Thursday, September 15th, 2022
4 names to be added to memorial
By Leslie Gartrell
Photo by Leslie Gartrell/The Daily Standard
Four Minster men who died while serving in the U.S. Army will be honored during a dedication ceremony Sunday.
MINSTER - Four Minster men who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the military will soon be permanently recognized in the village.
The Minster Sons of American Legion invite the public and all veterans to a dedication ceremony honoring the men at Centennial Veterans Memorial Park on East Fourth Street at 1 p.m. Sunday.
During the dedication, volunteers will install four black granite blocks with the names, photos and backgrounds of the four soldiers.
The men served in the U.S. Army and were all in their 20s when they died, according to information provided by Jim Harting.
"This whole thing is so they are never forgotten, period," Harting said. "They didn't get their dues for serving their country."
Harting, a Vietnam War veteran, and fellow veteran Bill Meiring helped coordinate the project spearheaded by Minster American Legion Post 387.
The soldiers fought in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Those to be honored include Cpl. Walter J. Schulte, 23, who served during World War I. He was assigned to the American Army of Occupation after the war ended on Nov. 11, 1918, and died of pneumonia on Feb. 17, 1919.
Pfc. William Thieman Jr., 22, served in World War II and was wounded in Germany on Dec. 13, 1944. He died the following day.
Sgt. Anthony Leo Knapke, 25, who served in both World War II and the Korean War, was taken prisoner on July 16, 1950. He was forced to march to North Korean on the "Tiger Death March." He was reported killed on Nov. 4, 1950, by a guard during the march. His remains were never recovered.
Cpl. Vernon J. Seger, 20, served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He and nine other troops in his unit were killed on Oct. 24, 1969, when they came under enemy grenade and small arms fire.
The roughly $7,000 project was funded through donations, Harting said. The project has been in the works since November.
With the help of the Minster Historical Society, family members of the men were located and invited to attend the dedication by personal invitation. Harting said they received 155 responses.
Each soldier will have their individual black granite marker placed atop the existing veterans' memorial. The customary 21 gun salute will be given by the Minster American Legion Post 387 and the Minster Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6432.
The national anthem will be sung by the St. Augustine Men's Choir and Taps will be performed by the Kuenning family.
