The “Greatest Generation” at the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center

Photo by Jon Ann Cruver

Shipmates of the USS Bowers reunion at the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center

Wes Gallagher, a Senior Center member, is pictured in the front row, 2nd from the right. Dwight Stevens from American Legion Post 227, pictured in the front row on the far right, came to welcome the shipmates and thank them for their service.

By Jon Ann Cruver

You can see the history on the caps that some wear: Marines, Army, Navy, Coast Guard. Men and Women who have served their country during world-wide conflicts. A Viet Nam triage nurse volunteers as a receptionist, a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor comes to lunch every day; others were in the South Pacific, Europe and Korea serving on the ground, in the air and sea.

They have seen a lot, experienced a lot, for which we are all grateful. One of our past participants, from France, was in Paris when it was liberated by the Americans. She had tears in her eyes when she spoke of that time, and even though she was in her 90’s, the event was deeply held in her memories of that hard time for the French people.

This past summer, shipmates from the USS Bowers came to the center to share lunch together, reconnect with one another, share memories of the past and enjoy their time together. The ship was named after Ensign Robert K. Bowers who lost his life on the USS California during the Pearl Harbor attack. The Bowers saw a lot of action in the South Pacific during WWII.

During one mission, the ship was responsible for the rescue of 17 survivors of two off-shore airplane crashes.

There are lots of these stories that portray the people who helped shape our county. Yes, we are grateful to them all.