Ahead of Memorial Day, Westminster Presbyterian Church rededicates World War II honor roll

CEDAR RAPIDS - The recent discovery of a plaque bearing the names of World War II service members prompted Westminster Presbyterian Church to hold a ceremony Sunday morning to honor the lives of service members who risked their lives serving the country decades ago.

This past year, church members found a World World War II honor roll that had been stowed away inside a room of the more than 150-year-old church. The honor roll displays the names of 173 church members who served in the war, three of whom lost their lives overseas.

On Sunday, the congregation rededicated the honor roll with song and prayer inside the church's large parlor, at 1285 Third Ave. SE, where the plaque will remain.

Strains of 'America the Beautiful” reverberated off the church's walls and stained-glass windows. The church's history and its present came together as the congregation recited scripture in unison - the same scripture used in the church's 1946 service for Veterans Day.

'In these days of random but persistent violence, it's meaningful to reflect on a time when many ... were brought together in sacrifice and dedication,” the Rev. Randi Henderson said. 'Today on this Memorial Day weekend, we gather to rededicate a part of not just Westminster's history, but that of the world.”

Few people knew the honor roll was inside the church, said Jan Kosowski, a ruling elder with the church. As the war progressed, names were added to the plaque marking another church member sent to combat.

'In every historic building, there's treasures to be found, if you look for them,” she said. 'In the case of our honor roll here, this is a remembrance of the war that saw many sacrifices.”

Two World War II veterans and longtime church members were at the ceremony. Army veteran Ted Kahler, 92, served in the Pacific shortly after high school at age 18. A member of the church since 1996, Kahler said he helped make minor repairs to the honor roll plaque and felt gratitude that he 'could help getting it back in shape.”

'It touches you,” he said. ' ... This plaque is in respect to those who didn't come back alive.”

Kahler said he was surprised to see the church still had the honor roll, which was last seen in the 1940s.

'We're still here,” he said, reflecting on the lives of the few World War II veterans such as himself who still are alive. 'We're thriving.”

Luman Colton, 96, a member of Westminster since 1958, also attended the ceremony, though his name is on an honor roll in his hometown of Kirkland, Ill.

Colton served in the Special Services, the entertainment branch of the U.S. Army, when he was drafted during the spring of his senior year of college at Cornell College, where he studied to become a music teacher.

'My musical career is coming to a dead halt,” Colton recalled thinking.

But for Colton, serving ultimately provided the opportunity to enjoy concerts, operas and symphonies where he was stationed in Paris - a chance he said he knew then he would never have again.

On this Memorial Day weekend, Colton said he will keep in mind his comrades who never returned from combat.

'I'm just grateful to be here, for the good life I've been able to have,” he said. 'Many of the fine people I went to college with didn't make it past the war. Some of the brightest, most talented ones were the flyers, the officers, the ones that got killed.”

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