The VJ Day program is dedicated to our WWII Veterans, our
"Greatest Generation". The program was directed by Jackie
Greenhaw and Jackie Jackson. Special Contributor, Jerry
Barksdale.
Victory in the Pacific Day, V-J Day, or V-P Day) is a name
chosen for the day on which the Surrender of Japan occurred,
effectively ending World War II, and subsequent anniversaries of
that event.
On September 2, 1945, a formal surrender ceremony was performed
in Tokyo Bay, Japan aboard the battleship USS Missouri.
The VJ Day program spoke to our local veterans who fought in
WWII, who came home and to those who gave all. Retired attorney,
Jerry Barksdale portrayed Dr. Darby a local physician in the
40's whose daughter, Kathryn Darby worked at the local Red Cross
Office, where she learned of a family's loss and triumphant in
the war from 1943-1945.
24 year old, Winston Garth was about to take his 3rd trip in
his P47 Thunderbolt Fighter. 36 planes of the 56th Fighter Group
(also known as “Zemke’s Wolfpack)
took off that morning. As their planes reach the North Sea they
noticed 2 German fighters, the dog fight began, at bout 600 feet
Garth bailed out and fell into the sea. He was able to get his
Mae West to partially inflate when he saw a buoy. He swam
towards the buoy to learn it was a Belgium fishing boat. They turned
him over to the Germans where he was taken prisoner to Stalog Camp 113,
Germany.
Meanwhile, the day after is 17th birthday Winston's younger
brother, Lakin Garth, enlisted in the
Marine Corps. Lakin was headed to Okinawa at the time his
brother, Winston, would finally be
returning home. When Winston called home, his wife told him Lakin had been killed on Okinawa.
Thank you to all who came, participated and sponsored this
wonderful memorial to all our veterans!
Teresa Todd/AthensPlus.com
August 21st, 2010
