A 2024 Memorial Day Story That Brings Closure to a Family
I was going to post a blog this morning consistent with the thoughts of all on Memorial Day, to remember to honor those that gave their lives for freedom.
As I do normally, I was having a cup of coffee to get the mind started and wanted to glance at the paper as well.
Reading online has its advantages, and it also offered the title to an article that needed to be read.
This is the story of Kenneth McKeeman, the service man on the left on the left in the photo, who lived in Waterbury, until the death f his parents and at 13 years old, moved to Brooklyn to live with his older brother.
He enlisted in the Air Force and was part of a bomber crew that was shot down after a bomb run over the coast of France.
The Germans gathered the remains and buried them in 2 mass graves.
The loss of the airship was documented as were the names of the crew members, but none were returned for proper burial.
In 2019, the Dept of Defense and American Battle Monuments Commission exhumed the remains and attempted to identify the airmen. Using DNA samples from local Waterbury CT relatives on both sides, Technical Sgt. Kenneth J. McKeeman, US Army Air Forces, is no longer MIA but will be buried with full military honors, 80 years later at the State Military Cemetery in Middletown CT.
The Waterbury CT Veterans committee is working to recognize him as a Waterbury Veteran, even though he officially enlisted in Brooklyn, NY, but his family lives in the Waterbury Area.
This information taken from an article posted in Waterbury Republican- American newspaper.
Happy Memorial Day
A 2024 Memorial Day Story That Brings Closure to a Family
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