Part II
Sgt. Roy Charles Reed
“Winside Soldier Dies – Winside community was shocked and grieved Friday, when Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Reed received an official notice of the death of their only son, Sergeant Roy C. Reed, in France, as the result of wounds. Roy left Winside Sept. 5, 1917, and trained at Camp Funston before going overseas. He was with the A.F.F. 355th Infantry. Previous word had been received that he was wounded, but the degree uncertain. It is hoped that more details may be learned later. Many friends extend cordial sympathy to the sorrowing family.” (Note: Camp Funston is a U.S. Army training camp located on the grounds of Fort Riley, southwest of Manhattan, Kansas. The camp was named for Brigadier General Frederick Funston (1865–1917). It is one of sixteen such camps that were established at the outbreak of World War I for use as infantry division training camps.)
Since the last article, there have been a couple inquiries as to “are there family members still known with whom we could learn more of Sergeant Reed’s service and family?” Parents Charles Warren Reed, Mary Eliabeth Haskins Reed, son Sgt. Roy Charles Reed – laid to rest Elmwood Cemetery, Carroll. Sisters Cora Reed BroDd (Perry Brodd), Eva E. Reed Lewis (Bennett Ferman Lewis) laid to rest Pleasant View Cemetery, Winside; Bonnie Pearl Reed Moses (Halsey Strahn Moses) – Greenwood Cemetery, Wayne; and brother Frank W. Reed – Elmwood Cemetery, Carroll. Nephew Leonard Warren Lewis, Pleasant View, Winside; nephew Halsey C. Moses, Greenwood Cemetery, Wayne; niece Mildred Bonnis “Casey” Moses Evans DeBruyne, Longmont CO; nephew Richard S. “Rick” Evans, (Rock Group – Zager & Evans “In the Year 2525” – Santa Fe NM). There appear to be no surviving relatives. However, if anyone knows of family or friends, you may share that with our ALA Unit 402 369 0152.
The American Legion Auxiliary of Roy Reed Post No. 252 was organized at Winside, Nebraska on June 25, 1925, with 37 members. The first officers were: Mrs. Mary Reed – President; Mrs. George Pinion – Vice President; Mrs. V. L. Siman – Secretary; Mrs. B. E. Katz – Treasurer; Mrs. George Sweigard – Chaplain; Mrs. Henry Wacker – Historian; and Mrs. A. C. Gabler – Sergeant-at-Arms. Unit Charter Oct. 30, 2025, Lincoln.
The Unit’s Charter members are – Mrs. Mary Reed, Mrs. George Pinion, Mrs. V. L. Siman, Mrs. B. E. Katz, Mrs. George Sweigard, Mrs. Henry Wacker, Mrs. A. C. Gabler, Mrs. Perry Brodd, Mrs. Edwin Damme, Miss Ruby Reed, Mrs. Ludwig Rhemus, Miss Opal McClary, Miss Mildred McClary, Mrs. Jesse Witte, Mrs. H. S. Moses, Mrs. Ben Lewis, Mrs. George Meade, Mrs. R. E. Gormley, Mrs. Irving Moses, Mrs. Louie Ehlers, Mrs. Ray Radford, Mrs. Rebecca Cadwallader, Mrs. A. H. Schmale, Mrs. Frank Wilson, Mrs. Harry Siman, Mrs. Ed. Hovendick, Mrs. Art Herschied, Mrs. Frank Gray, Mrs. W. O. Smith, Mrs. Henry Loebsack, Mrs. Chris Nelson Jr., Miss Bessie Leary, Miss Myrtle Leary, Miss Blanche Leary, Mrs. I. F. Gaebler, Mrs. Wallace Cadwallader and Miss Edna Heyer.
Current Officers for Unit 252 include President Laura (Neel) Novak, Vice President Brianna Novak, Secretary KayLynn Novak, Treasurer Kristi Edwards, Chaplain Rose Ann Janke. Unit meetings are the first Saturday of the month in the Legion Hall at 10:15 a.m. Current members are 46 with 104.55% of Goal.
Unit 252 sponsored the ALA Cornhusker Girls State program by sending delegates, when possible, to UNL for a week of government study. In the beginning many local organizations contributed to the financing of the delegates. The first Winside Girls State Citizen was in 1941 and each year with an exception of 1942-1944 (wartime), 1956 (quota was filled before our delegate to get accepted), and a few years in between for lack of interest of the young ladies in the Junior Class as Winside High. We had a couple years with COVID when there was not a session but those selected to attend still were able to graduate and get their Girls State Pin and a couple years where the sessions were all online. All in all this is a very dedicated program which the Unit supports and in recent years the Winside SONs of the American Legion have been generous in sponsoring extra delegates of those who have a expressed interest to attend.
Besides the customary programs within the ALA, the Unit has lent financial support to Children & Youth Special Olympics; Winside summer recreation and Legion baseball; purchased a flag pole for the Winside ball park; Winside post prom; Forgotten Children’s Fund; Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge (Laura Neel, junior ALA member at the time attended)(at another time Beverly & Bud Neel served as chaperons for five teens from Nebraska to attend the final session of Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge); Gold Star program; Chapel of Four Chaplains; Winside Old Settlers; centerpieces and tray favors for Norfolk Veterans Home and Omaha VA Medical Center; sponsored annual Girls/Boys State dinner; Charter Member Gladys Gaebler started annual dinners at her home for the Junior Baseball team in Winside; Bingo parties; and a whole lot more. On several occasions the Unit was asked to provide meals for the Rebekah Chapter, Co-op Dinners, County Government Day and more.
Members over the years have participated in local, Wayne County, Third District and Department conferences and conventions. Winside Unit 252 conducted the final Wayne County ALA meeting in 1998. We have co-hosted District Conventions and fundraisers from Winside as well as co-hosting veterans from the Norfolk Veterans Home for the after Labor Day American Legion Family picnic.
The auxiliary currently has younger officers, new ideas, old programs with new twists, and is flourishing. We have coloring time to make greeting cards for Norfolk Veterans Home, conduct coloring contests at Winside Lied Library, donate to Easter Egg Hunt, provide treats at Old Settlers Kiddie parades and more. Our most recent creation has been the “Haunted Post” event around Halloween. With artistic and innovative minds, we had a great first in 2024 and will follow that up on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 5 – 8 p.m. with another thrilling evening of spooks and goblins and more. Admission is $5 per person, groups for 5 are $20. Everyone gets a hand mark and can come through the “Haunted Post” as many times as they wish. New items have been added so come join us. A “freewill” donation for a light meal is available.
The community is invited to the celebratory 100th year Open House on Saturday, Nov. 1 from 2 – 4 p.m. Organizers are hoping to have many former Girls State Citizens attend. Family and friends are asked to share with Girls Staters the interest to have them come to the 100th birthday party. Any former members who held offices on the local, county, district, department and/or national level, are also encouraged to join the celebration.
