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‘He was really lucky’
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WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIED WHILE SERVING OUR COUNTRY
The ultimate sacrifice
Wife recalls tales from husband’s time in Air Force BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Henry Ricks was one of 18 men in his graduating class at Lincoln High School in Sumter who volunteered to join the U.S. Air Force in 1951 during the Korean War. The men received national recognition because the entire male population of the class joined the Air Force on June 11, 1951, one week after graduation. “It was so unique,” said ArRICKS thuree Ricks, wife of Henry Ricks. “No other class in the U.S. had done that.” Arthuree Ricks said her husband and his classmates were inspired to enlist after a Sumter Air Force recruiter visited the school. Henry Ricks trained in food services at Lawson Air Force Base in Louisiana before his deployment to Toul-Rosières Air Base in France in 1952. “He was really lucky,” Arthuree Ricks said. Henry did three tours in France while some other service members were deployed to Korea and Vietnam during the four years of his first enlistment. “He always said Uncle Sam knew he was a lover and not a fighter,” she said. During his first enlistment, Ricks was also stationed in Bitburg, Spangdahlem and Hahn air bases in Germany, and Wheelus Field, Tripoli and Libya, North Africa, before returning to Claremont in 1954. Arthuree Ricks said while Henry Ricks was waiting to start college after his return to the states, he sought employment in Sumter but could only find work digging ditches for $35 per week. She said Henry Ricks was extremely disappointed with that option. “I can’t repeat what he said, but he realized that his experiences in the Air Force were worth much
SEE HENRY RICKS, PAGE A7
PHOTOS BY RICK CARPENTER / THE SUMTER ITEM
Members of the Sumter High School Air Force Junior ROTC program give a 21-gun salute in memory of those lost in wars. The “flowers” represent red poppies, which is a symbol known around the world for those who have died in war and was made popular by Canadian Lt. Col. John McCrae in his World War I poem “In Flanders Field.”
Memorial Day ceremony serves as a reminder to honor those who died to ensure our freedom BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com
S
haw Air Force Base Lt. Col. Heather A. Perez spoke on the importance of remem-
bering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and recognizing all veterans at the Memorial Day program held at Gen. George L. Mabry Jr. Memorial Park on Monday.
Sumter High School JROTC members prepare to present arms at the ceremony.
“Memorial Day isn’t about having a long weekend to enjoy with family and friends, having parties and barbecues to kick off the beginning of summer,” Perez said. “Memorial Day is about honoring all the veterans who sacrificed their lives to answer our nation’s call so that each and every one of us can have the right to freedom.” Perez said that it is important to remember the more than 1.3 million veterans who have died and 1.5 million
who have been wounded from the Civil War through today. “It is in our power to commemorate all of those who have fallen to ensure our freedom,” she said. This year commemorates the 50-year anniversary of the beginning of the Vietnam War, and Perez’s speech focused on the sacrifices of the veterans of that era. “When I was a young child, I remember witnessing the unjust treatment of the veterans of Vietnam,” she said. “I witnessed the demeaning looks and the whispering, consistently judging these veterans. As a child, I did not understand that the nation had a difficult time separating the disdain of the war from the veteran.” Perez said that the Vietnam veterans returned to the U.S. without a hero’s welcome. Along with coming home wounded with physical and mental trauma, they were faced with a general public in parts of the country that
SEE MEMORIAL, PAGE A7
Initiative kicks off summer of helping Sumterites BY COLLYN TAYLOR intern@theitem.com After a successful inaugural year, The Sumter Item is continuing its mission to try to help the community with the second-annual “Summer of Caring.” The initiative raised more than $5,000 in its first year, and there are plans to raise even more money in the second year.
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people losing jobs or having crises so somebody can’t pay a utility bill, or they’re about to get evicted,” Champagne said. “You’re always going to have people that are living in homes where their roofs are leaking. The need is always so huge, and we’re just scratching the surface of it.” Crisis Relief Ministry helps
“We are excited to be a part of helping Mark Champagne and United Ministries again this summer to help those in need,” said Jack Osteen, editor and publisher of The Sumter Item. “Even though we raised just a little over $5,400 last summer during our first year, we know every little bit helps and feel confident now that the word is out we can improve on donations these next few
months.” Summer of Caring aims to raise money for different community projects. The initiative is modeled after The Sumter Item’s Fireside Fund, which raises money to donate to The Salvation Army to help people pay heating bills in the winter.
The money United Ministries of Sumter County receives goes to three bigger projects: crisis relief, construction ministries and emergency shelter. These programs, according to Champagne, United Ministries’ executive director, are there to help with the constant needs of the community. “You’re always going to have
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