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Home My WebLink About9/17/2014 - STAFF REPORTS - 00 Wednesday, September 17, 2014 Good evening everybody. I'm Lee Wilson Jr., CCHS World and U.S. history teacher and historian for the Palm Springs American Legion. Did you see last Saturday's editorial in the Desert Sun? They gave a "Thumbs Up" for the Walk of Heroes! I spoke with the city manager briefly by phone. Mr. Ready and I will meet next week, Weds, Sept 24 at 4pm here at city hall. We will hammer out the details for displaying our 27 fallen hero banners. I really, really want to say THANK YOU to the city for finally jumping on board with this project. If nothing else, this project will only bring praise, accolades, and honor to our city. Hopefully, it will have a synergetic effect and spread to other desert cities for them to honor their fallen heroes. Although Cathedral City and Desert Hot Springs are on board, whenever you meet with other city officials, PLEASE spread the word about how Palm Springs is leading the way in doing the right thing by honoring our heroes with banners. When you see these displayed, you will be very proud of what you did. As you know, I am also a "Union Goon" for the Palm Springs Teachers Association. One of my many duties with PSTA is to round up veteran teachers to ride a fire truck during the Veterans Day Parade. A couple of years ago, I made it my mission to honor my two former students, Ming Sun, KIA Iraq and Suresh Abayasekara Krause, KIA Afghanistan. This year will be a bit different: This year we will have family members of our fallen heroes ride the fire truck to be honored for their sacrifices. At this time I have at least six families participating: Allison and Zhi Feng Sun, sister and mother of Ming Sun Suzette and Brian Krause, parents of Suresh Krause Kitty Kieley Hayes, niece of Owen Coffman Eugene Prieto, nephew of Roaul Prieto Robert and Herbert Lienau, brother and nephew of Herbert H. Lienau And Mr. and Mrs. Levin, parents of Robert Phillip Levin I've been in contact with Congressman Ruiz's office. I am meeting with members of his staff next week for the congressman to do something special for the families. I formally request that the city of Palm Springs do something nice too: a formal proclamation honoring the families, or some sort of "shout out" during the parade, something special for them. These are examples of the fire truck banners we will use during the parade. Thanks again to PSTA for providing the funds and fire truck to make this possible. Finally, on behalf of the Palm Springs American Legion, please have these pictures and biographies of our 27 fallen heroes. I'm not asking for these to be hung in the mayor's office, or in the entrance way, but I'm sure that there is an empty conference room, meeting room, someplace that the city can display these. Feel free to frame them! Thank you very much! Lee Wilson Jr. h-760 327 6217 c-760 413 0218 Iwilson .dc.rr.com 223 N. Monterey Rd., Palm Springs, 92262 Thumbs up: Honoring our fallen heroes Page 1 of 2 Thumbs up: Honoring our fallen heroes Desert Sun editorial board 6,29 p.m.PDT September 12,2014 ' Pilo.. Lee Wilson,a history leacher at Cathedral City High School, has launched a campaign to hang banners in Pt fi' {Ir honor of all 27 Palm Springs residents who died in service to their country,the Fallen Hero Banner Project. _ Susie Del Toro of La Quinta is leading a similar effort in the east valley called the Freedom Flags for Families Initiative. What great ideas. (Photo.Marlyn Chung/The Desert Wilson found research on some of the servicemen easy,such as Owen Coffman, namesake of Palm Springs Sun) American Legion Post 519 where Wilson serves as historian.Coffman,the grandson of Palm Springs pioneer Nellie Coffman,was a B-17 pilot who was killed in in 1944. Others were more challenging,such as the story of Marine Sgt.Allen R. Hall Jr., a 1942 Palm Springs High School graduate who also was killed in 1944, He couldn't find his division, battalion or cause of death. He eventually determined that Hall was aboard the LISS Colorado when it was struck by kamikazes. The hardest part is finding photos. If you have information about those who made the ultimate sacrifice,or want more information about the Fallen Hero Banner Project,contact Lee Wilson Jr. at(760)327-6217 or Iwilson@dc.rr.com For information about the Freedom Flags for Families Initiative in the east valley,contact Susie Del Toro at(760)567-0706 or susiedeltaro.elsol@gmaii.com Read or Share this story:http://desert.sn/ltK8CII w6ie an exclusive inside view of 1 ril l - I1111'il� 1 MORE STORIES A You've ant issues?Tell us aboutthem (/story/ooini on/editori al s/2014/08/13/eomm unity- conversations- chaneine/14032601/1 (/sto rv/ooin ion/editori als/2014/08/13/com m u nirv- convemations-changing/14032601/1 Au&13,2014,6:14 p.m. http://www.desertsun.com/story/opinion/editorials/2014/09/12/honoring-fallen-heroes/15543779/ 9/17/2014