SUBMITTED BY DAVE
Love of liberty:
By Bill Archer
PETERSTOWN — The love of liberty can live for generations and the spark of hope that fuels the fires of freedom knows no geographical or political boundaries for people who live free.
A family from the small village of Fraiture, Belgium placed flowers at the War Memorial of the Rowe Jones American Legion Post 0145 in Peterstown and paid their respects to an American hero who died more almost 64 years ago in a battle to help liberate their community after five years of Nazi occupation during World War II.
“What can I say?” Dominique Derauw said in perfect English coated with a thick French accent. “Although we weren’t even born when Lt. (Linwell) Rowe was killed in the sky over our village, participation in this service was very important to us. This was a guy who was only 18 or 19 years old, and he gave his life for us.”
The emotion of the moment caused tears to swell in the eyes of several members of Rowe’s family who attended the brief ceremony at the memorial. The crowd of about 60-70 people spilled out on U.S. Route 219, but traffic didn’t seem to mind. It was as though everyone who witnessed the gathering knew that something special was taking place.
