Ephrata in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Ephrata's Veterans' Plaza
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 12, 2019
1. Ephrata's Veterans' Plaza Marker
Inscription.
Ephrata's Veterans' Plaza. .
"They are not dead who live in the hearts they leave behind."Tuscarora Indian Proverb, Ephrata's Veterans' Plaza is dedicated to all American servicement and women, from all wars. We hope that generations to come will honor the service and tell the stories of all who are memorialized here, because, "... he who is not forgotten, is not dead"Samuel Butler. [Plaque on the other side of the memorial]
"Wars do not make men great, but they do bring out the greatness in good men."Dick Winters, Dick Winters (1918-2011): Commander of Easy Company, 506 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, "I was extremely blessed to have been the commander of Easy Company. No single individual "deserved" the privilege of leading such a remarkable group of warriors into battle. And to this day, I am humbled by that experience."Dick Winters. [Sign at the plaza:]
Soldier By: Ed Coet, Major, USA-Retired, I saw a burial with a bugler playing taps; I turned to my father, "what happened?" I asked. He clutched my hand and with a quiver in his voice, he began to explain and his eyes became moist., "My son," he said, "this is rather difficult for me; for an old veteran like myself this is tough to see. In that coffin lies a genuine patriotic warrior, an honest-to-God hero, an American soldier., I appreciate that soldier and the service he gave, and I honor his sacrifice as he's laid in his grave. He was honorable, selfless, courageous, and bold; please remember him son, as you grow old., The value of his service, I must explain, if not remembered, will be lost in vain. As a nation we're nothing without soldiers like him; and failing to remember would be a terrible sin.", I listened in awe as my father spoke, it seemed as if his heart were broke. I suddenly remembered when he went to war, and when he returned I thought nothing more., I never asked why he walked with a limp, and I didn't care about why he was sick. I was too busy enjoying the life that I had, to realize that I had it because of dad., I finally understood what my dad was about, and it hurt so bad that I cried out loud. He sacrificed so much so I could be free, and his battle scars were suffered for me., It was my father's spirit that spoke to me that day, thank God I finally understood what he had to say. I saluted his coffin as they laid him to rest, and I thought about the medals pinned on his chest., That I didn't honor him sooner, I will always regret; and I pledged that day to never again forget. I'm proud that my dad was a patriotic warrior; I'm proud to be the son of an American soldier..
The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and sears of war."
-- Douglas MacArthur. [Another sign at the plaza:]
Leadership at the "Point of a Bayonet"Dick Winters' Leadership Principles. 1. Strive to be a leader of character, competence, and courage., 2. Lead from the front. Say, "Follow me!" and then lead the way., 3. Stay in top physical shape, physical stamina is the root of mental toughness., 4. Develop your team. If you know your people, are fair in setting realistic goals and expectations, and lead by example, you will develop teamwork., 5. Delegate responsibly to your subordinates and let them do their job. You can't do a good job if you don't have a chance to use your imagination and creativity., 6. Anticipate problems and prepare to overcome obstacles. Don't wait until you get to the top of the ridge and then make up your mind., 7. Remain humble. Don't worry about who receives the credit. Never let power or authority go to your head., 8. Take a moment of self-reflection. Look at yourself in the mirror every night and ask yourself if you did your best., 9. True satisfaction comes from getting the job done. The key to a successful leader is to earn respect, not because of rank or position, but because you are a leader of character., 10. Hang Tough!, Never, ever, give up.,
From "Beyond Band of Brothers", by Dick Winters, with Cole C. Kingseed, Berkley Trade. [Yet another plaque at the memorial:]
Dick Winters' Central PA Roots. January 21, 1918 , Born at Lancaster General Hospital, 1918 - 1920 (app.) , Resides at 30 North Custer Avenue in New Holland, 1920 - 1927 , Family resided in Ephrata at 41 East Fulton Street. Young Dick Winters attended Franklin Street Elementary School, 1927 - 1941 , Winters family moved to Lancaster to 418 S. West End Avenue, 1934 - 1937 , Dick attended Boys High School in Lancaster, 1941 , Enlisted in the U. S. Army. Discharged in 1945 with rank of major, 1946 , Moved to New Jersey to work for Nixon Nitration., 1951 , Widowed mother moves back to Ephrata at 56 E. Fulton Street. Finally settles at 223 South Arch Street, 1955 , Married with two children, returns to Pennsylvania, living in Gettysburg, then New Oxford. Works as feed salesman., 1955 - 1960 , Buys 300 acre farm between Hershey and Lebanon and builds home. Family occupies home in 1960, 1968 , Founds R. D. Winters Inc. feed business. Buys home in Hersey, 1970 , Moves sickly mother to farm. She dies at Ephrata Community Hospital, 1992 , The book that would make Dick Winters famous, "Band of Brothers, E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne: From Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest" by Stephen Ambrose, was published., January 2, 2011 , Dick Winters dies. Is buried with family at Bergstresse Cemetery in Ephrata . This memorial is in Ephrata in Lancaster County Pennsylvania
"They are not dead who live in the hearts they leave behind." Tuscarora Indian Proverb
Ephrata's Veterans' Plaza is dedicated to all American servicement and women, from all wars. We hope that generations to come will honor the service and tell the stories of all who are memorialized here, because
"... he who is not forgotten, is not dead" Samuel Butler
[Plaque on the other side of the memorial]
"Wars do not make men great, but they do bring out the greatness in good men." Dick Winters
Dick Winters (1918-2011):
Commander of Easy Company,
506 Parachute Infantry Regiment,
101st Airborne Division
"I was extremely blessed to have been the commander of Easy Company. No single individual "deserved" the privilege of leading such a remarkable group of warriors into battle. And to this day, I am humbled by that experience." Dick Winters
[Sign at the plaza:]
Soldier By: Ed Coet, Major,
Click or scan to see this page online
USA-Retired
I saw a burial with a bugler playing taps;
I turned to my father, "what happened?" I asked.
