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Lest We Forget- Vet Special

Lest We forget-Vet Special

Remembering World War Two Families- The Bill and Gladys Winslow Family
By grandson Robert Winslow Nay

The Winslow Children: Mary, Jean, Bill, Dorothy, Lois

I have found the stories on the Veterans page very moving. From those military soldiers and their families who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country to other equally memorable articles of veterans serving their county , the citizens of Bennett’s Valley have served their nation well. I paused to think of my grandparents - Bill and Gladys Burke Winslow- and their family's personal contributions and sacrifices during these war years and after. I’m sure this is not much different than many other families of this time- but it is another perspective on the theme of "Lest We Forget". We are honoring both our men and women who served and also their families that supported them and contributed to our country's efforts for freedom and peace.

Because of poor economic conditions in the early 1940s, Bill Winslow (born and raised in Benezette) and his wife Gladys Burke (of Weedville) left their beloved Benezette for jobs and opportunities in New Castle, Pa.

Winslow B17 Crew

Their oldest, and only, son William Burke Winslow had graduated from Benezette High School and had already

entered the US Army Air Corp- soon to become a B17 pilot in England - and finally retiring as a Lt Col in the US Air Force. I have written of his WW2 B17 experiences in another article on this web site called "Benezette’s Own Legend of Air Power". His funeral with full military honors capped this Benezette’s citizen's service to his country.

Their second child Lois Winslow had married a New Castle hunter who loved Benezette, had a daughter Susan (who also served in the US Army in the late 1950s), and lived near her parents in New Castle during the war years.

Daughter Mary (my Mom) graduated from Benezette High School and also moved with her parents to New Castle where she tried to enlist in the military services , but was disqualified because of a

congenital heart murmur. She worked in New Castle as a waitress during these years and also attended many USO activities for the military boys at Camp Reynolds. And before his leaving for North Africa and Italy with the US Army, she met my Dad (from Virginia) and they were married shortly after he returned from Europe. As with all the daughters she was especially proud of her brother’s service during and after the war. I also remember her sadness, but proud feeling when I joined the US Army during those Vietnam days. A proud and patriotic Mom (and Dad).

Another daughter -Dorothy- had graduated from Benezette High School. Not only out of duty to her country but Dorothy Winslow

also in support of her pilot brother Bill in England, Dorothy felt the call to serve as many women were doing in those days. Soon after moving with her Mom and Dad to New Castle, she enlisted with the US Marines Corps and served in administrative functions at Camp Pendleton in California. While there were no heroic deeds nor sacrifices , Dorothy served her country well not only during those times but continually throughout the rest of her life as a

patriotic citizen , mother , wife, and aunt. Soon after the war ended she married Socrates Roussos who served as a flight engineer on B24s in the Pacific. Dorothy’s funeral services included the American Legion squadron's very solemn "We salute you " salutation which she would have loved.

Jean Winslow, US Marine

And finally daughter Jean who moved with them to New Castle where she graduated from high school and shortly there after followed in these same patriotic footsteps and joined the US Marines. While a secretary in the Pentagon, she met and married a heroic Marine officer - John Wyatt who eventually retired from the Marine Corps- and a proud Marine family this was. Jean was buried with military honors with her husband in Arlington National Cemetery.

Back to Bill and Gladys. Bill (rejected from service in WW1 because of having a glass eye) supported and loved his son and daughters in his own quiet way as many men in those days seemed to do. But Gladys was a lady ahead of her time from her school days at Gray School and Jay Township high school. She very much supported these patriotic traditions by giving blood every time she could and receiving honors from the community for this giving. She didn’t stop here . She was significantly involved in Veteran and Memorial days for as long as I can remember- and instilling in me that same patriotic feeling and need to serve from those days of being her "gopher" at those events to my service time in Vietnam Era Europe after graduating from college.

I fondly remember "working" with my grandmother, my mom,and my aunts and cousins in the 1950s during Veterans and Memorial Days passing out poppy flowers as a way of honoring all our vets. You may want to consider beginning your own family tradition and plant poppies this Memorial Day in remembrance of the soldiers who committed their lives for our country and for a daily reflection of peace and beauty. See the link Red Poppies :A Memorial Day Tradition to Remember Veterans.

As with this Burke-Winslow family these patriotic feelings continue to this day with all our beloved citizens - whether from the Bennett’s Valley or across the entire nation.

Lest We Forget the Families -Their Contributions and Sacrifices Also

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