Holmes County veteran gets special gift for 101st birthday
HARDY TWP. ‒ What do you get somebody for their 101st birthday?
How about a membership in the national organization Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War?
That was the gift Wayne Heffelfinger received in a ceremony Thursday at Sycamore Run Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.
After a recent conversation with Heffelfinger, Civil War historian, speaker and presenter Forrest Chanay discovered that Heffelfinger's great-grandfather was a Civil War veteran. Chanay went about confirming the proper ancestry and getting the application for membership to the Sons of Union Veterans filed.
Chanay said Heffelfinger's great-grandfather, George Pomeroy Lozer, had served in the 115th Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry in Camp Massillon from 1864 to 1865. His duties included escorting prisoners from the battlefields to prison camps in the north, including Camp Chase in Columbus. There are approximately 2,200 Rebel soldiers buried in Columbus.
Representatives from the McLaughlin Camp 12 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, based in Mansfield were on hand to share in the festivities. Scott Baker was honored to welcome the newest member into the brotherhood.
"I appreciate you doing this for this fine gentleman," he said.
Abraham Lincoln (aka Jerry Payn) makes an appearance
Abraham Lincoln portrayer Jerry Payn of Wooster presented the Gettysburg Address. Payn is a retired teacher who has been sharing his impersonations of the 16th president of the United States for the past 30 years.
Payn also was honored to share in the ceremony, noting it was an appropriate occasion for his visit.
Ohio Veterans Services thanks Wayne Heffelfinger
Danny Eakins of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services presented a proclamation from Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted thanking Heffelfinger for his service and wishing him a happy 101st birthday.
Eakins said that Feb. 9 marked the 80th anniversary of the Guadalcanal campaign, which was part of Heffelfinger's service in the Marine Corps.
"I learned that during his service, Heffelfinger was inspected by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, commander of the South Pacific, and he spotted a young naval officer named John F. Kennedy in PT boat during his time in service," Eakins said. "It is with great pride and honor to be able to share this incredible moment with all of you here in Millersburg who are part of his life, and thank him for his service."
Marine Cpl. Mark Siedel led the group in singing a verse of the Marine Corps hymn to honor Heffelfinger. The group followed with a round of "Happy Birthday" and Rev. Ken Smailes offered an invocation.
The celebration concluded with a birthday cake for the fiends, family, visitors and nursing home residents in attendance.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: A 101st birthday celebration for WWII veteran Wayne Heffelfinger
