By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Fifteen new flags were added to Geneseo’s Aisle of Flags at Veterans Day ceremonies held Nov. 11 in City Park.
Among the 924 flags that waved in the wind in the impressive display were four new flags in honor and in memory of Obrecht family members, two uncles and two cousins of Ron Obrecht of Geneseo.
Obrecht, an Army veteran himself who served in the U.S. Army from 1955-1957, said he was close to his relatives and decided he would purchase the flags so they could be included in Geneseo’s Aisle of Flags…I” was close to both of my uncles and visited Uncle Harley often while he was still alive,” Obrecht said.
Ron Obrecht of Geneseo stands by the flags in memory of his two late uncles and two late cousins who served in the military. Obrecht is responsible for purchasing the flags in their honor to be included in Geneseo’s Aisle of Flags. Photo by Loucks
He commented, “The Aisle of Flags is a great honor for all those veterans and it is amazing how many flags have been added since it started,” Obrecht said. “It seems like even when you talk to people from other areas, they know about Geneseo’s Aisle of Flags. It is impressive.”
The late Obrecht veterans:
-Harley V. Obrecht – Ron’s uncle and father to Wayne Obrecht – served in the U.S. Army during World War I. “He was on a ship in the New York harbor when he came down with pneumonia. He was hospitalized until the war ended so he did not go to Europe,” Obrecht said. (Born Sept. 29, 1894 and died Jan. 5, 1990).
-Hubert Obrecht – Ron’s uncle and father to Dean Obrecht – served in the U.S. Army during World War I, and was stationed at a base on the East coast. (Born May 28, 1897, and died Jan. 16, 1988).
-Dean Obrecht – Ron’s cousin and son of Hubert Obrecht – served in the U S. Navy during World War II. He graduated from high school in Geneseo in 1944 and enlisted in the Navy shortly after graduating. He served as a Navy pilot and was in the service from 1944-1945. His widow, Carol Obrecht, and one son, Craig, live in Sarasota, FL.
-Wayne Obrecht – son of Harley Obrecht and Ron Obrecht’s cousin – served as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps (now the U.S. Air Force) during World War II, 1941-1946, and flew supplies from China to islands in the Pacific Ocean. He graduated from high school in Geneseo, and is survived by a daughter, Carol, who lives in California. (Born Oct. 29, 1922, and died Feb. 27, 1972).