Final Salute: After 21 years, Rockford area Korean War Veterans Association says farewell
In a span of five years, the Korean War Veterans Association Local 272 lost three-quarters of its elected officers.
Commander Arnoldo "Arnie" Cabello, died in July 2019 at the age of 72; First Vice President Charles "Charlie" Gebhardt died Dec. 25, 2019, at the age of 88; and Secretary Leroy Lewandoski is no longer an active member.
Treasurer Chuck Lindstrom, 90, said by default he became the association's commanding officer.
Bringing a bit of levity to the somber introduction, Lindstrom joked, "Hey, the guy who holds the purse string is usually in pretty good shape."
But the fact of the matter is the local chapter — like other chapters around the country — is watching as their memberships dwindle down to the last remaining few: the last of the surviving Korean War veterans.
On Wednesday, six members gathered for coffee and breakfast at the Spring Garden Family Restaurant in Loves Park.
There, they caught up and finalized plans for the chapter's last official meeting on Dec. 17. The date is 21 years to the day after the charter was granted by the New York-based Korean War Veterans Association.
More:Area Korean War vet to return to site of the war to remember those we lost
'Never be forgotten'
In its heyday, the Rockford chapter boasted upwards of 70 members, which included spouses, all of whom worked together to raise money to build the Tri-County Korean War Memorial located at the Field of Honor in Loves Park.
The veterans also served as a color guard detail at numerous area functions, participated in countless parades and doled out numerous scholarships to college-bound students.
Just as important, the group would meet socially once-a-month. The meetings were therapeutic, allowing veterans to laugh and cry with each other, and share decades-old stories that many speak of only with each other.
More than 5 million soldiers and civilians lost their lives in the so-called "Forgotten War," dubbed so because of the lack attention the war received compared to World War I and II and the Vietnam War.
George Graham, 74, of Rockford, did not serve in Korea and is not a veteran. He is an associate member of the chapter who joined in 2005 in search of answers and closure surrounding the death of his uncle, Cpl. Johnny Graham, a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Johnny Graham was listed as missing in action while fighting Dec. 2, 1950, in North Korea. He was presumed dead on Dec. 31, 1953.
Graham said he was welcomed into the chapter.
"They call me 'the note taker' because I don't stop taking notes," he said. "I don't want to forget their stories. And I write a lot of them down only because these guys should never be forgotten."
More:Korean War veterans have vivid memories of their service
'We have done well'
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, in 2020 there were over 1 million Korean War veterans. By 2030, the Korean War veteran population is projected to fall below 200,000.
In an effort to grow the chapter's membership and sustain activities, the qualifications to join the local chapter were expanded to include any person who has seen honorable service in any of the U.S. armed forces — Army, Navy Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard — and if their service time was from Sept. 3, 1945, to the present within Korea; or if their service time was from June 25, 1950, to Jan. 31, 1955, outside of Korea.
Graham said it didn't take long for chapter members to realize they were fighting an undefeated opponent — time.
"Those same hands of time," he said, "have seen many of our members pass away. ... Having attended many 'Final Salutes,' I feel comfortable saying none of those members will ever be forgotten.'
"As we celebrate our chapter’s final formal gathering, we all know, we have done well."
Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Korean War Veterans Association Rockford area chapter closing
