While he’s had a chance to speak with other veterans in his family, Wayland Middle School eighth-grader Brett Bultsma of Dorr didn’t pass up the chance to speak with several more last week.
He was among several students who met with veterans prior to the school’s Dec. 7 commemoration of Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Ron Edington finished his service in the Marine Corps as a lance corporal, having served 1958 to 1962.
“I was too young to serve in the Korean War and I enlisted while the Vietnam War was in its very early stages,” he said, speaking to Bultsma while sipping coffee. He was one of many members of the Grand Rapids American Legion Post 258 to attend the Pearl Harbor Day ceremony and speak with students interviewing them beforehand. “While it seemed most of the time we were at sea, I spent a good deal of time driving for the regimental commander.”
He said that was largely at an island near Japan.
Edington and his siblings had a long history of service: one brother was in a bomber group, another served in Texas and his third enlisted in the Marines, whom he followed.
Bultsma also spoke with Bob Porter, who was drafted and chose to serve in the Navy from 1967 to 1971, ending as a Communications Technician Second Class. He was attached to a naval security group, doing intelligence work.
“I got my draft notice on valentine’s Day of 1967,” Porter said. “They were shipping home 800 body bags a day (from Vietnam).”
Bultsma, whose first cousin served as a Marine in Afghanistan, said he was surprised to hear that only about 1 percent of U.S. citizens had served in the military; he thought it would’ve been higher.
“When I think about it—a few people have been it the military in my family—you’d think it’d be more,” Bultsma said.
Porter said he provided some of the students with sand from the shores of Iwo Jima, the site of a bloody World War II battle near Japan. His son was stationed in the West Pacific and arranged for the sand to be sent home.
He said it was a different time for his son and how his service is perceived.
“Back at the time I was in it, you know Vietnam was very controversial,” Porter said. “When we got out of the service, we were treated like we had been let out of prison. People did not really respect us.
“Fortunately by the time my son got out about eight years ago, the American attitudes are changed. They support our veterans.”
After the opportunity to interview veterans was over, middle school students gathered in the Wayland Union Fine Arts Center to view video of President Theodore Roosevelt’s declaration of war speech—which includes his famous phrase, “...a day that will live in infamy”—as well as other recordings and history about World War II and musical performances by the school band.
Veterans in attendance were individually honored as part of the ceremony.
Wayland VFW Post #7581 announced the VFW Teacher of the Year award went to middle school science teacher Michelle DeYoung-Foster.
Middle school principal Carolyn Whyte said, “It’s important for our kids to understand that we have service men and women who are doing things to protect us, not only presently but also in the past. I think it’s just special for them to be able to interact and hear what they have to say.”
Contact Ryan Lewis at rmlewis@allegannews.com or (269) 673-5534.
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