In honor of our veterans

Top of Iowa Quilt Club would like to honor David Groe this month. David served from Sept. 30, 1966 through Sept. 29, 1969, during the Vietnam War. He was active in the Marine Corps.
David went off to San Diego, Calif., for his basic training at Camp Pendleton, before serving in Vietnam. He worked in the food service and with recruitment.
David received many medals while serving, but when he was discharged, never received them. (Many men never received the medals they had coming at that time.)
After many years, David was notified that a program was going to be held to award the medals to him. Former Gov. Terry Branstad and several others came together and a program was held at the school to honor David, yet the medals still had not made their way here through the postal service.
David was to receive the National Defense Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnamese Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal with two stars, and the Rifle Markmanship Badge. As of today, David has now received most of these medals.
After returning home from Vietnam, David started working as an electrician, which he still does today. He is a local businessman, owner of Groe Electric.
When David isn’t working, you may see him at sporting events, cheering on one or more of his grandchildren.
David and his wife, Lory, live on an acreage, a short distance outside of Lake Mills. David has a son, Steve, and daughter, Angela. Steve lives in Lake Mills and works in partnership with his dad. Angela lives in Memphis, Tenn. David and Lory have eight grandchildren.
The Top of Iowa Quilt Club makes quilts as a “thanks” to our local veterans. If you know someone you would like to be honored, please contact Robin Grunhovd at 592-4876; David Anderson at 590-6666; or Bill Clark at 590-2229.