By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
Wyoming’s favorite World War II veteran, Sid Lenger, would have turned 103 on Wednesday, Sept. 8. Knowing that he will be with everyone in spirit, his friends and organizers of the Mr. Sid’s Video Series will be hosting a Mr. Sid’s Birthday Celebration at Marge’s Donut Den at 2 p.m.
The event will feature Legner’s family members and special guest Navy Commander Paul Chardoul. Commander Chardoul did not know Lenger but did serve on a Landing Ship Tank (LST) in Vietnam. Lenger served in the Navy during World War II on the LST 651 including the intense experience of fending off Kamikaze attacks on his 20mm gun during the Battle of Okinawa.
Music provided by John VanderMeer will feature Lenger’s favorite hymns. A short video presentation will tell some things about Lenger including the decision to start a Travel Agency (Lenger Travel), his and his wife’s work for Mission India and in his later years, Lenger’s decision to give tours of the LST 393 anchor at the Mart Dock in Muskegon. Birthday cake will be provided by Marge’s Donut Den.
Due to his work in the travel industry and then later with Mission India, Lenger began hosting travel film programs locally. Due to the interest in the films, Lenger revised the films and began showing his travel films every second Wednesday of the month at Marge’s Donut Den. After his death, at the age of 100, in 2019, his friends, with family support, decided to continue the video series.
Upcoming programs are:
Oct. 13: Mr. Sid’s Germany video
Nov. 10: James Smither GVSU Veterans History Project
Dec. 15: Mike Martin’s Christmas “Extravaganza”
