VETERANS DAY 2009

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by Bob Anderson
Although Post 100 was challenged with inclement weather for it's 2009 outdoor Veterans Day ceremonies, the Veterans and military attitude accepted the weather challenge. Adapted to the challenge and accomplished the mission by moving the ceremonies inside the beautifully renovated Ocilla courthouse. By accelerating slight changes to the program, participants and visitors proclaimed the venue was one of the best ever which again proves the resilience of our Military Veterans and Post 100 Members by honoring all military personnel with world class recognition.

by Alberto Juliachs
Last week I had the pleasure of driving eleven hundred miles round trip from my home in Miami, Florida to Ocilla, Georgia. Before I proceed to tell my story let it be known that I hate driving long distances especially when I travel alone. This trip was the exception. First of all I had been contacted by fellow BUSMVA member Buddy Green who invited and sponsored my membership in American Legion Post 100 in Ocilla. During BUSMVA's reunion in Berlin in 2006, I joined the VFW Post 10506 located in Berlin. I am very proud of my membership in both Post. Moreover, during the year of 2008, via phone calls and emails, Buddy informed me of Post 100's Honor Brick program. I sponsored a brick in the memory of a great leader whom I had the honor to have served and whom had recently passed away named Lt. Jimmy Green. Yes, Lt. Green is Buddy Green's cousin. I was later informed by Buddy that he had sponsored an Honor Brick in memory of my military service. I was honored by Buddy's generous act. Buddy's sponsorship of a brick in my honor and his request to know how I would prefer the brick to read promoted some thought on my part. I had the honor and pleasure of having served in a few good units during my tenure in the Army. I had to think, which military unit I wanted mentioned beneath my name on the brick. Well, my decision to pick the second platoon, 287^th MP Company was somewhat easy. First of all, I served with good men and women. The Officers and NCO's were all good men and excellent leaders. To this day I compare them with the leaders I have served in twenty-nine years of police service in Miami and by far those men I served in Berlin are by far the best leaders I have been honored to have served! I then looked at our mission to protect West Berliners from communist oppression and compare that to my personal experiences fleeing as a refugee from communist oppression in Cuba in 1961. I know much better then most of my fellow Americans the threat to our constitution and our freedoms that communism and socialism poses. Being able to protect Berliners was and is something very special to me and my family. I did for Berliners what I was not allowed to do (by way of US-Russian treaty negotiated as a result of the October missle crisis) for my country of birth. I thank God that Berliners and Germans in general are free and enjoy a democratic style government. Continuing, I thought my brick should be surrounded by bricks honoring the exceptional men and women I was proud to have served with. Therefore, I was able to put together the names of most of the Second platoon members I served with and I have secured all the funding needed to eventually honor every Second platoon member with their own brick. The first six bricks were placed on Veterans Day 2009, and fifteen Second platoon members will be included in 2010. I hope that in the future we will have an active member of the Second platoon, 287^th MP Company, out of Fort Riley, Kansas be invited and able to attend the Veterans Day ceremony in Ocilla to partcipate in our ceremony. This leads me to the town of Ocilla itself. Irwin County has ten thousand citizens of which five thousand live within the Ocilla city limits. I learned that everyone knows each other and friendliness is the order of the day. If Post 100 needs to conduct an emergency meeting then the local drugstore has enough chairs and coffee to gladly provide the accommodations necessary to hold a meeting. If you new to this town then people go out of their way to make you feel at home. The southern cooking was out of this world. Don't plan to diet while visiting Ocilla. Buddy's wife, Sylvia made the best grits, sweet potatoes, roast beef among other dishes I have ever had. Buddy, can make a mean catfish! I have not become this big by doing push aways from the table. The local restaurant by the traffic light (the only traffic light in town) was also very good. As most of friends know I am approaching the thirty year mark of continuous police service here at home in Miami. I have been looking for some time for another home away from home in a much smaller town. A place I can easily travel too and spend a good part of the year. I want to experience the seasonal changes that go unnoticed here in Miami where its always hot. A place where I can do some hunting and fishing for bass and catfish. Well, Buddy's son, Alan runs a nice hunting and fishing operation at Green Lakes Lodge. The lodge itself is very nice and can accommodate about six hunters or fishermen. The prices are reasonable and designed for the working man. The Veterans Day ceremony was exactly what one would expect in small town of America where respect, honor, duty and patriotism is in high supply. The citizens of Ocilla are blessed and I was blessed by visiting with them. Before I left town, I was asked to give an interview to the local newspaper and I was loaded down with homemade/bottled/bagged/canned syrup, honey, grits and boiled peanuts among other goodies. Not a bad haul for a two and a half day stay! I know I will return to Ocilla before next Veterans Day. I look forward to climbing in my or Buddy's truck and driving about town and stopping at the drugstore among other places to chat with some very nice folks. In essence, I'm glad I made the drive! Buddy, please feel free to pass this on to Reinhard in Berlin! AJ

