South Lake Tahoe honors WWII and Pearl Harbor survivor Garfield Ware
Submitted by paula on Thu, 10/14/2021 - 7:56pm
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Most people read about what happened on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, but few alive can say they were there. Garfield Ware, a young Navy seaman at the time, was on board the USS Lexington when the Japanese attacked the base in Hawaii.
On Thursday, the Lake Tahoe Veterans Alliance organized a special celebration for Ware, one of the last Pearl Harbor and WWII survivors still alive.
The 98-year-old Ware is a resident of South Lake Tahoe and was honored during a celebration at Revive Coffee & Wine. Over 100 people enjoyed the presentation of a proclamation by South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tamara Wallace, honors by Congressman Tom McClintock's Deputy Director Greg Holt, South Lake Tahoe Police Chief David Stevenson, South Lake Tahoe Fire Chief Clive Savacool, and Dan Browne, president of the Lake Tahoe Veterans Alliance.
“Garfield Ware is part of the greatest generation,” said Browne.
"We wouldn't be here today without men like you," Browne said the Ware as they shared the podium.
Ware and the Lexington weren't in Pearl Harbor when it was attacked as they were too far out to sea, but he watched the Japanese planes go overhead on their way to Hawaii. He returned to port to witness the devastation.
With all of the plaques, cards and well wishes, Ware was also presented with a rubber ducky. Ware and more than 2,700 of his crew mates from the Lexington ended up in the water after being hit by torpedoes during 1942's Battle of the Coral Sea. Browne said the duck was a big late to be a floatation device during the war but Ware might find it helpful in the future.
Restauranteur and musician Ted Kennedy sang a song to Ware he wrote to honor those who have fought for America's freedom, and bagpiper Maria DeLallo played.
Two family members spoke during the event, Ware's daughter Shelley Piscitelli and granddaughter Julee Delacour. The two women joined Ware and his great-granddaughter at Pearl Harbor in a 2018 trip the four generations enjoyed - his first time back to Hawaii in 77 years.
In 2016, Ware was part of the Honor Flight that took him to Washington, D.C.
Recently, Ware and his family were in Primo's Italian Bistro in South Lake Tahoe for dinner when everyone in the place stood and applauded him for his service.