Last Toast for WW II "Last Man's Club"

From the Feb. 19, 2013, Rochester (NY) Post Bulletin by Matthew Stolle.

A small group of old men will uncork a bottle of champagne and raise their glasses one last time as this group officially disbands later today.

The Last Man's Club formed in the 1960s of World War II veterans at one time had about 100 members as a subgroup of American Legion Post 92.  Only a handful are left, all in their upper 80s, lower 90s.  According to instructions drawn up decades ago, they were to do this when membership was down to six.

One member, Kendall Heins served in the Aleutian Islands during the war.

The Department of Veterans Affairs says that 16,112,566 served during World War II.  Of that number, 405,399 died in combat, 670,847 were wounded.  As of November 2011, the last time numbers were counted, an estimated 1.7 million were still alive  That number is probably below 1.4 million now.

The Last Man's Club was a social one connected to the Legion.  There was a joining fee, but no dues for the group which met twice a year at first and then later just once.

In the 1960s, a World War I veteran who also owned a liquor store in Rochester, donated a bottle of champagne.  That bottle disappeared and another was bought and for many years housed in display case.

And, I intend to keep writing about these World War II veterans as long as I can.

Sad to Have That Happen.  --GreGen