Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Bits O' History: Filipino Vets-- WW II Planes at Panama City-- Getting His Medals-- Lincoln in Marengo

1. FILIPINO VETS-- Congress has recognized the contributions of Filipino veterans who helped US forces fight the Japanese in the Philippines in WW II by offering one-time payments of $9,000 to non-US citizens and $15,000 for those with US citizenship.


2. WW II PLANES AT PANAMA CITY-- Two days ago, there famous and authentic WW II war birds landed in Panama City, Florida as part of the Wings of Freedom Tour to 110 US cities. Admission is $12 to view and walk on board them.

The planes:
Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" one of only nine remaining in flying condition
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
North American P-51 Mustang
These last two are the sole operating and flying aircraft still around.

For those of you with a bit more spending money, for $425 a person, you can go up in the B-17 or B-24.

They're going to Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, and California next. Looks like we came back from PC too soon. I would have liked to see these planes.


3. GETTING HIS MEDALS-- The Feb. 23rd Oskaloosa Herald reported that John "Jack" Frost finally received his World War II medals. During the war, he was a flight engineer on a B-24 Liberator bomber operating from China bombing Japanese targets.

His wife, Evelyn, pinned the medals on him as his children and grand children watched.

He received:
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal
Good Conduct Medal
Honorable Service Lapel Button
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal

Congratulations. --Cooter


4. LINCOLN IN MARENGO-- This Sunday, in Marengo, Illinois, Abraham and Mary Lincoln (aka Max and Donna Daniels) will re-enact portions of Lincoln's life in "An Evening With the Lincolns" at 2 PM in the Marengo High School auditorium.

Folks in period garb will greet visitors and bands from the high school, middle school and Lutheran school will be playing Civil War music.

A cannon will be fired at the end of the presentation.

I Presume the Cannon Will Be Fired Outside. --Cooter

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