Memorial Day tradition continues in Naz

While their numbers may be dwindling, members of the Francis Wilhelm Memorial American Legion Post 528 at Nazareth still held to tradition on Memorial Day, May 30.

With a sunrise flag raising ceremony, a reading of the necrology of the 131 deceased members of their Post during Mass at Holy Family Church, a 21-gun salute to the fallen by the Post honor guard at Holy Family Cemetery, and the sounding of Taps to the corners of the village to mark the holiday honoring those who gave all in service to country.

The early morning ceremonies were followed by a breakfast at the Nazareth Community Hall, pressed into service while the Post home is undergoing remodeling.

Post Commander Clyde Schulte and Angie Milton of the American Legion Auxiliary presented an encased wall hanging flag to the family of William C. “Junior” Hochstein, one of the last of the Post’s World War II veterans, who died August 6, 2021 at the age of 97, holding with the tradition of presenting flags to families of members of the post who have passed since the last Memorial Day observance. Larry Hochstein, eldest son, accepted the flag on behalf of his family.

Charlie Hill, who marked his 99th birthday May 31, is Post 528’s last surviving veteran of World War II.

William C. Hochstein was a rifleman in Company E, 20th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army and served in Luzon in the South Philippines.

“According to some family members, he was messing around with the bugle one day. One of the officers heard him and commented that he was a better bugler than the one the outfit had, so from then on, he was the new bugler,” said Schulte.

Hochstein received commendations including an Asiatic/Pacific Theater Ribbon with two bronze stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with a bronze star, the Good Conduct Medal, the Army Occupation Ribbon, and the Japan Victory Ribbon with three Overseas Service Bars.

He was honorably discharged from the separation center on October 26, 1946.

He married Catherine Schacher in 1949 and they raised 13 children.

“Junior was an original charter member of American Legion Post 528 in Nazareth, with the charter signed by 63 charter members on December 7, 1947, six years to the day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He was a past Post Commander,” said Schulte. “He and James Wilhelm folded the casket flag for the funerals of roughly 50 members, and he was a member of Post 528 70-plus years.”

Past Commander Bob Schulte reported that Post 528 is shifting from sending students to boys and girls state, and the Nazareth American Legion is sponsoring one of two scholarships.

Former Castro County Veterans Service Officer Donna Gerber commented on the vacant POW/MIA table that is set for all Post 528 functions. She urged those in attendance to “remember all of those from all branches of the military who deal with multiple injuries of body and mind. Many World War I and World War II veterans came home and struggled to survive.”