Veterans , DD214s , and Military Honors
America ’ s Greatest Generation
Bill Seymour Delivering the Invocation for the 2016 IPC Veterans Celebration
Bill Seymour went to be with his Lord and Savior , Jesus Christ , on January 12 , 2018 — he was 93 years old . Bill lived his life as the epitome of a servant follower of Christ . Over the course of his life Bill had many major accomplishments in both his personal and professional life , truly making a difference in the world that he left behind . Bill did not advertise his accomplishments ; he just continued to serve others . Bill was a member of Independent Presbyterian Church for 29 years , joining in 1989 with his wife after retiring from work and moving to Savannah . Bill was always positive and uplifting to everyone around him , spreading enthusiasm and good cheer
William “ Bill ” Seymour WW II Veteran and Humble Servant of Christ
to those that he came in contact with . He was a faithful servant of the church , serving as a Trustee , a member the Finance Committee , and co-chairing the 2001 Capital Campaign for church renovations . Bill was a tireless volunteer in the Savannah community . He served on the boards of many civic organizations and the Veritas Academy . He was a home hospice care volunteer for over 20 years and was the Memorial Health volunteer of the year in 2012 . He brought his enthusiasm and energy to our I . P . C . Veterans celebrations , delivering the invocation for the 2016 celebration and our most recent event in 2017 .
Bill was an athlete in both high school and college ; he was on the varsity basketball team at the University of Michigan when WW II began . Bill , as the men of the “ Greatest Generation ” did , responded to his country ’ s call and placed his college education on hold to join the Army . After Bill joined the Army he was assigned to the Army ’ s Manhattan Project , the Top Secret project to develop America ’ s first atomic bomb . He was assigned to the test site at Los Alamos , New Mexico on the plutonium recovery team , where he was exposed to dangerously high levels of radiation while executing his duties . The danger and exposure to radiation was such that Bill and his team members ’ health were tracked for the duration of their lives . Bill ’ s and his fellow soldiers ’ dedication to duty and sacrifice on the Manhattan Project ultimately resulted in the saving of hundreds of thousands of American servicemen ’ s lives . If the atomic bomb had not been available to end the war , an invasion of the Japanese home islands would have cost potentially one million American and Japanese lives .
After his service in the Army during WW II on the Manhattan Project , Bill returned to the University of Michigan to complete his degree .
Upon completing his education , Bill went on to a career in the paper industry that culminated in him rising to the position of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Crystal Tissue Company in Middletown , Ohio . After his retirement in 1988 , Bill and his wife moved to Savannah . We are thankful to God for raising up men like Bill to selflessly serve His church and our nation .
— Dexter Brewer
Veterans , DD214s , and Military Honors
The Department of Defense form DD214 is a very important document for all military veterans . All veterans know what it is since it is the last document they sign before being discharged or retire from service . When a veteran passes away this form is required if the veteran or his family desires military honors at his funeral . When a military veteran passes , the form has to be carried to the funeral director as soon as possible so they can request the military honors from the nearest military facility . If the DD214 is readily available to the next of kin , it is more likely that the funeral honors can be arranged and there will be less crisis management on the part of the family . The DD214 also is required if you want to be buried in a National Cemetery or State Veteran ’ s Cemetery . The same document entitles the veteran to a military gravestone and other veteran ’ s funeral benefits . All veterans should safeguard their DD214s and make sure their next of kin are aware of its location and have access to it .
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