He clutched my hand and with a quiver in his voice,
he began to explain and his eyes became moist.
"My son," he said, "this is rather difficult for me;
for an old veteran like myself this is tough to see.
In that coffin lies a genuine patriotic warrior,
an honest-to-God hero, an American soldier.
I appreciate that soldier and the service he gave,
and I honor his sacrifice as he's laid in his grave.
He was honorable, selfless, courageous, and bold;
please remember him son, as you grow old.
The value of his service, I must explain,
if not remembered, will be lost in vain.
As a nation we're nothing without soldiers like him;
and failing to remember would be a terrible sin."
I listened in awe as my father spoke,
it seemed as if his heart were broke.
I suddenly remembered when he went to war,
and when he returned I thought nothing more.
I never asked why he walked with a limp,
and I didn't care about why he was sick.
I was too busy enjoying the life that I had,
to realize that I had it because of dad.
I finally understood what my dad was about,
and it hurt so bad that I cried out loud.
He sacrificed
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 12, 2019
2. Ephrata's Veterans' Plaza Marker
so much so I could be free,
and his battle scars were suffered for me.
It was my father's spirit that spoke to me that day,
thank God I finally understood what he had to say.
I saluted his coffin as they laid him to rest,
and I thought about the medals pinned on his chest.
That I didn't honor him sooner, I will always regret;
and I pledged that day to never again forget.
I'm proud that my dad was a patriotic warrior;
I'm proud to be the son of an American soldier.
The soldier, above all other
people, prays for peace, for
he must suffer and bear the
deepest wounds and sears
of war."
-- Douglas MacArthur [Another sign at the plaza:]
Leadership at the "Point of a Bayonet" Dick Winters' Leadership Principles*
1. Strive to be a leader of character, competence, and courage.
2. Lead from the front. Say, "Follow me!" and then lead the way.
3. Stay in top physical shape—physical stamina is the root of mental toughness.
4. Develop your team. If you know your people, are fair in setting realistic goals and expectations, and lead by example, you will develop teamwork.
5. Delegate responsibly to your subordinates and let them do their job. You can't
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 12, 2019
3. Ephrata's Veterans' Plaza Marker
do a good job if you don't have a chance to use your imagination and creativity.
6. Anticipate problems and prepare to overcome obstacles. Don't wait until you get to the top of the ridge and then make up your mind.
7. Remain humble. Don't worry about who receives the credit. Never let power or authority go to your head.
8. Take a moment of self-reflection. Look at yourself in the mirror every night and ask yourself if you did your best.
9. True satisfaction comes from getting the job done. The key to a successful leader is to earn respect—not because of rank or position, but because you are a leader of character.
10. Hang Tough!—Never, ever, give up.
*From "Beyond Band of Brothers", by Dick Winters, with Cole C. Kingseed, Berkley Trade
[Yet another plaque at the memorial:]
Dick Winters' Central PA Roots
January 21, 1918 — Born at Lancaster General Hospital
1918 - 1920 (app.) — Resides at 30 North Custer Avenue in New Holland
1920 - 1927 — Family resided in Ephrata at 41 East Fulton Street. Young Dick Winters attended Franklin Street Elementary School
1927 - 1941 — Winters family moved to Lancaster to 418 S. West End Avenue
1934
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 12, 2019
4. Ephrata's Veterans' Plaza Marker
- 1937 — Dick attended Boys High School in Lancaster
1941 — Enlisted in the U. S. Army. Discharged in 1945 with rank of major
1946 — Moved to New Jersey to work for Nixon Nitration.
1951 — Widowed mother moves back to Ephrata at 56 E. Fulton Street. Finally settles at 223 South Arch Street
1955 — Married with two children, returns to Pennsylvania, living in Gettysburg, then New Oxford. Works as feed salesman.
1955 - 1960 — Buys 300 acre farm between Hershey and Lebanon and builds home. Family occupies home in 1960
1968 — Founds R. D. Winters Inc. feed business. Buys home in Hersey
1970 — Moves sickly mother to farm. She dies at Ephrata Community Hospital
1992 — The book that would make Dick Winters famous, "Band of Brothers, E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne: From Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest" by Stephen Ambrose, was published.
January 2, 2011 — Dick Winters dies. Is buried with family at Bergstresse Cemetery in Ephrata
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II.
Location. 40° 10.583′ N, 76° 10.836′ W. Marker is in Ephrata, Pennsylvania
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 12, 2019
5. Ephrata's Veterans' Plaza Marker
, in Lancaster County. Memorial is on Railroad Avenue south of East Fulton Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 229 Railroad Avenue, Ephrata PA 17522, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 12, 2019
6. Ephrata's Veterans' Plaza Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 200 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 13, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
