October 6 - October 19, 2020
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Local DAR chapter honors WWII vets, 75th anniversary of war’s end By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
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Did you ever see the pictures of the thousands of people in the city streets, celebrating the end of WWII? Well, one of those thousands was me,” said Edward J. Jorgensen, U.S. Navy veteran and Solvang resident. “Everyone celebrated for days and I am thankful to have been a part of it.” Jorgensen and several other World War II veterans were honored for their service and helped commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII in a ceremony held by the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Santa Ynez Airport. “This is a nationwide event, where DAR chapters all around are doing things to celebrate our WWII veterans and celebrating the 75th anniversary of the end of the war. We wanted to do something special to honor their service,” said Terry Bunn, of the Refugio Del Cielo chapter of the DAR. On Sept. 2, 1945, formal surrender documents were signed aboard the USS Missouri, designating the day as the official Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day), according to the National WWII Museum. The news spread quickly and celebrations erupted across the United States. “More than 400,000 Americans gave their lives to secure our nation’s freedom, and in the midst of exultation, there was recognition that the true meaning of the day was best represented by those who were not present to celebrate,” said Robert Citino, Ph. D., executive director of the Institute for the Study of War and Democracy at The National WWII Museum. The veterans in attendance were Jim Kunkle, a decorated fighter pilot; Dwight Watts, a naval aviator on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific; Bill Hardy, who served on a destroyer in the North Atlantic; Rutledge “Putty” Mills, U.S. Army; and Lompoc resident Albert Ramirez, who
Photo contributed Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District Superintendent Scott Cory holds a commemorative check for $32,175, the amount donated to the school from the Chumash Indians Foundation.
Photo by Raiza Giorgi From right are World War II veterans Ed Jorgensen, Jim Kunkle, Jim Axtell, Rutledge "Putty" Mills, Albert Ramirez, Bill Hardy and Dwight Watts at the Santa Ynez Airport.
Chumash distribute $100K in donations to SYV schools Funds earmarked for tech needs, distance-learning challenges Staff Report
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"While I was in the Air Force we ended up as the first squadron that went to Hiroshima after they dropped the bomb," said Jim Axtell, local WWII veteran.
Photos contributed On Sept. 15, 1944, Jim Kunkle was shot down near Aachen, Germany, while protecting fellow pilots.
served in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy and also fought in Korea. Jorgensen said he was honorably discharged early from his service after contracting malaria while serving in the South Pacific.
The two veterans that are homebound are Robert Herdman and William K. Palmer, and a convoy of veterans and DAR members paraded to their houses to hand-deliver their certificates VETERANS CONTINUED TO PAGE 30
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he Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation has delivered $100,000 in donations to Santa Ynez Valley schools to help educators meet high-tech needs and the unique challenges distance learning has presented at the start of this school year. The foundation’s Remote Learning Resources grant sizes were based on each school’s expressed need and its student enrollment. Using this formula, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, which boasts the largest student population in the valley with an enrollment of 853, received the top grant of $32,175. The high school has taken a creative approach to reducing the distance some students may be feeling while learning from home. DONATION CONTINUED TO PAGE 29
A proud Pirate alum who knows we can climb higher. PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF PETER WRIGHT FOR SYVUHS DISTRICT TRUSTEE 2020
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