The Poteau Valley Genealogical Society (PVGS) held their August meeting Thursday evening at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Center in Poteau. Following a brief business meeting, PVGS President Kim Robertson and PVGS member David Tamplin discussed the PVGS’s Purple Heart Program. If you have a Purple Heart Veteran in your family, please contact the PVGS at the Patrick Lynch Public Library in Poteau or on the Poteau Valley Genealogical Society Facebook page.
PVGS member, David Tamplin of Heavener showed the Military Shadow Box he had made for his uncle, SSGT Portland Tamplin who was a WWII veteran. He discussed each item in the box and read a description of the activities of his Uncle Port’s division during the war.
David Tamplin presented the Military Profile that the PVGS had made at the request of Calvin Eugene Shupert’s family to his brother Bo Shupert of Heavener. Tamplin read about Calvin’s activities in WWII and discussed the items in the shadow box.
Pictured below are Shupert and PVGS President Kim Robertson.
Tamplin also presented a Military Profile of Pvt. Charley R. Marsh from Wister who had served in WWI to his Great Grandson Joel Hardy and Great Great Grand-daughter Shelby Hardy. The Hardy family lives on the same property that Pvt. Marsh had lived on. Other members of the family were present for the presentation. Prior to presenting the Profile, Tamplin read the history of Marsh’s division and the battles they had participated in during WWI. Unbeknownst to the Hardy family, Tamplin also had prepared a Military Shadow Box of Marsh’s medals and awards, which he presented to the family.
Pictured below are PVGS President Kim Robertson and Marsh’s Great Grandson Joel Hardy and Hardy’s daughter Shelby Hardy.
Pictured below are David Tamplin and Joel Hardy with the Military Veteran Shadow Box Tamplin prepared for the Hardy family in honor of their veteran family member Pvt. Charley R. Marsh.
Tamplin then presented a Military Shadow Box he had prepared for the family of William Christopher Lerch, who had served in the Middle East. Tamplin discussed the items in Lerch’s box and discussed the battles he had been in.
Pictured below are Tamplin presenting the Military Shadow Box he prepared for William Christopher Lerch and Lerch’s parents Patsy and Pernell Lerch.
Tamplin along with PVGS volunteers conduct the research for the Military Profile and Military Veteran Shadow Boxes at the family’s request. Tamplin sources the medals, awards, and ribbons for the boxes and assembles them in an order that allows the family to see all the awards their military loved one had received. Tamplin said that not all military members are aware of all the medals/awards they have received, especially during WWII when metal was rationed, so not all medals were stamped and presented to the service personnel.
If anyone is interested in purchasing either the Military Profile or Military Veteran Shadow Box, contact PVGS by email pvgs1977@gmail.com or Tamplin by email graycoat2@yahoo.com or call him at 918-839-0103.
Get Local News!
