I am very pleased that David Roske attended the ceremony in Wilder Park at the Elmhurst Veterans Memorial following the parade. Many residents come to the parade but leave before the ceremony that is held in memory of our veterans. A great deal of time and energy is spent organizing the program.

Mr. Ronske, however, should to check his facts.

First, the names John Quigley read were the names of Elmhurst veterans who have died since Veterans Day on Nov. 11, 2007. It has become the custom that twice a year, on Memorial Day and again on Veterans Day, Mr. Quigley reads the names of all known Elmhurst veterans who have been laid to rest from one of the three funeral homes in Elmhurst.

The funeral homes provide the names. The Elmhurst American Legion T.H.B. Post No. 187 adds to that list the names of any of its members who have died and who were not buried via the Elmhurst funeral homes.

The names are not solely the names of soldiers who have been killed in action. If a veteran is not a member of the post and was not buried via one of the funeral homes in Elmhurst, there is no way for Mr. Quigley to know who they are unless he is contacted by a family member or friend.

Secondly, the “B” in T.H.B. Post No. 187 is not for Fred Buckholz. Though Mr. Buckholz was a hero serving during World War II, the “B” in T.H.B. Post No. 187 is for Buck, not Buckholz.

Kinsley Buck was an Elmhurst resident who was killed in action on June 19, 1918. The Elmhurst American Legion T.H.B. Post No. 187 was organized in 1919 by World War I veterans in memory of their three comrades who were killed in action, long before World War II.

“T” in the name is for Ernest Timrott, U.S. Marine Corps, killed in action June 3, 1918; “H” is for Richard Hintz, U.S. Army, killed in action July 19, 1918; and “B” is for Kinsley Buck as stated above.

While our thanks and condolences go to the families Mr. Ronske mentioned in his letter, I am sure that he would agree that it would be impossible to read at the two ceremonies the names of each and every Elmhurst veteran who has died, and this is something that should be known to the people of Elmhurst.

Elaine K. Jason, past president, Elmhurst American Legion Auxiliary T.H.B. Unit No. 187

I would like to respond to the recent letter of David Ronske published in Elmhurst Press on June 13:
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Every year at the Memorial Day after parade ceremony, John Quigley reads the names of the veterans who have passed away since the last Memorial Day ceremony. To name all the individuals as suggested by Mr. David Ronske would take the better part of the day. And while we all respect the memories of all those who (acted as) heroes, it would not be practical.

As a member of the Elmhurst American Legion T.H.B. Post No. 187 and as a past commander, I would like to clarify the significance of the three initials “THB.” They stand for the last names of the first three Elmhurst residents to die in World War I: Ernest Timrott, Richard Hintz and Kinsley Buck.

Our post was founded in 1919.

Dante Laudati, Vietnam veteran, past commander, American Legion T.H.B. Post No. 187

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I have just read the letter from Mr. David Ronske in the June 13 issue and would like to correct some erroneous information.

This post was chartered shortly after World War I. The letters “T.H.B.” in the name are in memory of the first three Elmhurst residents to be killed in that war. The “B” represents Kinsley Buck, not the Buchholz brothers as he mentions. The back cover of our monthly newsletter explains:

“A few World War I veterans from Elmhurst met in 1919 and, together, organized American Legion T.H.B. Post 187 to honor the memory of three of their Elmhurst comrades who were the first from our city to give their lives in defense of our country.

Ernest Timrott, killed in action June 3, 1918, Marines; Richard Hintz, killed in action July 19, 1918, Army; Kinsley Buck, killed in action June 19, 1918, Marines. It is for God and country, and the memory of these — as well as the thousands of others who answered our nation’s call to arms — that we dedicate our efforts.”

If Mr. Ronske would care to learn more about our Post, I know they would welcome him.

Mary Anne Boehm, secretary, American Legion Auxiliary T.H.B. Unit 187