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"Military Uniforms of Our Neighbors"
The museum's "Military
Uniforms of Our Neighbors" exhibit was
dedicated on Saturday, August 6, 2011, in
ceremonies that took place on the front lawn
of the museum. David Nadolsky,
Past-President of the museum, served as
Master of Ceremonies. The keynote speaker
for the event was Circuit Judge Donald
McLennan, a veteran of the Vietnam War. The
Invocation was given by Father David Greka,
a retired Army chaplain. Mayor Beach Hall
presented a resolution from the City Council
declaring August 6 as "Veterans Appreciation
Day" in Rogers City. Hall served in the
Army during the Korean War. The resolution
was accepted on behalf of the museum by Mark
Thompson, the museum's Executive Director
and a Vietnam War veteran. Members of Posen
VFW Post 7804, Rogers City Post 607, and the
Rogers City Servicemen's Club provided a
color guard and honor guard for the event.
Taps was played by Navy veteran Robert
Centala, who also led those gathered in
singing the "Star Spangled Banner." World
War II veteran Ervin Mertz cut the ribbon to
officially open the exhibit. Mertz, at 99
years of age, is the oldest veteran in the
county. Approximately 200 people attended
the ceremony.
The uniform on the left
was worn in Iraq by Captain Casey Viegelahn
of Rogers City. The uniform on the right
was worn by Sergeant First Class Keri
Karsten of Moltke, who recently retired from
the Army after 20 years of service. These
are the newest of the 27 uniforms in the
exhibit. The oldest is a uniform worn by
Lewis Kroesch of Rogers City in the
Spanish-American War of 1898. A replica
Union Army uniform from the Civil War also
represents the uniform that would have been
worn by John Kauffman of Presque Isle,
believed to have been the only resident of
the county to volunteer for service in the
Civil War.
The uniform exhibit
totally fills the former dining room of the
Bradley House. Along with the uniforms are
displays of military memorabilia and
decorations from the personal collections of
the late Walter Poch and Richard Santimo,
both of whom saw extensive action in the
European Theater during World War II, and
Mark Thompson, a Vietnam veteran.
The uniforms in the
collection were worn during wartime by the
following county residents:
Casey Viegelahn, Marine
Corps, Iraq War
Keri Karsten, Army, War in Afghanistan
Lewis Kroesch, Army, Spanish-American War of
1898
Milton Hoffer, Army, World War I
Joseph Micketti, Navy, World War II
Carl Schaedig, Army, World War II
Gene Heinzel, Marine Corps, World War II
Walter Karsten, U.S. Merchant Marine, World
War II
Clarence Eldridge, Army, World War II
Rev. Frederick Steen, Army, World War II
David Budnik, Army, World War II
Robert Yerks, Navy, World War II and Korean
War
Earl Bey, Air Force, Korean War and Vietnam
War
Douglas Richards, Army, Korean War
Cecile Bunner, Women's Army Corps, Korean
War
Duane Haneckow, Army, Vietnam War and Gulf
Wars
Bruce Beckeney, Navy, Vietnam War
Ronald Horrocks, Army, Vietnam War
David Grulke, Navy, Vietnam War
Jeff Plath, Army, Vietnam War
Tim Plath, Navy, Vietnam War
Emil "Moe" Plath, Jr., Navy, World War II
Alice Plath Pines, Women's Army Corps, World
War II
Isadore "Bud" Pines, Army, World War II
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