 | Frank Bergquist graduated from Eddyville, IA, high school in 1958. After graduation, he entered the Army, serving 20 years in Missouri, Maryland, New Mexico, Germany, Iowa, Turkey, Kansas, S.E. Asia, and finally retiring in 1978 in Louisiana. Before retiring, Frank was assigned as an ROTC instructor at WSU and Kemper Military School until 1974. In 1978 he served as the Non-Commissioned officer in charge of operations at Fort Polk, LA. He has served as the Veterans Counselor (DVOP) with the Kansas Job Service Center National Service Office, with the Disabled American Veterans at the VA Regional Office in Wichita; Veterans Employment and Training Coordinator with the US Dept. of Labor at Ft. Riley, KS; Service Coordinator with Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation; Dept Adjutant-Treasurer and the Dept. Executive Director Dept. of Kansas Disabled American Veterans; and past President of the Wichita Civil War Round Table. Currently he is doing graduate work as an instructor in Genealogy and Military History at Wichita State and Kansas State Universities, and is the CEO for the Disabled American Veterans Thrift Stores in Wichita, KS. Bergquist has an AA from Kemper Military School and College from Boonville, MO. and a BGS from Wichita State University. He can be reached by telephone at 316-262-6501. He is located at 926 N. Mosley Wichita 67214. |
Veteran Affairs
2007-12-01 10:04:00
Remembering Veterans Day
Answer: At the end of the Civil War, which pitted brother against brother for nearly four devastating years, the U.S. was facing a recovery never before seen or anticipated in prior American history. The care of countless veterans, widows and orphans including former slaves and their families could not be done by the local community. President Lincoln, as well as other federal and state leaders, had declared that “those who had borne the burden” would be cared for. However, President Lincoln died from an assassin’s bullet on April 15th, 1865.
It is still a struggle to honor veterans. I am going to be applying for a government headstone for a veteran of the Civil War. The veterans name is Michael Switzer, he served in Company E, of the 150th Regiment of the Indiana Infantry. His service was not long, from February 13, 1865 to August 5, 1865. He was discharged at Jordan’s Springs, VA. Private Switzer’s grave is marked with a paupers marker placed, I assume, by Cochran Mortuary since their name is on the paupers marker. The paupers marker shows the dates of his life as 18__ to 19__. The mortuary has no record on Michael. He married Theresa Strawn on October 21, 1867 in Montgomery County Indiana. A veteran should not be classed as a pauper. They served their country and deserve more.
Six other members of the Switzer family are buried in the Halstead cemetery, I assume these are children of Michael’s. The VA form asks for the date of birth and death and I think that is important to have on the headstone. Without a tentative date of death we can’t even look up a death notice in the local newspaper.
The following is not my writing but it is appropriate:
Caring for a dead veteran is easy:
1) Bring a wreath
2) Say a few words
3) Walk away
Caring for a living veteran requires:
1) Time
2) Money
3) A life-long commitment
Every Veterans Day our Politicians show they don’t know the difference as they visit a Cemetery instead of a VA Hospital.
