John Marks/jmarks@lakewyliepilot
Retired Army Maj. Gen. Wade McManus recognizes the oldest veteran at Lake Wylie Retirement & Assisted Living, Bob Parker, during a Nov. 11 event at the facility for veterans. Parker is one of two resident veterans born in 1916.
LAKE WYLIE
On a day set aside for heroes, some of the most veteran residents in Lake Wylie ventured out from their rooms or the large dining hall for the chance to meet a great American. Little did they know their honored guest drove all the way from Chester for the exact same reason.
Lake Wylie Retirement & Assisted Living hosted retired Army Maj. Gen. Wade H. McManus Jr. for a Nov. 11 recognition to a room full of veterans, including two 93-year-old residents who were the oldest veterans present and a prisoner of war survivor. Yet it was McManus who called the occasion his honor, meeting so many “custodians of our nation's defense.”
Bob Parker bested fellow resident Don Rivers by a season change as the most senior veteran present. Both men were born in 1916.
“Sir, my hat's off to you,” McManus told Parker. “It's an honor to meet you.”
Charlotte native Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Dunlap, 88, who still counts his time in an Austrian prisoner of war camp by the hours and minutes, received a General's coin from McManus commemorating his contributions to the nation.
Sharp-witted as the day he left the family farm to fly airplanes, Dunlap joined other veterans in saluting the service of men like McManus.
“If it hadn't been for generals like yourself,” Dunlap said, “we wouldn't have known what to do.”
McManus, who spoke earlier in the day in his hometown Chester, credited his audience not only for providing service to a country, but setting the stage for veterans and soldiers who followed them. With several veterans of World War II, McManus spoke specifically to the battles won by that generation first in deciding to serve, then in carrying out their missions.
“The difference you made in the world you live in today is just remarkable,” he said.
McManus' daughter Mary Kate Peabody, director of sales and marketing for Lake Wylie Retirement, said hearing her father speak seemed like something the surprisingly high number of resident veterans from every branch of service might enjoy.
“We do have a lot of veterans,” she said. “A lot of people here lived in a time when that was just what people did.”
For many of the veterans, the day reminded them of how their service personally changed them. Dunlap, for example, is a self-described “cotton pickin' chicken plucker” who became a flight engineer, copilot and first-class airplane mechanic. Dunlap enlisted because he felt staying at home during war would be selfish, that the Bible calls for people willing to love others and even lay down their lives for a friend. Dunlap enjoys time spent with fellow veterans who understand his idea of sacrifice.
“I love every one of them, because they did what they could do,” he said.
McManus said military families also deserve praise for their sacrifices. His wife lived through 27 moves in 24 years of her husband's service, and his daughter attended four high schools.
“The nation, this country, this flag will always wave,” he said.
Veterans, like Dunlap, appreciate the one day set aside each year by the federal government to give thanks to the men and women who have served it.
“It makes me feel like we've done something good,” he said.
