WWI Veteran Reflects On Liberty Memorial & War
From: Otis
Willie
moderatingstaff@instruction.com
Sent: Friday, May 24, 2002 2:18 PM
Subject: [vetissues] WWI Veteran Reflects On Liberty Memorial, War
WWI Veteran Reflects On Liberty Memorial, War
(EXCERPT) The nation's only monument dedicated to World War I veterans will reopen to the public this weekend after being closed for seven years.
KMBC's Brenda Washington talked with a veteran about his memories of the war and what the memorial means to him.
"It's been a long time since the first world war," veteran Paul Sunderland (pictured, right) said. "Everyone was anxious to fight and get the war over."
Washington said that Sunderland, 106, is the only surviving World War I veteran in the Kansas City area.
Sunderland was a college student when war was declared in 1917. Soon after, he enlisted in the Navy.
I was a Navy musician," Sunderland (pictured, left with saxophone) said.
Washington said that he remembers saying goodbye to his family at Union Station.
"I didn't know if I would ever come back," Sunderland said.
Sunderland spent 18 months on the USS Charleston. The cruiser escorted both supply and battleships in the North Atlantic.
"We never saw land," Sunderland said.
Washington said that Sunderland wasn't living in Kansas City in 1921 when the Liberty Memorial was originally dedicated to World War I veterans. He said that it was a tribute few of them ever expected.
"We never expected a monument for our services," Sunderland said.
Washington reported that Sunderland is one of only 1,000 World War I veterans still living.
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com
http://members.aol.com/veterans/warlib6.htm
http://members.aol.com/veterans/warlib46.htm