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Show SPANISH FORK Covering what matters most A6 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2009 American Legion honors members Namon Bills EDITOR On Wednesday, Feb. 11, American Legion Post 68 awarded the American Legion Medal of Merit and Citation of Meritorious Service to Carvel Mitchell and Thad Jensen. They also heard reports from five high school seniors who attended Boys State last year. Carvel "Mitch" Mitchell is a US Navy veteran of World War II. He enlisted June 17, 1944 and served on the USS Wasatch in the South Pacific until he was discharged in 1946. Mitchell served as an engineer on a landing craft attached to the Wasatch, and participated in campaigns in the Philippines, New Guinea, China and Japan. Mitchell has served with the American Legion for over 63 years, including over 40 years on the honor guard, providing military rites at veterans' funerals. Mitchell was married to Margaret Swenson for 69 years until her death in 2004. They had three children, 18 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He married Corinne Gabbidas in 2005. Thad S. Jensen served in the US Army 1 lth Airborne Division during the Korean War. After his release from active duty in 1955, Jensen joined the Utah National Guard, where he served for 25 years. Jensen has been a member of Post 68 for 10 years, and has been active, in the American Legion organization, serving as District 4 Commander, Department of Utah Vice Commander, Department of Utah Commander and Delegation Chairman to the American Legion National Convention. He currently serves as the Area 2 Commander and as a member of the Post 68 Executive Committee. Jensen has also been ac- tive in civic affairs. He has chaired the Fiesta Days Committee and the Spanish Fork City Planning Board. Jensen also helped establish the annual Flag Retirement Ceremony held each July as part of the Fiesta Days celebration. He and his wife, Diane, have been married 55 years. They have four children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Thomas Phillips, John Christiansen, Ryan Hyatt, Dominic Bills and Jace Brown each spoke to the Legionnaires about their experiences at Boys State this past summer. They all said they had a positive experience getting to know participants from around the AWARDED: Carvel Mitchell, center, receives the Medal of Merit and Citation of Meritostate and learning about pa- rious Service from Post Commander John Williams and Executive Committee member triotism and local and state Thad Jensen. ••-—^"' . \ government. Each of the boys served in various positions. Phillips was elected governor, and, as such, will return to preside over Boys State in 2009. Namon Bills / Spanish Fork News LESSONS IN GOVERNMENT: Boys State participants reported to Post 68 on their experiences. Pictured, left to right, are Thomas Phillips, John Christiansen, Ryan Hyatt, Do mi- • HONORED: Post Commander John Williams presents Thad Jensen with the Medal of ?, .,,: ^ nic Bills a n d Jace Brown. •• :j»s h y i r , . , • „ , . n u - • . , - ( ; <;:y>:^ ;..•• c : ;-.•'•: •:•>:•!.(':;':_; ' /jyieri^and Citation of MeritoriousService. T'fft -yii\: ' • > r l - . '.•:' -v Veterans can now salute the flag Missionaries Logan Ward Bryson Banks Elder Bryson Banks, Elder Logan Ward, has has been called to serve been called to serve in the in the Roseville CaliArcadia California Mission fornia Mission for the (Mandarin Chinese SpeakChurch of Jesus Christ ing) for the Church of Jeof Latter-day Saints. sus Christ of Latter-day Bryson will speak in the Saints. Logan will speak in Meadowlark 2nd Ward the Meadowlark 2nd Ward located at 870 E Canyon located at 870 E Canyon Rd Spanish Fork on Feb. Rd Spanish Fork on Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. All friends 22 at 1 p.m. All friends and family are welcome and family are welcome to attend. Bryson is the to attend. Logan is the son son of Jeffery and Kay of Michael Ward Spanish Banks and the grandson fork and Tami Rowberry of Evelyn Robbins. He Tooele. Grandparents are Dono and Barbara Finn He will enter the MTC on will enter the MTC on March 11,2009. and Doug and Laree Ward March 4, 2009. For years, Veterans have wanted to salute the U.S. flag during the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem instead of just placing their hand over their heart. Now they can. ; v ' <:- '.;i;":'"" - ^ - ' ^ V j ^ - -, A Congressional Amendment sponsored by Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 specifically states that "members of the Armed Forces and Veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute." Veterans can salute the flag during the National Anthem as well as during "the hoisting, lowering and passing of the flag." ' •• . •' "The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing pride in .one's military service," said Inhofe. "Veterans and service members continue representing the military services even when not in uniform. The U.S. Code is now consistent for Veterans and all service members in regards to symbolic gesture of the military salute." Spanish Fork's Richard Banks said it is a great honor for local veterans to be able to honor the flag with a military salute even when they're not in uniform. As chaplain for Post 68( Banks said there are many veterans who attend funerals of fallen comrades who will now be able to salute the flag during the military rites. : - DKDAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY.COM 801.318.9907 SPECIALIZING IN GRUNGE PHOTOGRAPHY |