Wall of Honor celebrates Autumn Glen vets

Surprised by the startling statistic that nearly every one of the male residents of Autumn Glen Assisted Living is an Armed Services veteran, Sue McCune decided to do something about it.

Fueled by the desire to honor some of the local men who have fought for our freedoms, including five veterans of World War II, the Autumn Glen business director organized a lasting tribute and a special Veterans Day occasion Tuesday afternoon.

Seven of the 11 male residents celebrated on the new Autumn Glen Assisted Living veterans' Wall of Honor are George Murphey (seated, left) and Joe Cruz along with (back from left) Hershel Rigney, Harry Brooks, Jay Thompson, Merrill Church and Pete Wieckert. The wall was unveiled Tuesday afternoon during a Veterans Day ceremony at the facility.

The south wall of the Autumn Glen dining room has been turned into the Wall of Honor, upon which plaques noting the name, rank, branch of service and war experience of 11 of the 13 current male residents of the building on Greencastle's East Side now hang.

"We are very fortunate to be able to serve those who have served us in the past," Autumn Glen Executive Director Mike Balka said before the ceremony commenced.

McCune comes by her affinity for our veterans quite naturally.

Her father served as a tank gunner under Gen. George Patton during World War II, winning three Purple Hearts while enduring three major offensives. Husband Pat is a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War who served aboard the USS Kitty Hawk. And son-in-law Will is an Army veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Noting the service of the 11 men of Autumn Glen, McCune read each of the plaques aloud, noting that three separate conflicts were represented by the service of those men.

Not only did five serve their country during World War II, but four were in Korea and two are veterans of Vietnam.

"We are very proud to have you in our building," she stressed before bringing the men forward for a group photo.

Honored with spots on the Autumn Glen Wall of Honor were:

-- Hershel Rigney, an Army private first class, serving in the 8th Infantry during World War II.

-- Jack Langston, an Army National Guardsman serving with the 38th Supply Transport Division in Vietnam.

-- Merrill Church, a private first class serving with the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army post-Korea.

-- Pete Wieckert, a Navy torpedoman serving in the Korean Conflict.

-- Larry Gasaway, a sergeant serving with the 5th Army during Korea.

-- Joe Cruz, a Navy 3rd Class sergeant coxswain serving during World War II.

-- Harry Brooks, an Army Air Corps corporal serving in World War II.

-- George Murphey, an Army private first class during World War II.

-- Jay Thompson, a Navy E5, serving during Vietnam.

-- Preston Adams, an Army medical technician, serving during Korea.

-- Ray Rainbolt, a U.S. Army sergeant, serving during World War II.

In addition to the 11 men named to the Wall of Honor, McCune also noted the passing in the last year of other Autumn Glen residents who were veterans, including Victor DeCarlo, Bob McCormick, Chet Fornari and Paul Smith. She also noted the presence of widows whose husbands had served as well.

The ceremony included brief remarks and a prayer by Pastor Buck Martin, a fellow veteran who earlier in the day had participated in the traditional Veterans Day ceremony on the Courthouse Square.