The Wakefield Rotary Club celebrated Veterans’ Day early with a joint meeting with the Reading Rotary Club this past Tuesday. The club welcomed World War II veteran Morley S. Piper. A Second Lieutenant in the Army, Piper recounted his first-hand experiences of the Normandy invasion. He was among the first to land on Omaha Beach during the infamous WWII conflict as a 19 year-old officer. Piper only recently began speaking about his experiences. “It was so fitting for our clubs to hear Mr. Piper on election day,” noted Reading Rotary Club President Brian Crosby. “We owe all of our veterans a thank you for allowing us to continue to exercise our freedoms, including our right to vote,” added Wakefield Rotary Club President Amy Luckiewicz. The presentation included Piper’s vivid recollection of the struggle to cross Omaha Beach and press into the French beach-side villages. Piper described the day-to-day challenges and fear the men experienced, “The casualties were unimaginable. We lived with fear of not knowing if we’d make it until tomorrow. But I served among many brave men; most of whom will never be known or recognized.”

Also during the meeting, the two clubs took a moment to recognize those present who served in our military and Peace Corps. The meeting was the Wakefield Club’s second large-scale celebration of Veterans’ Day. Last year, several local veterans from all branches were treated to lunch and the club hosted a flag-folding ceremony.

About the Wakefield Rotary Club: Founded in 1922, the Wakefield Rotary Club carries a tradition of local service and fellowship. A progressive service organization, the club recognizes the talents and passions of each member and empowers them to benefit the community. A part of Rotary International, the club is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. There are 1.2 million Rotarians in 160 countries worldwide.  The first Rotary Club was founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1905 by an attorney named Paul Harris and several of his colleagues. The name “Rotary” was derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among each of the members’ offices. The Rotary motto is “Service above self”.