News-Info-Alerts

Re: Former WW II POWs Honored

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: June 03, 2002

"WWII Heroes Honored by Blue Star

Red, White and Blue

By ANGIE GREEN
The Ledger

LAKELAND -- Fifty-seven years ago a World War II soldier was imprisoned for 17 months. On Friday, he spoke at the dedication of a road marked to honor heroes like him.

Howard Shanks shared his war experience with a crowd of about 100 people before unveiling a Blue Star Memorial Highway marker in a park decorated with red, white and blue flowers, quilts and flags.

As a 23-year-old, Shanks was captured by the German army after his B-17 bomber went down Jan. 11, 1944, in Brunswick. He shared with a teary-eyed crowd his memories of being a prisoner of war and being beaten by German civilians.

Shanks, now 81 and a Lake-land retiree, said he was honored to appear before the crowd that gathered for the Blue Star dedication.

"I appreciate that people still remember the old boys," he said.

The Blue Star Memorial plaque pays tribute to men and women in the armed services, as well as represents a sadly familiar symbol for those who lived through World War II.

During the war, blue stars were hung in the window of houses where a member of the family was serving his or her country. The blue star would be replaced by a gold one if the family member was killed.

Now two bronze markers with the familiar blue stars can be spotted on Wabash Avenue and in Sertoma Park, off Memorial Boulevard.

The Blue Star Memorial Highway system started after World War II to pay tribute to the nation's armed forces. The Blue Star Highway system covers thousands of miles across the United States.

Memorial Boulevard, which is the Lakeland portion of U.S. 92, was adopted as a Blue Star Highway in 1952 by the Lakeland City Commission, but a Blue Star plaque has been missing for about 10 years, said Brian Dick, assistant superintendent of parks. The original plaque was damaged in an auto accident.

The Garden Club of Lakeland Inc. Stars Stars

was asked to work with Lakeland's Beautification Project and purchase the two Blue Star markers, Dick said.

The 150-member women's club jumped at the opportunity. Garden club president Elizabeth Herbert said the group had wanted to donate markers for some time. The National Garden Club Inc. started the Blue Star Memorial Program in 1945.

"Everywhere you go, you see the blue star markers. It was time for Lakeland to have one," Herbert said.

Red canna, plumbago and Natchez white crape myrtles will skirt the markers in red, white and blue.

Angie Green can be reached at 863-802-7536.
© 2002 The Ledger"