JANESVILLE — As military veterans go, 99-year-old survivors of the U.S. Navy’s battles in World War II’s Pacific theater are becoming rare.
“As hen’s teeth. Just about that rare,” Janesville resident Curt Geller said.
Geller is co-orchestrator of the Glory Wagon — an annual float in Janesville’s downtown Memorial Day parade that carries 25 to 30 military veterans past the parade crowds, a rolling testament to veterans both living and lost.
This year, Geller said the Glory Wagon features two of the very few remaining local World War II veterans — local residents C.J. Mara and Frank Bua. Both men served in the Navy during World War II’s Pacific theater, at the time when young men were drafted into the military for the full duration of the war, plus six months.
Geller, 89, is a retired member of the U.S. Army who served from 1958 to 1962. He speaks of Mara and Bua as elders of military, though he, too is an elder.
Geller called The 69 Thursday to announce the uniqueness of a Memorial Day parade that has two men who are among the few remaining World War II vets.
“You might never see it again. You don’t know,” Geller said. “There are only 100,000 left of the 16 million (World War II) veterans.”
Geller said Mara and Bua both are 99 years old. The means they were boys — teenagers — when they served. They now will ride in the comfort of a car situated in the parade queue next to the Glory Wagon.
You can wave or applaud Mara, Bua and others at the parade, which starts in downtown Janesville at 11 a.m. Monday, and proceeds north to Traxler Park for a Memorial Day ceremony.
Here’s a look at multiple Memorial Day ceremonies and events planned this weekend in Janesville:
Saturday — Flag placement at Oak Hill Cemetery, 1725 N. Washington St, Janesville, and Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 1827 N. Washington St., Janesville. Volunteers can help place small American Flags on the graves of all veterans. Event starts at Oak Hill Cemetery Chapel at 8 a.m.
Sunday — Janesville 192nd Tank Company ceremony at West Milwaukee and North Franklin streets, downtown Janesville. Event set-up begins at 6 p.m., with a remembrance ceremony to follow at 7 p.m.
Monday — Oak Hill Cemetery remembrance ceremony. Held at the cemetery’s veterans section. Setup at 7:15 a.m., with ceremony to follow at 8 a.m.
Monday — Milton Lawns Memorial Park remembrance ceremony at the cemetery at 2200 Milton Ave. Organized by Veterans of Foreign Wars 1621. Ceremony starts at 9:30 a.m.
Monday — Janesville Patriotic Society Memorial Day parade, downtown Janesville. Parade line-up begins at 10:15 a.m. Parade starts at 11a.m. route follows East Milwaukee Street to North Main Street, then proceeds north to Traxler Park, 600 N. Main St., Janesville.
Monday — Memorial Day ceremony at Traxler Park, follows downtown parade procession, ceremony starts at 11:30 a.m. at the park’s veterans memorial complex.
