HOMETOWN USA
Verona’s identity as Hometown USA can be traced to a
letter
written to The Verona Press in June of 1966 by Ronald R.
Schmidt,
Sp-4, U.S. Army, a Verona man stationed in Vietnam. He
expressed
his appreciation in getting his community’s newspaper while
stationed overseas and said that it was one of the few things
he
had to look forward to while he was there.
When the paper published Mr. Schmidt’s letter, his
detachment
was so impressed that its sergeant wrote to the paper, stating
that
seeing that letter in print truly lifted the morale of the
entire
unit. The letter went on to say: “It is a rare thing for us
to
receive any recognition at all, let alone have one of our own
men,
Ronald R. Schmidt, have a relatively unimportant letter
printed.”
The letter’s author, Sgt. G.W. Wilson, then said: “Though
many
of us have come from big towns, we have decided that it is
the
little town that personifies our country. We would be proud if
you
would allow us to take your town as our own.” He also
commented
that besides the friendliness of the newspaper, that his unit
was
attracted to Verona because of a Win-a-Bike contest being
sponsored
for local youth by the newspaper, stating that “this sort of
contest shows the American competitive spirit.” His unit
enclosed
two subscriptions to give to “the most deserving boy, to help
him
win a bicycle.”
The editor of the Verona Press promptly wrote back to Sgt.
Wilson and portions of that letter are as follows: “The
residents
of this Village would be most honored to have your detachment
adopt
this peaceful, growing community as your own.” But in asking us
for
this privilege, you place a responsibility upon each of us here
at
home that we should stop and think about.
To be placed in the role of “foster village” for a detachment
of
fighting men in Vietnam means we must set an example of
leadership
in times of stress, courage in moments of anxiety and depth
of
character in times of challenge. We, too, need the challenge
to
remain friendly that you placed before us in your letter.
It is true that small towns, such as Verona, consider the
lives
of humble citizens of utmost importance. And all over the
USA,
small towns are alive with the spirit that marks so much of
American life and thinking. This competitive spirits sparks
our
people, our businesses and our athletic teams to improve
constantly, to seek better ways of serving people.
Karl Curtis, author, A Sesquicentennial History of Verona 1847-1997
