remembering. It’s a sad day because we are talking about all the people that have passed away, died (in combat) , or have not come back in our wars, ” she said. “It’s sad. I can’t even imagine, a mom that lost her kids.”
Ward also reminded people to remember those who’ve returned and have their scars on the inside, not visible to those around them.
“We have to remember, to give help for them, ” she said. “When they come back you don’t know the horrific conditions they have to live.”
Ward and Aldrich both asked people to think about the true meaning behind the day.
“One thing I don’t like, they’re using Memorial Day to sell stuff, cars, mattresses. I hate that, ” Aldrich said, “Memorial Day is not for that. Remember the guys that left a long time ago and the ones that are in right now.”
