Veterans reflect on sacrifices

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By Mary Louise Speer | Sunday, November 12, 2006 1:01 AM CST | () comments

Veteran Larry Axtell of Davenport — a member of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 776 — silently reflected on his family tradition of military service during the Bettendorf Veterans Memorial Rededication on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park in Bettendorf.

During 12 years of service, his son was involved in five wars from aboard on the USS Enterprise, the Navy’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Axtell is actively involved in three honor guards and participates in 21-gun salutes on special occasions. But possibly his deepest example of what serving truly means comes from his father.

“My father was a prisoner of war for 13 months in Saipan during World War II,” he said. “I’d ask him and he’d say ‘I don’t want to talk about it.’ They beat him with bamboo. He was in a bamboo cage. He ate out of a pig trough and he helped his other fellow prisoners survive.”

Saipan is located in the the Northern Mariana Islands of the Pacific Ocean. His father carried the remembrances of those harsh conditions for the rest of his days in the welts on his back and inner scars, Axtell said. “I lost him in 2001. It was an honor to have a father like that and I’m carrying on the family tradition,” he said.

Bettendorf Mayor Mike Freemire, the son of a World War II veteran, addressed the crowd, talking about the dedication of the memorial in 2003 and today’s political scene on the issue of the United States’ engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Millions of Americans have served in active duty in the five branches of the military, he said. These same individuals, alive and deceased, became veterans after their time in uniform ended, he said.

“Today in our short century we have a tremendous conflict underway,” he said. The realities of terrorism range far beyond the brief glimpses shown on TV and many men and women have stepped forward to be to be part of the fight, he said.

“The war in Iraq is not just a policy issue. Tell that to the widow, tell that to the child whose mother or father did not come home in New York (after 9-11),” he said. “It is not just a policy issue to them. I find it insulting that we would think it’s a political football. Our freedoms are not just a political football.”

He challenged people to take a deeper look at the realities of saying they support the troops but not the war. “We will honor our servicemen and women but we will despise what they do? How does that do a service to our servicemen?” he said.

“To each and every one of you who have served, thank you.”

Arlen Beck, commander of the Vietnam Veterans of America, talked about a recent conversation with a Navy friend who had just returned from Iraq. The friend described his comrades and men as patriots.

“The word patriot binds us all together in brotherhood,” Beck said.

The impetus for Bettendorf’s memorial came from Virgil “Bud” Dillon of Eldridge. “I wanted a beautiful memorial that the city would be proud of, the memorial committee and the residents would be proud of,” he said.

The design and layout of the memorial remains true to the original vision.

“I’m conservative, out of the Depression era, and I wanted to go with white stone,” he said. “But the committee talked me out of it and I’m glad they did. It’s a beautiful memorial.”

The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2450 or newsroom@qctimes.com.

How you can get involved

Veterans who are current or past residents of Bettendorf can have their names inscribed on the memorial pillars. The Veterans Memorial committee plans to put up a kiosk in the future to help people with locating the names.

For more information about the memorial go to: http://www.bettendorf.org/parks/parks.htm and click Veterans Memorial Pillars.