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Pat and Mary Laursen memorialize local residents killed in World War II and Vietnam.
By LEON M. TUCKER, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 12, 2002
DUNEDIN -- Pat Laursen wants to make sure that no one forgets the sacrifices made by World War II veterans like his pal Jack Parker. And he's willing to spend his own money to do it.
In honor of the 22 Dunedin servicemen killed while serving in the U.S. armed forces during World War II and the Vietnam War, Laursen, 88, and his wife, Mary, 81, recently purchased and dedicated a new memorial.
More than half a century after the war, Laursen still gets choked up talking about his friend.
It was 1942, and Laursen was working part time at the Dunedin Post Office and waiting for the daily mail train when Parker dropped by.
Laursen and Parker knew each other from their Sundays together at First Baptist Church of Dunedin.
"Jack knew I wanted to join the Navy after high school but I couldn't because I was colorblind and didn't weigh enough," Laursen said. "So Jack said, "Why don't you go down and try enlisting again?' "
The two made the trip to St. Petersburg to sign up.
Laursen joined the Navy Reserve; Parker signed up for active duty.
According to Laursen, Parker was shipped out almost immediately to the Pacific.
Laursen was called up two months later. A boat carrying him to his assignment as a Navy postmaster in New Guinea broke down and he ended up in Hawaii.
Three years later, the war was over and Laursen came home to his job in the Dunedin post office.
While delivering mail along his route, Laursen learned that his friend had not come home. "He was just a little fellow," Laursen said, his voice trembling. "They said he was a tail gunner on a Navy PBY flying boat because a little guy could get around the things better.
"They told me they (the Japanese) shot him and his crew down over Formosa" Island, now known as Taiwan.
Unlike the marble bench memorial in front of Dunedin VFW Post 2550 since 1956, the one donated by the Laursens also lists the 12 names of those killed in Vietnam.
"My husband wanted it, and it made him happy," said Mary Laursen, who wrote the $4,000 check to purchase the memorial. "I feel sorry for the boys that were on it."
The 3 1/2-foot granite stone was delivered to the open space on the south side of the building on June 17 and is also inscribed with, "Let's Not Forget They Gave Their All."
To enhance the memorial, Dunedin Leisure Services director Harry Gross said, the city erected three flag poles around the site.
"Originally, the VFW had planned to ask the city to pay for half of the cost of the monument," Gross said. "We were about to approach the commission and make the request for the money, but Laursen made an announcement that the whole thing had been paid for."
Costs aside, Laursen's requests are simple. "I hope they respect the fact that these boys died for them," Laursen said of people who see the monument in the future. "They didn't run away."