'What so proudly we hailed': American Legion installs flags at DeGlopper Memorial

By Karen Carr Keefe

Senior Contributing Writer

On the afternoon of April 8, members of American Legion Post 1346 of Grand Island raised 10 new flags at the DeGlopper Memorial park.

Their efforts last week were graced by sunshine, blue skies and a rather brisk wind.

Legion members replace all of the flags annually with new ones because, during the year, the flags become tattered and torn, explained Post Cmdr. Ray DeGlopper. He is the nephew of Medal of Honor recipient Pfc. Charles N. DeGlopper, for whom the memorial is named. Charles DeGlopper was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously in 1948.

Ray DeGlopper said former town Supervisor Mary Cooke sews the corners of the flags to reinforce them. That way, the flags last a whole year in the winds that sweep the park at the intersection of Baseline Road and Grand Island Boulevard.

The 10 flags are: the American Flag, as well as those of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, Space Force, the 82^nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, the Merchant Marine and the POW/MIA flag to honor American Prisoners of War and those missing in action. Although the flags were raised in April, they are generally going to be displayed between Memorial Day and Veterans Day, just as the post’s “Hometown Heroes” banners are.

Funding for the flags

Money to replenish the flags comes from a number of sources. These include American Legion’s fundraising, as well as businesses, local government sources and private donors.

The Town of Grand Island provides $300 toward the effort. Erie County awarded a grant of $25,000, to be used over a five-year period. Certified Auto is one of the businesses that is a major donor, as well.

American Legion Post 1346 played a key role in the expansion of the DeGlopper Memorial and in bringing the 7-foot bronze statue of Charles N. DeGlopper to the park. The local American Legion post continues its part toward maintaining the memorial.

The statue of Charles DeGlopper was unveiled and dedicated on June 5, 2021. Sculpted by Susan Geissler of Youngstown, the statue towers over the DeGlopper Memorial and is the heart of the park that surrounds it.

2021 statue dedication

At the 2021 dedication ceremony, Post 1346 member Joseph Synakowski said, “Now that the statue of (Charles) DeGlopper is in the middle of the park, nobody will ever forget him.”

DeGlopper’s story is well-known both in his hometown and across the nation.

On June 9, 1944, Pfc. Charles N. DeGlopper saved members of his platoon from death at the hands of their Germany enemy in LaFiere, France. He sprayed the hostile positions with assault fire and, gravely wounded, kneeled in the road and kept firing until he was killed.

He was a member of Company C, 325th Glider Infantry, a part of the 82^nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army.

“The members of the DeGlopper and killed in action families will be forever indebted to this monumental effort put forth by the DeGlopper Memorial expansion committee. With the support of our wonderful Grand Island committee, a heartfelt thanks to all of you,” Ray DeGlopper said to the crowd of hundreds who came to pay tribute to their hometown hero.

Members of American Legion Post 1346 gathered April 8 to install 10 new patriotic flags at the DeGlopper Memorial, at Baseline Road and Grand Island Boulevard. From left, they are: Ray Sommer, Ed Bognar, Henry Ensminger, Tom Volk, Ray DeGlopper, Joe Mesmer, Paul Sommer, Al Plame, Robert Haag and Gary Roesch. (Photo by Karen Carr Keefe)

The DeGlopper Memorial, at the intersection of Baseline Road and Grand Island Boulevard. (Photo by Robert Haag)

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Legion’s Mother’s Day flower fundraiser

American Legion Post 1346 holds its major fundraiser, the annual Mother’s Day flower fundraiser, this year from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (or until sold out) Friday, May 8, through Saturday, May 9, at the DeGlopper Memorial. If there are any flowers left, the sale will continue through Sunday, May 10, again until sold out. The fundraiser, held for the past 15 years, was the idea of the late Richard “Shorty” Vanthoff.

The flowers, including many colorful hanging baskets, are supplied by Hi-Way Garden Center, located at 1941 Tonawanda Creek Road, Amherst. There will be a membership table at the flower sale for those interested in joining American Legion Post 1346.

American Legion scholarships

American Legion gives three scholarships annually to Grand Island High School graduates – two are academic scholarships for those who will be attending a traditional college or university. The third goes to a graduate who will be attending technical college. Applicants write an essay, and a committee from Post 1346 makes the selection. The scholarships are given in June before graduation, with the award ceremony at Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial Park.

DeGlopper documentary

The documentary, “Charles N. DeGlopper: An American Hero,” was directed and produced by native Grand Islander Jerry Cahill, with associate producer Bonnie Cahill. It was broadcast Nov. 11, 2024, on WNED-TV, Buffalo Toronto Public Media.

Just before the documentary aired, Jerry Cahill told Senior Contributing Writer Alice Gerard, “The DeGlopper Memorial sits where it should be, right in the heart of Grand Island where everyone can see it, walk through it, touch it.”

He added, “And when you do, you can actually feel the tragedy and the glory that is there among those memorial stones and the photographs of all the fallen from Grand Island, who met their destiny on some foreign location, defending their friends and comrades when they were needed the most.”

Grand Island veterans organizations and Island residents were very instrumental in the well-received, definitive production. The documentary was produced by the local VFW Post 9249 and American Legion Post 1346. Senior executive producers were John Braddell and Dale Berger of the VFW and Ray DeGlopper of the American Legion. The script was written by Robert Lamb of the VFW Post.

Other local residents in the credits: Alan Lee, Christian Eshelman, Kristen DeGlopper Banks, Gary Roesch, Henry Ensminger, Paul Sommer, Tom Volk, Elsie Martino and Mary Cooke. Also credited: Maj. Gen. David J. Conboy, U.S. Army (Ret.); Dr. John Long, U.S. Army, Staff Sgt. (Ret.); and Joe Synakowski, U.S. Army, Staff Sgt., (Ret.), 82^nd Airborne Division.

An aerial photo shows the DeGlopper Memorial at the intersection of Baseline Road and Grand Island Boulevard. (Photo by Robert Haag)