Morristown Legion honors 75-year member
Morristown Legion member Dennis Schmidtke handed Dave Schmidtke a plaque recognizing him for being a member of the Morristown American Legion for 75 years. Also in the photo are Chuck Larsen and Iny Schmidtke. (Jay Schneider photo)
The Morristown American Legion Post 149 received its charter in 1919. At that time, they had approximately two dozen members.
Dave Schmidtke, a 1944 graduate of Morristown High School, was honored Friday, May 27 by a number of current Legion members, with a plaque recognizing him for being a 75-year member of the American Legion.
The ceremony was held at the New Perspective Senior Living facility in Faribault, where Dave lives with his wife Lila. The couple has been married for 72 years.
Dennis Schmidtke (no relation of Dave), who was one of the Morristown Legion members who helped recognize Dave, said there may have been some in the country who have belonged to the Legion for as many years as Dave, but not too many.
Dave enlisted in the Marine Corps in July of 1944 after graduating. “I had no idea where I was going. I went to the cities and got on a train. I knew we were headed out east,” Schmidtke said.
He started his Marine Corp experience at Parris Island, South Carolina for six months of boot camp and then was transferred to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Following this training, Schmidtke was moved to...
To see more on this story pick up the June 23, 2022 print edition of the LifeEnterprise.
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