“What’s the most valuable thing you’ve got in your house?”
That’s the question posed to people attending the Lewis County Republican Club meeting Thursday in Chehalis by Charles “Chip” Duncan, the Veterans Memorial Museum’s executive director.
Answers included our house, wife, pictures, family heirlooms, a Bible carried in Korea.
“Those are all great and wonderful things,” Duncan said. “But one of the key things that we have in our house is freedom. That’s the most valuable thing you own in your family.”
Duncan, who studied architecture, served seven years in Budapest as the first Hungarian military chaplain since 1946. He lived as a foreigner, learned the language, and carried military ID, a driver’s license and identification papers listing his name, address, workplace and religion.
As United States citizens, Duncan said, “We don’t even understand that concept — what the basic freedoms are — because we’ve lavished in them. They are so abundant here in this country, and for every veteran that is in this room, you paid the price so that I have that most precious gift.”
Duncan, a self-described Air Force brat, said when he was a civilian missionary, he and his family drove across the United States raising money to support their work. When they returned to Centralia in 2004, a friend who knew Duncan loved military history suggested he visit the Veterans Memorial Museum.
He felt so touched by his tour of the museum built to honor individuals who defended this country and our precious gift of freedom. Duncan raved about it at the Centralia Church of God, where founder Lee Grimes attended. They kept in touch for years and, after the death of co-founder Patti Estep in late 2007, Duncan took over as administrative assistant and later as executive director when Grimes retired in 2010. “Because of medical conditions neither one of us could join the military,” Duncan said, “but we loved our military veterans and we wanted to honor them as much as possible.”
Duncan, the father of seven children — two biological sons and five adopted daughters — said he loves his job.
“I don’t care how much they don’t pay me … it’s just a passion. I love what I do.”
Upcoming events include Desert War Veterans Memorial Day June 27, honoring all who have served since 1973 in the global war on terror. Keynoter Sgt. Joel Dulashanti served as a sniper with the 82nd Airborne in Afghanistan, where he lost a leg and kneecap and suffered internal injuries. After recovering, he became an airborne instructor. He just needed to complete the course and jump out of an airplane, Duncan said, adding, “There was no mention about landing.”
Staged Civil War battles take place July 25 and 26 to honor veterans of that war, and the Vietnam Veterans Era Remembrance Day is Aug. 1.
“Freedom is amazing,” Duncan said, “but it’s been paid with a lot of sacrifice.”
Presidential Poll
A presidential straw poll of the 33 people at the March meeting of the Lewis County Republican Club showed Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in first place, followed by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz tying for third place.
Wildlife
Spring is such a fun time to enjoy wildlife in Lewis County. Driving along Jackson Highway south of Mary’s Corner, I recently saw a doe with a spotted fawn resembling Bambi prance across the highway in the Lewis and Clark State Park, and just north of there I paused for what turned out to be a black bear cub crossing the road before returning to the woods. I love Lewis County!
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Julie McDonald, a personal historian from Toledo, may be reached at memoirs@chaptersoflife.com.
