Ray Bell Groveville History 1
19/May/2024
MEMORIAL DAY
Good morning. I would like to take time to thank Reverend Clifton for letting me bring this message to you. I will start this message off with some information that you may not know about.
Our first parade started in Groveville-Yardville in 1868. This will be our 156th parade. When I was a very young boy living in Groveville, age 3 in 1939, I was in the Decoration Parade, parading with the Groveville Fire Company as the first mascot. But today, I will tell you about three men, two of the men that led our parade which was called Decoration Day and was held on May 30 from 1868 until 1970. Now it is called Memorial Day, and is held on the last Monday in May (started in 1991).
I can remember parading and people standing 4 to 5 deep on the sidewalks in Groveville and Yardville watching these parades. But first, a little history about World War I, from 1914 – 1918. The United States entered that war in 1917. That war was to end all wars. In that war, 116,516 men were killed in action. In front of the Educational Building is a stone monument built after the war by Wm. A. Robinson and 26 men’s names from Groveville-Yardville area that served our country.
Then in 1941 – 1945 the United States entered World War II. In that war, we were fighting 2 wars, 1 in Europe and 1 in the Pacific. By the time the war ended we lost 405,399 men and women. After the war, an “Honor Roll“ was built out of wood and painted red, white and blue to honor those men and women from Groveville-Yardville area who served in that war. The “Honor Roll“ was erected next to Wm. J. McElmoyl‘s house on Church Street. When that land was sold to Miss Katherine Crider to build a home, the “Honor Roll“ was moved across the street on the left side of our Community House until 1955. There were more than 70 men and two women on that “Honor Roll“. Later I will talk about 1 young boy whose name was on that “Honor Roll“ who served in Europe. But first I would like to tell you about a father and son who led our parade.
The father, PVT Andrew, J. Norcross, United States Army, CoJ, 114th Infantry, 29th Division, and a PH after his name, served in Germany. He was born December 7, 1893 and passed away March 5, 1955. When PVT Norcross passed away, his son took over leading our parade. He was PFC Floyd Norcross, served in Korea from 1951 – 1953. He was born October 19, 1930 and passed away July 30, 1985. Both father and son are buried in the Groveville cemetery next to one another. They lived on Lennox Avenue near Rt 156 in Yardville. They both were very, very proud to have the honor to lead our parade for over 65 years. After Floyd’s death, there were other veterans that led our parade from different branches of the service.
Now I would like to tell you about a young boy whose name was on that “Honor Roll”. In front of his name was a gold star and we all knew what that meant. This young boy was raised on Hauser Avenue in Yardville near Yardville Hamilton Road, just under 1 mile from here. In 1943 he graduated from Hamilton high school at the age of 18 to be drafted in the United States Army. He left and went to North Carolina for his 20 weeks of infantry training. After his training, he got on a ship and was shipped to Europe along with thousands of other soldiers. His ship landed off the coast of Sicily. They got off of that ship and onto “landing crafts” to take them to the beach. Once on the beach, the fighting began. They fought their way to a town, Nettuco, where they saw more action.
After weeks of fighting, they went to a town called Anzio. While on patrol, he was killed in action. At that time, a boy turned into a man. He died for his country so all of us could have freedom. His name was PVT Wallace Edward Frese, United States Army 7th Infantry 3rd Division. He was born May 3, 1925. Private Frese is laid to rest at the North edge of Nettuco in Italy in the Sicily-Roma-American Memorial Cemetery, where 7,861 American soldiers are laid to rest. He is buried in Plot J, Row 10, and Grave 22. This cemetery covers over 77 acres. Can we all imagine what his mother felt when she saw a military car pulling up in front of her home, and saw an Army Officer and a Chaplin, walking into her yard and on her front porch, knocking on her door to inform her that her son PVT Frese was killed in action on March 4, 1949. I cannot.
Remember these 3 veterans were raised one block away from each other in Yardville. If you get a chance, read John, chapter 15, verse 13. I would like all of you and your families to take time next Monday, May 27th, and remember all of the veterans who gave their lives for our freedom. Sitting with us today is Beverly Frese. She is the sister-in-law to Wallace Edward Frese.
Thank you for coming today. In closing I will say God Bless the United States of America and I salute to all veterans. Thank you all.
Songs for 19 May 2024
130 God Will Take Care of You
214 In the Garden
575 Onward Christian Soldiers
662 God Be With You Til We Meet Again
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
John 15:13 NKJV