The local Kiwanis Club of Tyrone committed a club Community Service Project as a manner in which to honor a fellow Kiwanian and a Veteran of World War II.
Morris Levine, who is one of the Charter Members of the Kiwanis Club of Tyrone and a World War II veteran was hosted in Washington, D.C. by Congressman Bill Shuster.
“Morris had presented a program one morning in June at our weekly breakfast meeting on his memories of D-Day during World War II and it was very moving. After the breakfast meeting, I approached Morris and asked if he had been to Washington D.C. to see the World War II Memorial. He indicated that he had not and most likely would never be able to get down to see it first hand. That was all it took,” said fellow Kiwanis member Chuck Banas who organized the trip and all the details.
“Each day hundreds of members of the greatest generation are passing away and have no chance to see the World War II Memorial which was constructed finally long overdue,” said Banas. “My father, who was a charter member of the World War II Memorial Association and a World War II veteran passed away three months before the Memorial in Washington D.C. was dedicated. I wanted to make sure that Morris had an opportunity to see the memorial first hand.”
Bright and early one cloudless morning this past July a van with five other Kiwanis Club members showed up at Morris Levine’s front door – Rev. Norm Huff, Bob Maser, George Stever, Bob Smith and Chuck Banas. Morris was loaded into the van and they were off to Washington D.C.
After a fun-filled ride the van arrived in Washington D.C. and was greeted by staffers from Congressman Bill Shuster’s office, who had made arrangements for special parking and a private meeting with the Congressman. At the conclusion of this meeting, Congressman Shuster was kind enough to walk out on the portico across from the United States Capital Building for a group photo. Congressman Shuster added something extra special and personalized a copy and sent it to Morris Levine.
The group then headed down Constitution Avenue to the World War II Memorial.
“This was very special for all of us,” said Banas. “To stand between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial and remember and see the great sacrifices that men like Morris and many of our fathers made for all of us so we may enjoy what we have today, it is just so overwhelming. It is something we all will never forget.”
The group remained at the memorial for a good part of the afternoon taking it all in and allowing Morris a chance to slowly walk through the memory clad pathways that make up the World War II Memorial.
“It was just an incredible way for us to spend our day together with Morris,” said Banas.
It was time to leave Washington D.C. and head back to Tyrone. Morris had been a trooper all day and walked a good many miles. He was ready to rest. On the way home, Banas, who drove the group down and back, noticed that Morris had fallen asleep. After he signaled to the other members of the group, he woke Morris up and said, “How are you doing?” Morris responded, “I am fine.” “Great,” said Banas, “because we are almost to Boston to see where Norm Huff dumped the tea into the harbor.” Morris smiled and just said, “Fantastic, I will buy the beans.” Banas could only shake his head and smile, “At 80-some-years-old, you still can’t get one past him.”
This indeed was a very good Tyrone Kiwanis Club Project.
