Nov 08, 2024

Local veterans honored at Hays Senior Center program

Posted Nov 08, 2024 11:01 AM
Veterans honored Thursday at a program hosted by the Hays Senior Center. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post
Veterans honored Thursday at a program hosted by the Hays Senior Center. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

On Thursday, the Hays Senior Center, 2450 E. Eighth, hosted one of several local events thanking and honoring veterans for their military service.

The program started at 1 p.m., allowing attendance by veterans who had earlier participated in the Hays Kiwanis military appreciation lunch next door at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall. 

Hays VFW  Post 9076 Honor Guard posted the colors and sang Taps. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post
Hays VFW  Post 9076 Honor Guard posted the colors and sang Taps. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post
Vietnam War veterans John Pyle, Hays, and Taft Yates, Ellis, (at left) stand with older veterans honored during Thursday's program at the Hays Senior Center. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post
Vietnam War veterans John Pyle, Hays, and Taft Yates, Ellis, (at left) stand with older veterans honored during Thursday's program at the Hays Senior Center. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post

The Rose Garden provided the dessert cake served at the conclusion of the senior center program.

Guy Windholz, Hays, emceed the Hays Senior Center veterans' tribute. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post
Guy Windholz, Hays, emceed the Hays Senior Center veterans' tribute. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post
World War II veterans Don Bickle, U.S. Navy, and Bob Pfeifer, U.S. Army, of Hays. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post
World War II veterans Don Bickle, U.S. Navy, and Bob Pfeifer, U.S. Army, of Hays. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post

Emcee Guy Windholz, Senior Center board member and former Ellis County commissioner, welcomed the special guests, including World War II veterans Don Bickle, U.S. Navy, and Bob Pfeifer, U.S. Army, of Hays. Both men are 97 years old.

Harold Plymell, World War II veteran of Hays, passed away Oct. 17 at the age of 98. Courtesy photo
Harold Plymell, World War II veteran of Hays, passed away Oct. 17 at the age of 98. Courtesy photo

Honored posthumously was Hays army veteran Harold Plymell, who was stationed in Japan during World War II. He passed away Oct. 17 at the age of 98.

Alex Freidenberger, 100, of Bison, is a World War II army veteran. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post
Alex Freidenberger, 100, of Bison, is a World War II army veteran. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post

Alex Freidenberger, who served in World War II as an army tech sergeant, was also attending. From Bison, he's the oldest living veteran in Rush County and celebrated his 100th birthday on Aug. 12.

Freidenberger shared what he has in common with another World War II veteran, former President Jimmy Carter, a naval veteran.

"We're both 100 old this year. We both voted by mail,  and we both taught Sunday school in church. How about that?" Freidenberger said.

The group Trilogy from Victoria performed a patriotic musical tribute honoring local military veterans Thursday at the Hays Senior Center. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Posts
The group Trilogy from Victoria performed a patriotic musical tribute honoring local military veterans Thursday at the Hays Senior Center. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Posts

A patriotic musical tribute was sung by the Victoria group Trilogy, comprised of Jerry Schmidtberger, Rick Rupp and Leroy Schmidtberger.

Veterans of various wars were recognized at the Hays Senior Center. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post
Veterans of various wars were recognized at the Hays Senior Center. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post

The event was made possible by a community fund grant from Midwest Energy.

The annual Ellis County Veterans Day program will be Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Hays VFW Post 9076, 2106 Vine. A free-will donation lunch will follow the program. Everyone is invited.