by Dr. Larry Moses
No one asked me but…She leans on her walker as she stands looking down at the small marble marker, reading LESLIE H ROSEBERRY, IOWA, PVT 334 INF 84 INF DIV, MARCH 22 1911 JAN 23 1945. A second marble marker is there. ROSEBERRY, BESSIE 1914-1945 LESLIE H 1911-1945, the names are separated by a cross.
She remembers as a young girl that little ever separated these two, her mother and father. There was little money but an abundance of love.
She has been coming here for nearly sixty years to honor her mother and father she lost when she was thirteen. She lost her father to a German shell in Belgium in World War II and her mother six months later. Doctors said her mother died of liver cancer, but she chooses to believe it was a broken heart. This will be the first year none of her sisters will be joining her. She buried one sister two years ago and one last year. Her son is with her as he has been for most of his fifty years of life. He has always helped decorate the graves of the grandparents he never met but who have left their marks in his genes as his physical appearance can not deny the relationship. The flowers will be placed and minutes to reminisce will take place. She will probably remember things better than they were, but that is the privilege of the old.
Iowa’s largest newspaper the DES MOINES REGISTER’S reported the reburial of her father in 1948, three years after his death, under the headline: 6 Children Give G.I. Father Last Good-by at the Grave, with a byline for Lulu Mae Coe as follows:
Six young children Wednesday said their last “good-by” to a father who died for his country. The little blond-girl with the blue bow in her hair was too young to remember the daddy who went to war but that memory and the sorrow of death lay in the eyes of her older brothers and sisters.
After a long journey from Belgium, where he was killed in action Jan. 23, 1945, Pvt. Leslie Harley Roseberry – 33 when he died – was brought back to his boyhood home in Bondurant.
He rests now in the quiet tree-shaded Bondurant cemetery lying beside his wife, Elizabeth. Her death six months after Private Roseberry’s death orphaned the six childr
en. Mrs. Roseberry just before her death had made two requests – that her husband’s body be returned and that her children not be separated. Memorial services for Private Roseberry were at the White Funeral Home, 1204 Grand ave. The flag covered coffin was placed between tall arrangements of spring flowers.
On one side was the American flag, on the other the blue and gold banner of Baldwin-Patterson Post No. 274 American Legion which conducted the graveside services.
The Rev. Tom Foglesong pastor of Capitol Hill Christian church, paid tribute to Private Roseberry, who had given up so much because of obligations to his country. He asked a blessing on those who were left, the little children, and the aged, the soldier’s father and mother.
Born in Craddock, Mo. Private Roseberry had spent much of his life in Des Moines, where he had been employed by the Kucharo Construction Co. He was a member of the Christian church at Bondurant. He enlisted in March 1944, was trained as an infantryman at Camp Roberts, Cal. And went overseas in September, 1944.
During the service, the older children listened intently as though memorizing the words about soldiers of the Lord and man. One small dark-haired son bowed his head sharply during the prayer. The smaller ones wiggled occasionally, but most sat quiet, remote from the war, death and sorrow.
Pallbearers were Sgt. David F. Seely, Columbia, Mo., who escorted the body from Kansas City, Mo., and Baldwin-Patterson post members. They carried the coffin between the flags, billowing easily under the warm summer sun, to place it among the floral offerings.
Following the formal post ritual, Sergeant Seely presented the American flag from the casket to Private Roseberry’s father, Thomas Roseberry, 80 of Craddock, Mo., “in appreciation and gratitude of a grateful nation.” Mrs. Roseberry was too ill to come.
The post firing squad saluted their comrade and from far over the hills came the soft promise of the taps- day is done, all is well. Private Roseberry’s six children, blonde, brunette and red-haired, sturdy, serious, looked at the coffin slowly being lowered. Each chose a red carnation for the tangible memory none ever will lose.
Their mother had asked that Private Roseberry be returned. She had asked that the six be kept together. Both are true.
Memorial Day is coming and it is time to remember those who gave their lives so we can live free. I see where we have decided to make it more comfortable for us by moving the date of Memorial Day so we can have a long week-end. I suppose that is alright as long as sometime in those three days we find time to stop and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I know the lady with the walker will be at the graveside of Leslie H. Roseberry and she will eventually ask her son to help her back to his car and with tears in her eyes she will return to her apartment and think thoughts of what is and what might have been.
Gold Star Award… I have not given a Gold Star for quite awhile but I believe this is an appropriate time to honor both the American Legion Post 75 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8836 for all they do for the community’s veterans specifically, and for the community in general.
When one of our veterans is buried, these men stop what they are doing and rally to the side of the widow. They become an integral part of the ceremony celebrating the lives of these fallen heroes. It is always moving to see comrades in arms honoring those who have fallen among them. Memorial Day is coming and the members of these two veterans groups will be busy helping us remember those who have sacrificed on the field of honor as well as those who came home to contribute to the communities they left to defend.
Last Saturday American Legion Post 75 held a Tank Day to help raise funds for the 4th of July celebration we all enjoy so much. I hope you took time to stop and donate as we will all enjoy the fireworks this summer as we celebrate the birth of our country.
The nation will be celebrating Memorial Day this week-end and both veterans’ organizations will be busy. The flags you see throughout the community and cemeteries will be there because these men took the time to put them there.
The American Legion will have a flag raising ceremony at the Tank in Overton on Saturday, May 24 at 7:00 am. If you have not been to see one of these, it is well worth the time.
The VFW will conduct a flag ceremony at the Pioneer Cemetery on Monday evening May 26 at 7:30 pm. This is also an event worth attending.
On the actual Memorial Day, May 30, the VFW will be raising flags and lowering them to half mast in the morning. They will return at noon and raise them again, they will then lower the flags at sundown as prescribed by law.
These veterans are to be commended for reminding the rest of us of the sacrifices so many Americans have made to make it possible for us to enjoy the freedoms of this country.
Thought of the week… I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me. -Lee Greenwood
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