Newark's hero - Rear Admiral Gehres ceremony Saturday

The school district, village and town will honor the late Rear Admiral Leslie Gehres on September 28 at Newark High School.

The public is invited to attend this historic ceremony at 1:30 p.m., outside the main entrance of the school.

Rear Admiral Gehres is a World War II hero who rescued more than 300 sailors trapped below deck in a burning aircraft carrier, the USS Franklin, on March 19, 1945. They were 60 miles off the coast of Japan, under attack by Japanese aircraft. More than 1000 crew members, from a crew of 3000, were killed and injured.

Leslie Gehres was born in Newark on September 23, 1898. He and his sisters attended Newark.

The village recognized Captain Gehres at its Rose Festival in 1945, but his outstanding accomplishments are worthy of being remembered with a memorial. The Sept. 28 ceremony will move into the gym and conclude in the school's foyer with the unveiling of an exhibit.

The Village of Newark and Town of Arcadia have both proclaimed September 28, 'Leslie E. Gehres Day.'

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