The Planning Group stood by the General Lyman L. Lemnitzer Memorial that was installed at the Wayne County Historical Society in Honesdale, the week of Oct. 26. From left, front row: Patti Bursis; Chairperson Paula Roos; Martha Sader; Roger Herman, WCHS Trustee. Back row: Nancy Carmody, WCHS Trustee; Albert G. Rutherford; Robert Keen; Stanton Pratt, WCHS Trustee. Absent from picture: Wendell Kay and Warren Schlosser.

By Peter Becker
Tri-County Independent

A long-awaited granite memorial to honor the late five-star General Lyman L. Lemnitzer, a Honesdale native, was installed the week of October 26 in front of the Wayne County Historical Society Museum.

The planning committee gathered around the memorial October 30 for a picture. Carol Dunn, the Society's Executive Director, said that they had planned to have the memorial set up this spring and a formal dedication held on Memorial Day. Due to the pandemic, like so many other events, this was postponed.

The current plan is to host a public dedication and open hose next spring. A permanent exhibit about Gen. Lemnitzer, that was organized with the plans for the memorial, is already in place and may be visited any time the museum is open.

General Lyman Louis Lemnitzer was born August 29,1899 in Honesdale, and graduated from Honesdale High School in 1917. Following West Point, he led a long and accomplished career with the U.S. Army.

In brief, this included:

• Taking part in secret, daring missions in World War II. He slipped into North Africa by submarine in 1942 to confer with French commanders, defying the Vichy Government.

• Covertly going to Switzerland in disguise to begin talks with the German High Command behind Hitler's back.

• Commanding the Seventh Infantry Division in Korea during the Korean War, as Major General. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and the Silver Star for Gallantry.

• Serving as Commander of the Eighth US Army in 1955, in the Far East.

• Being named Chief of Staff of the US Army in 1957.

• Being named Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1960.

• Serving as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe (NATO), 1963-1969.

Among many honors, he received the Distinguished Service Medal from President John F. Kennedy, the Silver Star for Gallantry, the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Reagan and the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire from King George VI.