Rotary Minutes Wednesday, February 5. A delicious meal of spaghetti with meat sauce, spinach salad, garlic bread, pie and ice cream was served.

Meeting was rung to order by President Bill Frei. No guests were present today. Pastor Laurie led the group in prayer. There was no membership minute today.

Pastor Laurie led the group in singing “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” and “Vive La Rotary.”

Queen of Hearts drawing: ticket # 48 was drawn, owner – Joe S. But he unfortunately drew the 8 of spades!

Sect./Treas. Report: Patty F. - Make-ups turned in by Jeff D., Rachel W., Jordan W. and Dave I. Pastor Bill’s team had 2 absent today, totaling 7 absents to date. Pastor Laurie’s team had 2 absents today, totaling 7 absents to date.

Other announcements:

• Amanda B. updated the club on the sidewalk proposal (from the school to the Boys and Girls club). Unfortunately was NOT one to receive 1 of the 5 awarded grants. It has been deferred so Wagner can work on their matches.

• Katie H. received an update on Roger W. 2nd surgery. Both surgeries are done. Roger is wiped out. Doctor’s are very satisfied with outcome. Prayers for healing.

• Reminder of the Feb. 22 Valentine’s dinner and silent auction at Two Spurs. Monies received from the auction will go to support the Helping Hands back pack program. Pastor Laurie reminded the club they can also give individually (giving forms on the tables).

• Craig K. was presented with two plaques for serving two terms as Rotary President.

Jerry H. was the program chair. He shared many newspaper articles, etc. regarding his families participating in wars. Between Jerry H. and his four brothers, they have 64 years of service! Well done! His great grandfather on his mother’s side served in the Civil War as well as his uncle serving the same war. He shared a letter about his family member, Milburn Henke – sharing Milburn’s life – including service in the war.

Milburn was born in 1918 on a farm in Minnesota. The family opened a café on Main Street. He worked in the well drilling business and later at the café.

In 1940, he enlisted in the National Guard – he was 22 years old. It was supposed to be 1 year of training, but it turned into 4 years, 11 months and 5 days of service. On Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and their regiment was sent to Camp Fort Barancas to guard the Florida coast. They were known as “foot soldiers,” and in Europe they called them Dough boys and Yanks.

January 14, 1942, they landed on an English ship, the Strathaird. They entered Belfast, North Ireland Harbor on January 26, 1942. He had the opportunity to meet Eleanor Roosevelt at a Red Cross Center, as well as meeting the Queen of England.

They left Liverpool for North Africa and arrived January 3, 1943. Some of the worst battles were Fondouk Pass, Hill 320 and Hill 609. He was awarded The Silver Star for bravery under fire. The 34th Red Bull Division lost more men than any other division in the European conflict. In a letter he wrote home to his family, he said, There is no glamour in war and don’t ever let those war movies at home make you think there is. Every guy out there is scared stiff and nine out of ten will admit it, the other guy is a liar. . . If you stay in a foxhole and get a heavy shelling, you begin to pray and more sincere prayers never came than those from the boys in the foxholes. Boys that never knew what religion was, learned in a hurry!

September of 1943, he broke his back when a jeep weapon’s carrier overturned and the gun mount went across his back. After 3 months he could work and he drove a car for a General and worked in a library.

He left North Africa in July, 1944, arrived in New York and went home by train. August 20, 1944 he married Iola Christensen. He was honorably discharged on August 25, 1945. He had 3 children, then later, 4 grandchildren.

After his service, he continued to make his living in the restaurant business. He opened his own café in 1949.

He and Iola celebrated 53 years of marriage before he passed away from pancreatic cancer on April 26, 1998 at the age of 79.

Thank you, Jerry.

President Bill F. reminded the club of a Cracker Barrel at Valley Pump, Saturday, Feb. 8 at 9 a.m.

We then closed in our usual fashion by singing “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”

The meeting was adjourned.

Sgt. at Arms (Scott M.) levied the following fines:

• $2 Jerry W. for making a comment last week about woman landowners.

• $1 Bryan S. for his phone alarm going off last week.

• $1 Laurie K., Scott M., Jerry W., and Joe S. for being die hard Chiefs fans!

• $1 Laurie K. for seeking a Chief’s t-shirt from Rachel W. (Apparel Works)

• $1 Jordan W. and Jamie S. for once again sitting by each other.

• $5 Jeff D. for claiming he wins the yearly predictions, but yet when he brought in a bag full of Rotary stuff (after cleaning out HIS stuff at home), there is a flash drive labeled “Predictions” Happy Fines:

• $2 Amanda B. – just happy!

• $2 Bryan S. – for once again being in the top 60 CEO’s of rural hospitals