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Show -NEWS- Spanish Fork A6 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2008 Covering what matters most Eleven Utahns receive certification in community development Eleven Utah individuals received certification in organization and artsbased community development through the Utah Arts Council's Change Leader program in May. The Change Leader program provides professional training, access to a growing network of arts and culture industry professionals throughout the state, technical assistance, and the eligibility to apply for the Utah Arts Council's Creative Community funding. The newly certified Change Leaders live in Escalante, Gunnison, Helper, Logan, Roosevelt, Orem, Salt Lake City and Spanish Fork (see list below). They join approximately 59 others who have completed the professional training program since its inception in 2005. "This group of dedicated Utahns believes in taking a direct approach to making their home towns and cities enjoyable, more livable places," said Margaret Hunt, Executive Director of the Utah Arts Council. "The Change Leader program creates community leaders in arts and culture. 2008 Certified Change Leaders: Amanda Castillo, Cache Valley Center for the Arts, Logan, Cache County Bjorn Pendleton, Spanish Fork Arts Council, Spanish Fork, Utah County Michele Catten, Utah Art Smart Kids Corporation, Roosevelt, Duchesne County Janet Low, Orem City Arts Council, Orem, Utah County Jill Mecham, Utah Department of Community & Culture, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County Lori Nay, Casino Star Theatre Foundation, Gunnison, Sanpete County Clive Romney, Utah Pioneer Heritage Arts, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County Lisa Sewell, Utah Arts Festival, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County Melanie Steele, Helper Arts & Music Festival, Helper Arts Council, Helper, Carbon County Dana Waggoner, Envision Escalante, Escalante, Garfield County Katie Woslager, Utah Arts Council, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County These professionals are now equipped with the tools necessary to make projects happen in their communities. They have the ability to develop strategic partnerships and can negotiate positive change." To achieve certification, participants are required to attend a week-long training conference, as well as complete and present the results of a related project within one year. In order to maintain certification, Change Leaders must attend a selection of networking events, educational training programs, and participate in discussions in the program's online forum each year. To find out more about the Change Leader program, contact Anna Boulton, Community Development Program Manager, at 801-236-7546 or email aboulton@utah.gov. Additional information can be found on the Utah Arts Council website at arts. utah.gov. The Utah Arts Council is part of the Division of Arts and Museums within the Utah Department of Community and Culture. Luxurious Townhomes in Salem starting at $l84,QOO Choose from many options: • Fully landscaped • Stucco and stone exterior • Solid surface countertops and surrounds • Jetted tubs in master bath • Attached garages • Raised panel cabinets • Several floor plans Model now open! For information call: Sarah (801) 404-7186 or Yolanda (801) 404-1078 Financed by: ib Real EMatr LLC CENTRAL B A N K HOMES News about people you know. By people you know Courtesy photo THEN AND NOW: Richard Banks is pictured below in uniform during WWII. Banks and his wife, Margie, above, have been married over 50 years. Veteren remembers Finest Hour Christy Hardman Richard Banks served in France and Germany during World War II, and spent three months as a prisoner of war. Banks was drafted in 1944. He was 18 years old, had only recendy graduated from high school, and had been working with his father on the family farm when the draft notice came. He went to Fort Douglas, then Camp Walter in Texas for 17 weeks. As soon as he turned 19, he was shipped overseas. He landed on Omaha Beach on Nov. 3, 1944. They went up through France and into Germany to the battle line. He was assigned to Company A 317 Infantry 80th Division, the third army under General Patton. He discovered first hand what war was like when he landed in Germany. 'There was a lot of disruption, anxiety and fighting." Banks' unit tried to push the Germans back into Germany. He was on the front lines until December 24, 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. On Christmas Day they were trying to take a small town in Luxemburg. He threw a hand grenade over the hedgerow, and the Germans on the other side threw an answering grenade. The shrapnel embedded itself into one of his sides. He still carries bits of it in him, and though it doesn't cause him pain, he still sustains some disability from it. By the time he returned to the United States, the wounds had healed over with the shrapnel still embedded in him. The doctors determined it was safer to leave it there where it had healed over rather than try to take it out. Banks was not seriously wounded. "I had multiple fragments in my shoulder, elbow, and down one side," he said. Banks said most of his wounds were like BB shots, and some larger and more serious than that. There were other soldiers with Banks when he was wounded. One of his friends was shot through the leg. "We lost a lot of men. We went through areas where whole towns were devastated. The towns were like cemeteries, and everything was rubble. All the buildings were knocked down, and people had to find whatever shelter they could," Banks said. After the exchange of grenades, the Germans came over the hedgerow and demanded their surrender. The Germans took him into Vielvach, Germany where he stayed for 60 days in a small prison camp. From there they transferred him to Limberg, Germany to a bigger prison camp. During all of this time, the Americans were fighting, and growing closer every day Since it was fairly late into the war by this time, the Germans were short on supplies. Food was scarce, and lice infested everything, including the beds and clothing. There was little to eat. Banks said the prisoners were given "something liquid" for breakfast, a weak soup for lunch, which Banks said was mostly broth, and for dinner they were given a couple of potatoes and a thick slice of bread. He said they could have all the water they wanted. Banks lost,* 20 lbs. over the 90 days he was a prisoner. In spite of the low rations, Banks said the German soldiers did not treat the prisoners badly. "They weren't going to be accountable for mistreated prisoners when the war was over," he said. Banks said that when the American's came too close to Limberg, the Germans moved the prisoners onto the train. They traveled two to three days until they hit tracks that had been bombed out, and then they made the prisoners get out and walk. Soon after that the Americans reached them, and Banks said it was such a relief to shower, change into clean clothes, and "have some American attention." Banks was in Paris on May 8, 1945 on VE Day. He said all the church bells in town were ringing, and everyone was celebrating when they announced that the Germans had surrendered. Through all the months of combat, imprisonment, and starvation, the soldiers had waited and prayed for that day. It was a day of joy. It meant they Richard Banks would soon be able to go home to their families. "Through everything we went through it was the thing we were always looking forward to," Banks said. Banks learned fasting life lessons from his time in the service, including an appreciation for democracy and the value of family. "The flag means a lot to me," Banks said, tearing up. Banks said he also learned an appreciation and gratitude for the abundance of food we enjoy in America. "We got pretty hungry over there. Even now I go down to Maceys and I'm just amazed at the abundance of food we have here," he said. He has passed these lessons on to his children. He and his wife raised seven children, have 36 grandchildren, and 65 greatgrandchildren. Banks said they all have a deep sense of patriotism, and respect for the flag. Banks still has his medals he earned for his service, including the purple heart, the bronze star, a prisoner of war medal, a year of operation, a combat and fishing badge. He also still has his dog tags with his good luck charm, his silver dollar with a hole drilled through it, still attached. When the Germans captured him, they took it off and passed it along. "I thought, well, there goes my dollar, but they gave it back," Banks said. When Banks's oldest son got his mission call to Canada, Banks brought out his silver dollar and gave it to him to wear during his service years. "That dollar has been a few places around the world,*' Banks said. • N E W S Spanish Fork Locally owned and operated |