Sunday service at United Churches honors veterans

The United Churches of Olympia recognized veterans on Sunday, yet another of the church’s monthly celebrations to mark its centennial. The church is set to turn 100 in December.

Every month this year, the church has had one special Sunday service as part of its yearlong centennial celebration. Last month, the church invited former pastors to an April 17 gathering, while the church service theme set for June 26 is “new building, new start.”

But on Sunday, the church remembered not only members who fought in World War II, but all veterans, said Rev. Jill Komura, associate transitional pastor.

She also called for a show of hands in the audience, asking if there was anyone in attendance who had served in World War II. No one raised a hand in the congregation, but a hand was raised in the church choir. It belonged to Al Walter, 90, of Lacey.

After the service, Walter said he has been a church member for seven years. He joined the Army when he was 18 and participated in five major campaigns in Europe, including the first wave of replacements following the D-Day invasion at Normandy, June 6, 1944. He also was retrained to prepare for the land invasion of Japan, but by the time his troop transport ship landed in New York, the war was declared over.

Walter grew up in Reading, Pa., and worked for an aircraft engine company before he joined the Army. After the war, he attended Washington and Lee University where he studied journalism. He worked for newspapers in Greensboro, N.C., and Lancaster, Pa., before transitioning to an advertising and public relations agency.

Walter said he regularly visited his daughter here before finally deciding to retire to the area. He’s now a resident at Panorama.

The church also shared some history on Sunday.

According to a program for the Sunday services, Arnold R. Hardman, is the only listed World War II fatality from the congregation.

“We know little about Mr. Hardman, other than the fact that he was married and trained as a Navy pilot,” the program reads.

Before the services were over, the congregation was wowed by Ben Martin, 15, a student at North Thurston High School. Accompanied by piano, Martin played “Fantaisie,” composed by Jules Demersseman, on alto saxophone.

The United Churches of Olympia is a federation, formed in 1916 by the combination of First Presbyterian Church and First Congregational Church.

This story was originally published May 1, 2016 at 4:26 PM with the headline "Sunday service at United Churches honors veterans."