By Kristine Kern
Review Staff Writer
Raymond Reker was recognized during the Memorial Day program at the Lismore Legion for seventy continuous years of membership with the Lismore American Legion. Ray is a charter member of the Lismore American Legion Post and served on the Honor Guard in many funerals for Lismore Legion members throughout the years. This is not the first time Ray has been acknowledged on Memorial Day, he was honord by the Sioux Falls Veterans Council in 2015 for his outstanding commitment to the Legion and VFW organizations, community and country.
Ray served in the United State Navy from May 26th 1994 to May 24th 1946. He served in the South Pacific aboard the USS Yosemite AD-19. He saw the devastation in Nagasaki and Hiroshima caused by the atomic bombs as the USS Yosemite left Sasebo, Japan.
Ray was discharged from the Navy at the rank of Seaman 1st Class. He earned the Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
Ray raised eight children, Doug, Jerry, Roger, Deb, Carol, Barb, Lori and Sandie (deceased). The family has a legacy of military service with son Doug serving in the Navy and grandsons Michael Bertarand in the Air Force Guard, Tony Jones in the Marines and Seth Mickelson who is in the Army. Ray now lives in Sioux Falls, SD.
Congratulations Ray on this well deserved recognition and thank you for your service.
