MEDALS — Sisters Sandy Hill, left, of Hickory, Pa., and Wendy Golightly of Carlisle, Pa., attended the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Museum and Education Center’s open house and commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the ending of World War II on Saturday at the Brooke County Library. The event posthumously honored their father, Technician Fourth Grade Jules “Skinny” LeMal, whose medals and ribbons were stolen during a robbery. The women contacted the museum, where director and curator Jim Brockman said his board stepped up and officials were able to replace what was lost to his family. -- Julie Stenger

WELLSBURG — Veterans stationed in the Pacific during World War II were honored and remembered Saturday during an open house and special Veterans Day service held at the Brooke County Public Library.

Approximately two dozen people gathered inside the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Museum and Education Center to join in marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the war with the surrender of the Japanese.

Officials noted the library’s museum houses the largest collection of memorabilia related to Allied Forces who defended the Philippine Islands.

Richard Lizza, who serves as president of the museum’s board, welcomed those gathered at the museum, as well as representatives participating live in Japan.

“We are simulcasting with the Nishiki Secret Base Museum in Japan, where it is 11 p.m. right now,” explained James Brockman, curator of the museum. “They have graciously stayed up to transmit with us back and forth, so that we can all recognize veterans today.”

A CHANCE TO REMEMBER — Richard Lizza, left, president of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Museum and Education Cente, was joined by museum director and curator Jim Brockman to help commemorate the 80th anniversary of the ending of World War II on Saturday. The men pointed out a special gift given by those with the Nishiki Secret Base Museum in Japan, who joined the open house event through an online simulcast. The commemorative gift given for the occasion was 1,000 origami cranes. In Japan, it is given with wishes for longevity, happiness and peace. It was created by the visitors and the town’s school students. Japanese officials asked that it be decorated. -- Julie Stenger

Participants included Director Tomoharu Teshiba, Deputy Director Mako Hiramotop, museum callaborators Hiroki Ishiguro and Kazuhide Nagazumi and Shinichi Nakayama and Tony Takahashi of the NPO Save the Asian Monuments.

An introduction of those who have donated their military family member’s items to the museum began Saturday’s event.

Lizza introduced the family members of Allan Michie, Dennis Mann, Debbie Lawson and Donald Roulett, along with Joe Vater Jr., descendant of Pfc. Joe Vater Sr., who served in the Air Corps, and Susan Cunningham, descendant of Seaman Paul A Cunningham, who served in the Navy.

Roulett, along with Glenn R. Townsend and Jules “Skinny” LeMal, were honored posthumously on Saturday.

Roulett was a member of the Army Air Corps’ 27th Bomber Squad who survived the Bataan Death March. Approximately 70,000 Americans and Filipinos were captured by the Japanese and forced to walk the Bataan Death March, a 65-mile trek in which many died by succumbing to disease, starvation, extreme heat or because they were killed by their captors. Those who survived the march and reached its destination as prisoners of war, were forced to work under similar conditions.

80TH ANNIVERSARY MARKED — Jim Brockman, curator and director of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Museum and Education Center, located inside the Brooke County Library in Wellsburg, spoke to dozens of guests and those joining through simulcast overseas at the Nishiki Secret Base Museum in Japan on Saturday. An open house was held, along with a special Veterans Day service marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. -- Julie Stenger

Townsend was a colonel in the Army, a commanding officer of the 11th Infantry Division in the Philippines.

Townsend surrendered with the other troops and was sent to the Tarlac Prisoner of War Camp. He then was sent on the Nagara Maru Hell ship to the Mukden POW Camp, where he spent three-and-a-half years. He survived the war and returned to the states, retiring as a full colonel.

During the event, medals and ribbons were presented to the family of Technician Fourth Grade Jules “Skinny” LeMal, an ordnanceman in the Army.

LeMal served in Pearl Harbor, Central Pacific and Western Pacific and fought in the Battle of Okinawa. He was responsible for ensuring the weapons systems, vehicles and equipment were ready, available and in perfect condition at all times. He managed the development, testing, fielding, handling, storage and disposal of munitions.

Brockman said that although LeMal survived the war and returned to the states, all of the medals and ribbons he had earned while serving, had been stolen.

Brockman was contacted by LeMal’s daughters, Sandy Hill of Hickory, Pa., and Wendy Golightly of Carlisle, Pa., about the loss.

“My board stepped up and today we would like to honor Skinny and present his medals to his family,” Brockman stated.

“This really means a lot to us,” Hill said. “Our dad never talked about the war with us. We didn’t know too much except Pearl Harbor and that he was with the American Legion and attended all of their events and conventions.”

“Wendy was interested in finding out how to get his medals back and without Jim, we had no idea of how to go about getting them,” Hill continued. “We were able to identify which medals and ribbons he had received and they had duplicates they presented to us. We are very grateful. Our dad was a very proud veteran.”

Other members of LeMal’s family who attended the presentation and honored him posthumously included his grandson, Kevin Hill of Hickory. His other grandchildren, Tim Golightly and Michelle Bollinger of Carlisle, were thankful for the museum’s help in keeping these treasures with the family.

Guests listened as Lizza commented on how he regrets not asking more questions of family members who fought during times of war.

“It is our generation’s job to ask those questions,” he said, adding he loves listening to stories. He noted his grandfather was a humble man, and didn’t speak about his time in the service, which is why we need to ask these questions so they will not be lost forever.

Brockman agreed, saying we are remembering the greatest generation.

Lizza thanked those in Japan for joining in the commemoration, saying, “There are many years of cooperation between our institutions, and we are very happy to see you again. We look forward to the time when we can all be in the same room together and perhaps come up with one name for both of our museums.”

Prior to lunch being served and a visit to the outdoor displays and tour of the museum, which included the Japan American Society of Pittsburgh, military reenactors and the Philippine American Society of Pittsburgh, Lizza commented, “Today is a day of celebrating the end of the war and the beginning of peace, which we hope lasts and endures forever.”

“We are very pleased to honor and remember and reflect on what happened during this period of history,” Brockman concluded.