Bamberg, Germany, VFW
continues Memorial Day tradition
By Rick Emert, Bamberg
bureau
Rick Emert / Stars and Stripes
Bamberg VFW commander Russell Lovmo puts a flag on the grave of William Kinney Saturday
during a rehearsal for Monday's Memorial Day ceremony at the Hallstadt, Germany, cemetery.
Jennifer Mawson, left, and Heather Mawson, right, will place flowers on the grave during
the ceremony. |
HALLSTADT, Germany — Bamberg’s VFW members and other members of the American
military community will honor veterans, including former VFW member William Kinney, in a
ceremony at the Hallstadt cemetery on Monday.
"This is a great honor for us," said Kinney’s widow, Elizabeth Kinney.
"It means so much to my family. My husband was an American from his heart; we flew
the American flag at our home."
Kinney, along with her daughter and son-in-law, Katharina and Werner Pflaum, attended a
Saturday rehearsal for the ceremony.
Bamberg’s VFW members hold Memorial Day ceremonies each year at a different grave
of an American veteran buried in the area. In all, there are about 25 veterans buried in
the area, said Al Lopez, Bamberg VFW service offer.
Many of the VFW members knew Kinney, who worked at the gas station on Warner Barracks.
He died in 1998.
Although the ceremony takes place at Kinney’s grave and his widow will be in
attendance, Lopez said the ceremony is in honor of all veterans.
"This is a patriotic way to remember all of our veterans … for their service
to our country," Lopez said.
The ceremony takes place Monday at 1 p.m. at the Hallstadt cemetery. A reception at the
bowling center on Warner Barracks in Bamberg follows.
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