Reception to Honor WWI Veteran

BEAVER FALLS, PA (06/25/2012)(readMedia)-- A reception will be held to honor the memory of George Michaels Rowe, U.S. Army Lance Corporal and two-time recipient of the Purple Heart on Thursday, June 28. The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. in the lower lobby of Geneva College's Northwood Hall, where a display of his belongings and related artifacts will be unveiled. In addition, the reception will both honor Rowe's extended family for their charitable donation of the display's artifacts, as well as all other war veterans for their service to the country.

The date of June 28 holds a rare significance, marking both the beginning of World War I, with the 1914 assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, and the end of that same war, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. It is fitting that the date of June 28 also mark the remembrance of Lance Corporal Rowe-a man who fought during those five years of World War I.

Rowe (1892-1976) was assigned to the 3rd Army Corps, 80th Division, 159th Brigade, 318th Infantry Regiment, Machine Gun Unit, and participated in three of the four major ground conflicts fought by American forces: The Defensive Sector (Artois); the Battle of St. Mihiel, France; and the Battle of Meuse-Argonne. In addition to his Purple Hearts, the war veteran was awarded a WWI Good Conduct Medal and the WWI Victory Medal with three Battle Clasps-one for each battle in which he fought.

The artifacts comprising the Northwood Hall display were generously donated to Geneva College by members of Lance Corporal Rowe's family: grandniece Denise Murphy-Gerber, Associate Professor of Business; grandson Gregory R. Rowe; and daughter Margaret "Peggy" Ann Rowe Ayers.

The community is invited to the reception, and light refreshments will be offered during the event. Members of Rowe's family will be in attendance as will Geneva employees who are veterans, and members of the Beaver county Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Geneva College is a comprehensive Christian college of the arts, sciences and professional studies. Founded in the tradition of the Reformed Christian faith, Geneva prepares students to serve Christ in all areas of society: work, family and the church. Geneva College's philosophy of education is based on the Foundational Concepts of Christian Higher Education. Geneva is a founding member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU).