Marion Legion hosting lunch
for Veterans Sunday

The Marion America Legion Post, 4141 Witherden Rd., will host veterans and their guests at an Appreciation Luncheon on November 9 at 1 p.m.

A Veterans Administration representative will be there to register veterans for Canandaigua Veterans Administration Medical Center services.

Guest speaker will be Earl Pankratz, World War II pilot and author of I Needed A War To Do It, A Veteran Remembers. The book includes memories of the three years of his military career, during which he studied, agonized and prayed his way through basic training and five flight schools.

He earned his silver wings, became a Lieutenant and flew 43 combat missions. He flew in the European Theater in the Rhineland, the Ardennes and the Central Europe campaigns and was awarded Air Medal with six oak-leaf clusters and the Belgian Fourragere.

His book is a collection of his wartime memories and experiences while training and flying PT-17 Stearman, BT-13 Vultee, North American AT-6, Curtiss-Wright P-40 Warhawk and a P-51 Mustang, which he labeled his aluminum sweetheart. In addition to his stories, Pankratz will have a display of memorabilia.

Veterans lunches are provided free; a donation is requested for guests. For reservations, call 926.5571.

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