Residents Commemorate Veterans’ Day

In commemoration of Veterans’ Day, residents, including some that had also served, gathered in the VIP Room on Friday, November 7 to hear Shaun Weaver talk about his father’s World War II experiences.
Near the beginning of his presentation, Weaver took a moment to recognize the veterans who were in the audience.
“For those who have served and gone on before and for those who are among us, my heartfelt gratitude,” Weaver said. “No matter how you served or when, we all owe you a debt of gratitude.”
Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, Weaver studied theatre and said that “of all the things I wanted to do professionally, the one overarching desire has been to tell my father’s story.”
“My interest in World War II history began late at night listening to my dad telling his World War II stories,” Weaver said. “As I grew older, my interest grew through my hobby of building model airplanes and tanks.”
Weaver said he eventually wanted to know more about those who fought in such airplanes and tanks. He then started reading histories and biographies related to that era.
“When I started reading, I learned of what it costs in terms of human suffering and sacrifice,” Weaver said, noting that it is import to remember the past so that it will not be repeated in the future.
While talking about what his father, Ted Weaver, the son said that he was also paying tribute to those “who stood in the crossroads where rational self-interest and ethical action lay in opposite directions” but still had the courage to help someone else.
“My objective here today is to take a little piece of history and make it personal for you,” Weaver said. “And, in the process, inspire hope, gratitude and courage.”
In 1943, Ted Weaver was sent to England with the 8th Army Air Corp. On July 7, 1944, he embarked on his 23rd mission, which was to bomb an aircraft factory in Germany.
His bomber place was eventually shot down, and Ted Weaver ended up in Holland. He buried his personal effects, but left his parachute and flight suit where they landed even though he had been trained to hide them. However, the owner of the field later hid it.
Shaun Weaver explained that his father found refuge in the homes of several people throughout Holland. In fact, Weaver said his father stayed in at least five different Dutch homes, adding that he had been “given refuge at each one at great personal risk.”
“What was it in the character of these people that made them choose ethical action over rational, even justifiable, self-interest?” Weaver asked.
Just before leaving for England for his tour of duty, Ted Weaver had gotten engaged to Sylvia, who hadn’t heard from him while he was in hiding in Holland. However, her father had had a dream where he saw Ted and he was convinced the pilot was still alive.
Sylvia finally received a telegram from Ted on April 17, 1945. He returned to Utah on May 8, 1945 and the couple was married on May 31, 1945.
“How do we measure up to this standard of moral courage and compassion?” Shaun Weaver asked during his presentation at North Shore Towers. “Studying the rescuers is a window into the past and it can be a vision for the future.”