HEART OF STEELE

In September of 1963, President John F. Kennedy ordered a stop to drafting men who were married.

News reports cited an increase in the number of single men ages 18-25, thanks to a post-World War II baby boom. The order kept newly minted Owatonna High graduate Jon Simon home, though his older brothers served. He and his wife, Bev, were newlyweds.

I had the privilege of listening to a conversation Jon had last week with members of the Moonlighters Exchange Club at the Owatonna VFW. He was there to deliver a $2,150 check, the result of a fundraising drive among the Class of 1963.

It started with Simon’s request that they raise funds to place two plaques on the Owatonna Veterans Memorial. After seeing a plaque for Larry Kelm, who was killed during the Vietnam War, he wanted to make sure classmates Curtis Ringhofer and Warren Robinson, both KIA, were remembered as well.

Without question, 1963 was a tough year. Along with daily news of war, the fight for civil rights tore this country apart. Thousands of people marched on Washington. Civil rights activist Medgar Evers was assassinated. Four young Black girls were killed in a church bombing.

Then on Nov. 23, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

Perhaps coming of age during those turbulent times brought the OHS Class of ‘63 closer. Whatever, the reason, alumni came through big-time, as you’ll read in a story elsewhere in this paper, contributing $1,550 over the cost of their classmates’ plaques.

The Owatonna War Memorial provides a unique opportunity to honor those who’ve served. That’s important for every person who served their country, but even more for Vietnam veterans, whose welcome home was lost in the politics of an unpopular war.

Not everyone can afford the cost of a memorial plaque. The families of some local veterans may have moved or passed on.

So it warmed my heart when the Class of 1963 donation came with a challenge, asking other OHS classes to do the same for their classmates who served.

You can be sure we’ll cover those stories, too.