By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer

Every Memorial Day weekend, members of Dayton’s Post 587 of the Jewish War Veterans lead community volunteers in placing American flags at the graves of war veterans in local Jewish cemeteries.

This year, in addition to decorating graves, JWV will honor those still with us from “The Greatest Generation,” the dwindling number of Jewish veterans of World War II.

In partnership with the Jewish Federation, JWV Post 587 will host a community brunch to honor Jewish World War II veterans on Sunday, May 26 from 10:30 to noon at the Boonshoft CJCE.

The brunch will be catered by Steve Bernstein and is free for Jewish World War II veterans. The cost for members of the general community to attend is $10 per person.

Post 587 member Stu Rosenstein, born three months before the United States entered World War II, came up with the idea.

Rosenstein says he was inspired by retired Air Force Captain Earl Morse of Springfield, who founded and runs the Honor Flight Network, which flys World War II veterans to Washington, D.C. and the National World War II Memorial free of charge.

Several Jewish World War II veterans from the Dayton area have participated on Honor Flight trips.

Rosenstein says, he estimates between 12 and 20 Jewish veterans of World War II will attend the brunch.

He and Post Commander Steve Markman stress that honorees at the brunch don’t have to be members of JWV; they’ve put the word out in hopes of finding area Jewish World War II veterans who are not on JWV’s list.

“We’ve done as much as we can to find out who they are,” Rosenstein says. “There’s an organization here in town, the Korean War Veterans, that gave us a sizable donation toward the brunch. Henry Guggenheimer found out they were distributing funds. I thought it was fantastic.”

The guest speaker for the brunch will be Maj. Gen. Dwyer Dennis, program executive for fighters and bombers at Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson A.F.B.

“They were heroes who just did what they had to do,” Markman says of those JWV will honor. Markman was born two years after World War II ended. “And there are fewer and fewer of them left everyday.”

According to the Honor Flight Network, U.S. World War II veterans are dying at a rate of approximately 800 each day.

“We’re going to get engraved wood plaques to commemorate their service,” Markman adds. “Most of them are pretty humble about what they did and aren’t looking for praise.”

JWV is the oldest veterans’ organization in the United States.

“Jews have served in every war since the American Revolution,” Markman says. “On the national level, we advocate for the needs of all veterans, and are a strong voice in support of Israel.”

Locally, Post 587 supports the VA Medical Center and sponsors monthly bingo games there, attends naturalization ceremonies to welcome new U.S. citizens, and advises the Montgomery County Veterans Service Commission.

JWV Post 587 and the Jewish Federation will host a community brunch to honor Jewish World War II veterans on Sunday, May 26, 10:30-noon at the Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville. The cost is $10; no charge for Jewish World War II veterans. Transportation is available with reservations. R.S.V.P. by May 17 to Steve Markman, 866-9566.