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This 1945 Times Herald, a Washington D.C. newspaper, was one among many newspapers with front page headlines and stories about the Nazis’ surrender. (Johnson Publications photo)

Recently found newspaper hits close to home this Memorial Day

    Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day after the American Civil War in 1868 when the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans founded in Decatur, Ill., established it as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the Union war fallen with flowers.
    After both Union and Confederate holiday traditions, usually celebrated on different days, merged together the day was extended to specifically honor all of the Americans who gave their lives while in the military service.
    With many local community members who once served in the United States armed forces, this weekend is filled with various memorial services.
    Fitting with this weekend’s upcoming theme, a local couple, Jeff and Jo Leyland, recently discovered an almost forgotten historical relic.
    While going through some of Jeff’s mother’s, Jerry Leyland, things they discovered a newspaper with a page one headline exclaiming, “Nazis surrender in Italy, Hitler died of stroke, Eisenhower told.”
    After completing business school in Grand Island, Jerry went on to be a secretary at the Pentagon during World War II (WWII). Every single one of her Pentagon pay stubs were also found with the newspaper.
    Jerry worked at the Pentagon for four to five years where she also met her future husband, Percy Leyland, who served in communications in the Army.
    Despite the torrents of war,  Jerry and Percy found love while attending a military dance, said Jo.
    Jerry’s roommate had bought the ticket for herself, but fell ill. Not wanting to waste the ticket, Jerry attended wearing her roommate’s name tag, not realizing she would meet her future husband.
    After the war, Jerry and Percy lived in New Jersey and then Georgia, where they raised a family.
    Like most veterans who have seen or experienced war time, Percy did not talk much about his experience.
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