Palmyra's Military - World War II

   Our own Gene Bassage presented to the club today.  Gene and his wife Shirley grew up during World War II, and graduated from Palmyra Union Classical High School.  Over the years, graduating classes combined their annual reunions, and an Alumni Directory for the classes of 1934-1951 was created.  It listed all the students who graduated from the Palmyra school.
   Gene and Shirley were interested in compiling a list of Palmyra students who died during World War II.  The alumni directory only listed graduates, not students who attended Palmyra, but may have graduated elsewhere (or not at all).  They contacted various state and federal agencies, trying to gather information, and were referred to the Palmyra library.  There they found back issues of the Palmyra Courier-Journal on microfilm. 
   Henry Griffith, a former Rotarian, was the publisher of the Courier-Journal and for years dedicated two columns on the front page to servicemen news.  He always published letters from service members.  He also ran photos of any service member who was killed in service.  During his tenure as publisher, any service member who wanted it received the paper free.
  Gene and Shirley spent hours and hours poring over the microfilms in compiling their list.  That list is too long to reprint here, but they shared some of the information they uncovered with our club today.  With Memorial Day only a couple weeks away, this was a great testament to those Palmyra students who gave all in service to their country.  We thank them for their sacrifice, and we thank Gene and Shirley for reminding us.