World War II serviceman laid to rest in hometown of Monongahela
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
U.S. Navy veteran George Essay pays his respect at the casket of Sgt. Vernon L. Hamilton during a service at First Presbyterian Church in Monongahela.
By Harry Funk/Staff writer/hfunk@thealmanac.net
Lee Marshall, Vernon Hamilton’s cousin, attends the service.
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
Members of the community pay their respect to Sgt. Vernon Hamilton along the route to Monongahela Cemetery.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Jim Shaw, left, and Randy Ruff of the Patriot Guard Riders discuss logistics for the escort to Monongahela Cemetery.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
A member of the Patriot Guard Riders gets ready to provide an escort for Sgt. Vernon Hamilton.
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
U.S. Navy veterans salute Sgt. Vernon Hamilton.
As was the case with too many mothers during World War II, Dorothy Hamilton learned in March 1945 that her son’s whereabouts were unknown.
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
A photo of U.S. Army Air Corps Sgt. Vernon L. Hamilton (Oct. 3, 1925-March 21, 1945) is displayed during the service.
“For a long while after Vernon was declared missing, she left her door unlocked at night because she knew he was coming home,” her granddaughter, Shelley Atkins, said. Dorothy didn’t live to see it, “but her son has come home. And he’s been welcomed home by the town he loves.”
Atkins was among the speakers during a service Saturday at First Presbyterian Church in Monongahela, celebrating the life of U.S. Army Air Corps Sgt. Vernon L. Hamilton (1925-45), who was aboard an A-26B bomber that was hit by anti-aircraft fire over Germany in the waning days of the war in Europe.
Seventy-four years later, his remains arrived in his hometown for burial in Monongahela Cemetery.
In 1943, he and friend Donald Atkins (1925-2009), Shelley’s father-in-law, left high school early to enlist together.
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
Members of the Patriot Guard Riders stand outside First Presbyterian Church, along West Main Street in Monongahela, prior to the service.
“He turned 18 on the day he was sworn in, and he was asked if he wanted to wait six months to join. He answered, ‘No. I want to get started as soon as possible,'” she reported.
A few years ago, Atkins visited Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, where her uncle’s name is inscribed on the wall.
“I learned that Vern’s squadron supported ground troops as they moved through Germany. His plane was shot down on one of those missions,” she said. “The other sad fact was that he volunteered to replace a sick airman on that mission so Vernon could go home a little earlier.”
She acknowledged the efforts of those who made Sgt. Hamilton’s return to Monongahela possible, starting with German researcher Adolph Hagedorn, who found the bomber’s crash site in 2016.
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
Cynthia Collins, Vernon Hamilton’s niece, speaks during the service.
Excavation at the site took place under the auspices of History Flight Inc., a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization with the mission of locating and repatriating members of the U.S. service who were prisoners of war, missing in action or killed in action.
“We have archaeologists, geologists, historians, genealogists, a lot of well-qualified people who spend a lot of their time just trying to leave no man behind and bring closure to these families,” the Rev. Deborah Shaffer, History Flight representative for Saturday’s ceremonies, explained.
Shaffer, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, said the organization has had increasing success in recent years.
“Countries have opened up more to allowing us to go in,” she said, plus technological advancements continue to help the cause.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Eloise Evans, Vernon Hamilton’s cousin, attend the service.
Military and Department of Defense officials completed positive identification of Hamilton in 2018, with the help of DNA samples contributed by family members.
“The ripple effect of tragedy throughout the generations can turn to triumph, as the family chooses to come together and to heal,” Cynthia Collins, another of Hamilton’s nieces, said. “And that’s what’s happened with our family.”
Serving as escorts from the church to cemetery were members of the Patriot Guard Riders, a national nonprofit organization.
“We render honors at military funerals, for first responders, law enforcement officers, whenever the family asks us to come,” Jim Shaw of East Washington, senior ride captain, explained. “You don’t have to be a motorcycle rider to join. You don’t have to be a veteran. All we ask you to do is come once in a while to a mission.”
Outside First Presbyterian, numerous local residents gathered to pay their respects to Hamilton.
“They grieve for the family and mourn for them, because when something like this happens, it’s as though life stands still,” state Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll Township, said. “We celebrate good and we mourn the bad, but today we’re really celebrating the life of this incredible young man who passed away too soon.”
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
Bagpiper George Balderose plays “Amazing Grace” at the conclusion of the church service.