by Rick Bradley
Hello Reinhard, Wow! I am blown away! What a fantastic display! I am honored to lay next to my fellow comrades. The best bunch of men and friends anyone could ask for. I am at a loss for words, my friend. Buddy Green did a great job along with his fellow American Legion pals on this project. I am speechless! Thank you so very, very much! Rick

by Bob Casey
Hello Reinhard, Boy oh Boy, I am truly speechless sitting here alone, I am writing to you because you are the one who got all this in motion. And I wanted to personally thank you for your kindness and friendship. My dear friend, today I grow two inches taller from being so proud of what has happen to me by some of the nice people of the American Legion Post100 in Ocilla, Georgia. This is a day when I should not have been alone, if I only knew what was ahead of me, and knew what was going to be presented I would have not been alone. I have been proud many times in my 72 years, first time was when I went in to the United States Army, and again when I married Ellen, and again when my Children, and Grandchildren and Great Grand Children were born. Those times were great because they were expected and was prepared for the proud event. Now to be recognized by my fellow veteran's and the American Legion Post 100, gave me the feeling of a great accomplishment. What happen to me was all un-rehearse, all what you have shown about this ceremony on your website was continuous excitement for me, because I did not know what to expect, I broke down a few times looking and reading the story and feedbacks, and could not believe something like this could ever happen to me, a boy at six years old who lived in foster home's after foster home's until I was ten years old, and who called the State of Massachusetts his my Mommy & Daddy until I was 21- years old because I was known as a state ward child. I never received a proper education, because of my street smarts, and common sense. I have accomplished a great deal in my life time. Reinhard, to have something like this happen to me is going to be a big part of my life and memories from here on out. And to have a brick with my wife Ellen's name on it with mine is extra special to me and to be added with the many great man and woman at the Ocilla Veteran's Memorial is totally a great HONOR , - WOW ! I must say THANK YOU to Buddy Green, and all the folks at the American Legion Post 100 in Ocilla, Georgia. I would also like to thank all of the town's people, and visitors that came to see this beautiful ceremony that they had put together for Veteran's day of 2009. May God Bless America, and watch over the veteran's on the front lines everywhere. I always make time at night just before going to bed, to get down on my old knee's and say a pray or two for all the men & woman in our armed forces, to bring them home soon. I will also remember those who have fallen by saying a special remembrance prayer. What I have seen on my TV lately that they are proud in what they do, I thank them dearly every night for that, and for keeping America free. Thank you for Everything! My Best Regards, SGT. Bob Casey & Ellen, Berlin 1955-1958.

by Gene Keller
On Veterans Day 2009, nine more Berlin veterans have had Honor Bricks placed at the Veterans memorial in Ocilla Georgia. Congratulations to all of you! I am sure that 'Alter George'Stone and Alberto Juliachs enjoyed their stay in Ocilla. As a member of American legion Post 100 it is an honor to have these new Honor bricks placed here. Buddy Green and the other officers of our post do a wonderful job year after year organizing the veterans day ceremonies. Thank you all and thank you, the citizens of Ocilla, for your caring, compassion and patriotism. Always remember, they have not fallen in vain. We still have our freedom in this, the greatest country in the world. The old Blue Spader, Gene

by Rick Bradley
Hello Buddy, I would like to first thank the members of your American Legion Post 100, and the community of Ocilla and Irwin County, Georgia for allowing me to take part in this year's Veterans Day Celebration for 2009.I am truly honored to have been a part of this special event.It is encouraging to me to see fellow Americans such as the patriotic citizenry of Ocilla and Irwin County continue to celebrate Veterans Day in such high fashion.I am humbled beyond words to have my name etched in stone and placed along side so many of my fellow brothers in arms.It is truly an honor and a humbling experience.An honor, I will always cherish. Thank you Buddy and Reinhard for making this special moment possible. I am forever in your debt.A guy could not ask for better friends.I truly appreciate all that you do on behalf of all Veterans. Reinhard's website display of the day's events is as always another great addition to "Keeping the good Memories Alive" Great job!Buddy with the photos and write-up that you so kindly provided to Reinhard to share with your fellow Berlin brothers and the world. Your friend, Rick