Two Montezuma Post 169 American Legionnaires recognized for continuous membership

​     Montezuma American Legion Blakley-Stevens Post 169 Commander, Ron Hensel, left, presents a certificate of continuous membership to Uwe Meyer and his wife, Diane, during a brief ceremony at the Legion Hall on Sunday, Oct. 1. Uwe has been a member of the Montezuma Legion for 50-years.

By J.O. Parker
 
      Two Poweshiek County Veterans were recently recognized for 50- and 70-years of continuous membership in the Montezuma American Legion Blakley-Stevens Post 169.
      Uwe Meyer and Jim Williamson, both Montezuma, were given certificates of continuous membership in a brief ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 1 at the Legion Hall in Montezuma.
Uwe Meyer – 50-years
       Uwe was born in Bremen, Germany. The Meyer family immigrated to Guernsey, Iowa in 1951.
        “Our folks purchased the family farm south of Montezuma in 1958,” Uwe said.
     That same year, Uwe and his sisters, Brigitte and Vera, moved to Montezuma and started attending Montezuma Schools.
       Uwe graduated in 1968 and was drafted into the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Unit in 1969. He served in Vietnam from November 1969 to November 1970.
       After being discharged from the service in 1971, Uwe returned to Montezuma and the family farm. He married Diane in Fredericksburg, Iowa on Feb. 10, 1973.
         The couple has four children, Jason, Eric, Brett and Jill and eight grandchildren.
         Uwe and his son, Jason, still raise corn and soybeans on the family farm.
       Uwe joined the Montezuma American Legion in 1973 at the urging of Rae Van Roekel, and Junior Freeborn. He remains active in the legion, serving in the Honor Guard and in his words, “Whatever else needs done.”
          When asked about his 50-year recognition, Uwe said, “It is appreciated.”
Jim Williamson – 70-years
          Jim Williamson was born in a farmhouse near Ewart. He attended and graduated from Montezuma High School in 1949.
         He served in the U.S. Army in the MP Company during the Korean War. Jim spent two years, 1953 – 1955, in Seoul, Korea. He also spent time at Fort Riley, Kansas.
       After the war, Jim returned to Montezuma and married his sweetheart, Norma, on July 15, 1956. The couple farmed southwest of Montezuma for nearly 40-years before retiring in 1997.
          Jim and Norma have three children, Ed, Pam and Karla, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
          Jim joined the Montezuma American Legion in 1953. Both Karl and Ed attended Boys’ State.
          When asked about the 70-year recognition, Jim said it means a lot to him.
          “The Legion does a lot of good things” he said.

     Montezuma American Legion Blakley-Stevens Post 169 Commander, Ron Hensel, left, presents a certificate of continuous membership to Jim Williamson and his wife, Norma, during a brief ceremony at the Legion Hall on Sunday, Oct. 1. Jim has been a member of the Montezuma Legion for 70-years.