Sacrifice, service lauded at Veterans Park fundraiser

When life comes full circle, pay attention. Usually, there's a lesson worth learning.

The lesson starts in Clearwater where Adam Ahlers, a "snot-nosed brat kid" spent summers mowing the yard at the Ocea Kirchner residence.

Kirchner, a widow, would invite Ahlers into her "little yellow house" after he finished the job.

"I had to go to the front door and get my $10," Ahlers told a crowd of approximately 275 people attending Saturday's fundraiser for the Clearwater Veteran's Park, held at the Clearwater American Legion.

"Every time I'd go in there, she'd sit me down and talk about her husband, Norman."

Private Norman Victor Kirchner gave the ultimate sacrifice, dying Aug. 8, 1944, during Operation Overlord, at Caen, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France.

"She'd tell the story. At the time, I didn't understand that type of sacrifice, but we do now. Every veteran here knows what the sacrifices are," Ahlers said. "You can know the definition, you can spell it, you can say it in 25 different languages, but until you've seen it and experienced it, it's hard to talk about," Ahlers said.

In 2004, life came full circle for Ahlers, a paratrooper with the 105th Airborne Division, when he participated in the D-Day 60th anniversary jump.

Ahlers stressed the important role veterans and their families play in a community. He shared his own experiences.

In the 1850s, his Great-great-grandfather Frank Kuester, German Cavalry officer, came to America from Germany, settling in Lecompton, Kansas.

"It was the hotbed of the Civil War," Ahlers said. "Kansas was just about to become a state."

In 1857, a convention was held in Constitution Hall and drafted the Lecompton Constitution, which would identify Kansas as a slave state. The constitution failed after antislavery activists won control of the Kansas Territory legislature in 1857. Once sworn in, legislators reconvened at the Constitution Hall and established laws abolishing slavery.

During this time, Frank Kuester started militias that fought in what is known as Bleeding Kansas, several violent civil skirmishes between pro- and antislavery groups.

Ahler's grandmother, Margaret, served as an Army nurse in World War II. While serving in southern England, she met Art Ahlers.

"The rest is history," Adam said.

The Ahlers family has a long military history also, he added, pointing out names of local veterans who have flags in the Clearwater American Legion.

His dad, Melvin, served in Vietnam. His brother, Justin, enlisted in the Army.

Ahlers urged guests to look at their own family histories and see how veterans are woven into the fabric of a community.

"Veterans in a community are huge, one of the most important ways we have to move communities forward," he said.

According to Ahlers, it comes down to character, a trait most soldiers fine tune during basic training.

"We need character. We need people who know right from wrong. We need people to help lead our efforts to help lead our children in ways that are going to be right," he said.

He credited his hometown of 400 residents for coming together to raise "a few hundred thousand dollars" for the American Legion renovation and the Veterans Park construction.

"It's really, really incredible. I'm proud I'm from Clearwater. To see effort poured into this is heartwarming," Ahlers said.

His uncle, Dan Kuester spoke, noting that veterans are "a living testimony to resilience, sacrifice and service."

"You carried the weight of a nation on your shoulders and you did it with honor. For that we are forever grateful.

Kuester said that during WWII, 11% of Americans served in the military. During Vietnam, the number dipped to 7%.

"Today, it's 0.4%."

Kuester said the legacy of those who did not return is felt every day.

"They remind us that freedom is never free."

Kuester recalled when a local serviceman died and his family went to the highway to watch the funeral procession pass.

"I was eight or nine ... He gave his life for this country."

That moment piqued Kuester's interest. He wanted to be home nightly at 6 p.m. to listen to news about the war.

While in high school, he was sitting in study hall, preparing to toss a spit wad.

"An Army recruiter walked by."

Kuester followed. One week later, he joined the Army. He served for 22 years.

"I've got to say, the 22 years I served were absolutely an honor," Kuester said. Ahlers stressed the important role veterans and their families play in a community. He shared his own experiences.

In the 1850s, his Great-great-grandfather Frank Kuester, German Cavalry officer, came to America from Germany, settling in Lecompton, Kansas.

"It was the hotbed of the Civil War," Ahlers said. "Kansas was just about to become a state."

In 1857, a convention was held in Constitution Hall and drafted the Lecompton Constitution, which would identify Kansas as a slave state. The constitution failed after antislavery activists won control of the Kansas Territory legislature in 1857. Once sworn in, legislators reconvened at the Constitution Hall and established laws abolishing slavery.

During this time, Frank Kuester started militias that fought in what is known as Bleeding Kansas, several violent civil skirmishes between pro- and antislavery groups.

Ahler's grandmother, Margaret, served as an Army nurse in World War II. While serving in southern England, she met Art Ahlers.

"The rest is history," Adam said.

The Ahlers family has a long military history also, he added, pointing out names of local veterans who have flags in the Clearwater American Legion.

His dad, Melvin, served in Vietnam. His brother, Justin, enlisted in the Army.

Ahlers urged guests to look at their own family histories and see how veterans are woven into the fabric of a community.

"Veterans in a community are huge, one of the most important ways we have to move communities forward," he said.

According to Ahlers, it comes down to character, a trait most soldiers fine tune during basic training.

"We need character. We need people who know right from wrong. We need people to help lead our efforts to help lead our children in ways that are going to be right," he said.

He credited his hometown of 400 residents for coming together to raise "a few hundred thousand dollars" for the American Legion renovation and the Veterans Park construction.

"It's really, really incredible. I'm proud I'm from Clearwater. To see effort poured into this is heartwarming," Ahlers said.

His uncle, Dan Kuester spoke, noting that veterans are "a living testimony to resilience, sacrifice and service."

"You carried the weight of a nation on your shoulders and you did it with honor. For that we are forever grateful.

Kuester said that during WWII, 11% of Americans served in the military. During Vietnam, the number dipped to 7%.

"Today, it's 0.4%."

Kuester said the legacy of those who did not return is felt every day.

"They remind us that freedom is never free."

Kuester recalled when a local serviceman died and his family went to the highway to watch the funeral procession pass.

"I was eight or nine ... He gave his life for this country."

That moment piqued Kuester's interest. He wanted to be home nightly at 6 p.m. to listen to news about the war.

While in high school, he was sitting in study hall, preparing to toss a spit wad.

"An Army recruiter walked by."

Kuester followed. One week later, he joined the Army. He served for 22 years.

"I've got to say, the 22 years I served were absolutely an honor," Kuester said.