Monument ready for Memorial Day

Friday, May 28, 2010
New granite benches at the Veterans Memorial in downtown Arapahoe, Nebraska honor the seven Ems brothers, veterans of World War II and the Korean War. (Courtesy photo)

ARAPAHOE, Nebraska -- Two new granite benches have been installed at the Main Street front entrance of the Veterans Memorial in Arapahoe.

They are of the same style and color as two existing granite benches.

The two new benches have been donated by Lorena Ems and the Ems family and were purchased from the Morris Ems memorial funds.

Younger Ems brother Richard served during the Korean War. (Courtesy photo)

One bench is in memory of Morris Ems to honor his community and military service. The other bench pays tribute to the seven Ems brothers of Arapahoe, six of whom served in World War II and one who served in Korea; and to commemorate the historic nature of the simultaneous service of six brothers in World War II.

The Ems brothers were sons of Robert and Irene Ems of Arapahoe.

* Morris "Morrie" Ems, served his country and his community of Arapahoe. Morris served in the Pacific during World War II with the U.S. Army's 38th Infantry Battalion on Luzon and Leyte Islands in the Philippines. After the war, he returned to Arapahoe where he made his home for the remainder of his life. Morris served the community on the Cemetery Board, City Council, School Board, as Furnas County Commissioner, and provided other community services.

Six Ems brothers who served in World War II are: front row, from left, Victor, Orris and Morris. Back row: Kenneth, Duane and Jack. (Courtesy photos)

* Orris "O.W." Ems served in the Engineer Corps of the U.S. Army during World War II. He was stationed in England and France and the South Pacific. Orris made his home in Lincoln after the war.

* Victor "Vic" Ems served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was stationed in California. After the war, Vic made his home in Molalla, Oregon.

* Harald "Jack" Ems served in the U.S. Navy aboard the SS Haggard in the Philippines during World War II. He also served his country again in the Korean War. Jack lived in Arapahoe after the war and later moved to Lincoln.

* Kenneth "Peck" Ems served in the U.S. Navy as a gunner in the Naval Armed Guard aboard merchant ships during World War II. After the war, Kenneth made his home in Kennewick, Washington.

* Robert "Duane" Ems served with the Merchant Marines in the Pacific during World War II. After the war, Duane enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country again in the Pacific. Duane lived in Arapahoe and in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

* Richard "Pete" Ems was a student in high school during World War II. After graduating from high school, he served in the U.S. Army as a member of an anti-aircraft unit in Okinawa during the Korean War. Richard is the only surviving brother and he now lives in Yorktown, Indiana, with his wife, Audrey.

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  • Incredible story of family patriotism. Bet they all were Democrats.

    -- Posted by FarmerJoe on Fri, May 28, 2010, at 5:41 PM
  • As a family member, I am pretty sure they were Democrats at that time; supported FDR. But in later years, some of them became Republicans.

    -- Posted by mermaid on Mon, May 31, 2010, at 4:46 PM
  • I bet they were Americans first and foremost. Bet they would be ashamed of what the Dems have become.

    -- Posted by Chaco1 on Tue, Jun 1, 2010, at 7:40 AM
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