General Lemnitzer Memorial in place :: Wayne County Historical Society

General Lemnitzer Memorial in place

The Planning Group stood by the General Lyman L. Lemnitzer Memorial that was installed at the Wayne County Historical Society in Honesdale, the week of Oct. 26. From left, front row: Patti Bursis; Chairperson Paula Roos; Martha Sader; Roger Herman, WCHS Trustee. Back row: Nancy Carmody, WCHS Trustee; Albert G. Rutherford; Robert Keen; Stanton Pratt, WCHS Trustee. Absent from picture: Wendell Kay and Warren Schlosser.

By Peter Becker
Tri-County Independent

A long-awaited granite memorial to honor the late five-star General Lyman L. Lemnitzer, a Honesdale native, was installed the week of October 26 in front of the Wayne County Historical Society Museum.

The planning committee gathered around the memorial October 30 for a picture. Carol Dunn, the Society's Executive Director, said that they had planned to have the memorial set up this spring and a formal dedication held on Memorial Day. Due to the pandemic, like so many other events, this was postponed.

Lemnitzer Exhibit

The current plan is to host a public dedication and open hose next spring. A permanent exhibit about Gen. Lemnitzer, that was organized with the plans for the memorial, is already in place and may be visited any time the museum is open.

General Lyman Louis Lemnitzer was born August 29,1899 in Honesdale, and graduated from Honesdale High School in 1917. Following West Point, he led a long and accomplished career with the U.S. Army.

In brief, this included:

• Taking part in secret, daring missions in World War II. He slipped into North Africa by submarine in 1942 to confer with French commanders, defying the Vichy Government.

• Covertly going to Switzerland in disguise to begin talks with the German High Command behind Hitler's back.

• Commanding the Seventh Infantry Division in Korea during the Korean War, as Major General. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and the Silver Star for Gallantry.

• Serving as Commander of the Eighth US Army in 1955, in the Far East.

• Being named Chief of Staff of the US Army in 1957.

• Being named Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1960.

• Serving as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe (NATO), 1963-1969.

Among many honors, he received the Distinguished Service Medal from President John F. Kennedy, the Silver Star for Gallantry, the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Reagan and the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire from King George VI.

He and his wife Katherine Tryon, also a Honesdale native, would return regularly to vacation at his childhood home at 1423 West Street in Honesdale.

General Lemnitzer died November 12, 1988 at age 89 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

The idea of a memorial was the initiative of Paula Roos, of Honesdale. She said a permanent tribute like this was lacking in his hometown. The concern is that many of the younger generation would have no idea about the General and his heritage, that is shared by all who make Wayne County home.

General Lemnitzer “It looks great,” Roos said of the memorial, which was prepared by Martin Caufield Memorial Works. “It is time we honored this wonderful man and friend.”

Lemiitzer was a neighbor of her late husband, William Roos.

The grass-roots effort to memorialize the general began in the fall of 2019. A highly visible location for the memorial was desired, and the Historical Society Trustees approved the location outside the museum at 810 Main Street.

Paula Roos led the planning group. Other members of the group include Wendell Kay, Robert Keen, Stanton Pratt, Albert G. Rutherford and Warren Schlosser.

Several members of the group had personal connections to Lemnitzer in his hometown.

“He never forgot his hometown.” Rutherford stated. During his deployments, Lemnitzer would visit army camps and make a point to look up service members from home.

The general was also instrumental in persuading the erection of the Prompton Dam and Jadwin Dam in the late 1950's, two structures which have spared Honesdale and communities downstream from further devastating floods like the one in 1942.

General Lemnitzer was one of five Wayne County sons to earn the ran of general, and the only one with five stars.

Lemnitzer and John F. Kennedy

The new exhibit dedicated to General Lemnitzer includes uniforms, personal papers and information about Lemnitzer’s Honesdale connections and his military career.

The Brown Street bridge in Honesdale is also named for General Lyman L. Lemnitzer.

…

Most of the biographical information here was taken from the WCHS newsletter article written by Carol Dunn.

General Lemnitzer Memorial in place

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