New World War II Honor Roll Saturday, February 12, 2022

       On Saturday, February 12, 1944, the Town of Covert unveiled the World War II Honor Roll on the library lawn. Seventy-eight years later, and a half mile down the road, on February 12, 2022, with the help of STEPS* we unveiled the new World War II Honor Roll at the Town of Covert Municipal Building, formerly the Interlaken American Legion Post Home.

       While writing the Snippet “Interlaken to Dedicate New Roll of Honor” I realized Interlaken needed to recreate the Honor Roll. The American Legion Auxiliary had commissioned a reproduction several years earlier, but time and weather had made it very difficult to read or find the name of a family member.

       A small committee was established to work together to accomplish two main objectives, 1) Create a Refurbished Honor Roll, using the framework for the earlier reproduction but with new name boards; and 2) Honor all of the Veterans from the Town of Covert.

       With both approval and backing from the Town of Covert Board we applied for a grant to cover the cost of the new board and some supplies to compile and preserve the biographies of the veterans who had served in the American Revolution through the wars since then, and those who are currently in the military. STEPS approved our grant so we had the needed funds.

       The committee worked with Signarama of Ithaca to have the three panels with names created. Photographs of the original board along with a detailed list in the World War II Veterans’ Scrapbook provided the names. To facilitate locating a name we opted to list the names in alphabetical order.

       When we received the final proof, Signarama had added a detail none of us had even thought possible. They had superimposed the names on a background showing the Flag Raising at Iwo Jima.

       An event was planned for February 12, 2022, for people to gather to see the new boards in place. Being New York in February, earlier that month we had a snowstorm which prevented the boards from being installed. The celebration was moved inside the building and the boards displayed. Friends and family gathered, shared stories of their service or that of a family member.

      Later that Spring the boards were put in place and the header panels identifying the Honor Roll were installed.

 

All the name boards and header boards installed.

       Part two of the project was to gather biographies of the veterans. At the beginning we expected there to be around 800 men and women who were from the Covert/Interlaken area or had moved to this area after serving in the military. That number has since grown to over 1,000 names. We are still seeking biographies from the veterans themselves, family members or volunteer researchers. The biographies are being printed and placed in notebooks. Many of the more recent biographies are accompanied by a photograph. 

       Thank you to the Town of Covert, STEPS, and all those who have helped and continue to help: Martha Morrow, Millie Messmer, Nancy Thompson Staples, and especially Christopher and Danielle Nelson for their work on installing the boards. It has been my privilege to work with all of you. 

Trial fitting the boards into the frame. Note the older boards in the background.

Dewitt’s Diary Tuesday, February 12, 1924: Cloudy and snowing a little this morning. North wind but not very cold. I helped Edna wash this morning. If we could only get a little snow we would have sleighing now. There is sleighing now in spots. Father came up and I helped him take down a load of sweet corn fodder for his cow. Eggs 28 [Dewitt often noted how many eggs the hens laid each day].

February 12, 1944

We are still looking for biographies of our veterans. Please consider submitting information on your service or that of family members.

*Seneca Towns Engaging People for Solutions