Brownwood’s Welcome W. Chandler Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas have created 12 posters featuring 17 Brown County veterans. The Daughters created the posters to publicize the approximately 2,000 veterans buried at Greenleaf Cemetery and to encourage citizens to purchase wreaths to honor these heroes, a program sponsored by Wreaths Across America. Posters are displayed this month at the Brown County Museum of History in recognition of Veterans Day.
DRT will host a poster reception at the Brown County Museum of History on Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11, at 10 a.m. The public is invited to this free event.
Following is information about a Navy Wave from Manhattan and a GI from Brownwood who found love in uniform.
Harriette and Roland Graves
Navy WAVE Harriette Ruth Aronson and Army and Air Corps Cadet Roland L. Graves signed up to serve their country in World War II and in the process found love in uniform. The duo brought the WWII romance home, sans uniforms, and spent a lifetime celebrating their love and sharing their talents with Brownwood.
Harriette was a Y3 in the US Navy, and Roland was an AVN Cadet in the US Army and Air Corps.
At home in Brownwood, Roland (Ronnie to Harriette) operated a radiator shop and airplane business while Harriette attained local legend status through her Brownwood Bulletin reporting. They had four children, Roland Harry Graves, Joan Lois Graves LaBarr, Judy Ann Graves Brownlee and Regina Louise Graves Brite.
Learn more their romance and their contributions to Brownwood by viewing their poster at the Brown County History Museum.
Join DRT in honoring Brown County veterans. Sponsor $15 wreaths to be placed on veteran graves Saturday, Dec.17 at Greenleaf Cemetery.
To purchase wreaths, make checks payable to Welcome W. Chandler DRT and mail to Nancy Lowry, DRT Treasurer, PO Box 272, Bangs, TX 76823. You may also purchase wreaths online at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/TX1050P. Deadline to order wreaths online is Nov. 21. Deadline to receive checks is Nov. 18.