Honoring Our Veterans
This page is dedicated to honoring the Veterans in our community for their service and telling their stories.
What Tom Brokaw referred to as "The Greatest Generation" is quickly declining in number. This, of course, refers to not only our World War II Veterans but also to the families that supported those veterans in the war effort. These are some of the veteran's personal stories pertaining to their own war efforts. It's the club's hope that should you be so inclined, you will reach out individually to these veterans and get to know them a little better.
We will start with the World War II Veterans as we do not want to lose their stories. The goal is then to get stories from all Sunflower Veterans. Click on the veterans name below their picture to read that veteran's story.
U.S. Navy Reservist Wallace Cromwell – A Life of Faith and Service
U.S. Navy Reservist Wallace Cromwell – A Life of Faith and Service In 1954, while still in high school, Wallace Cromwell made a life-changing decision—to join the U.S. Navy Reserves. With his parents’ permission, he enlisted with hopes of becoming a Navy pilot. However, due to health issues, that dream was not possible. Undeterred, Wallace pivoted to a new role and began training as a Navy Corpsman. Throughout high school and college, Wallace dedicated his weekends to Navy Reserve training in Wichita, Kansas, and spent two weeks each year at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois. During his time there, he received training on Lake Michigan, where he served as a Signalman—the sailor responsible for communicating between ships using flags. His first cruise on Lake Michigan was a rough one, as seasickness got the best of him. Wallace recalls surviving the trip by eating “a lot of crackers” to settle his stomach. As his service continued, Wallace’s aspirations evolved. He developed a strong desire to serve as a Navy Chaplain, combining his dedication to the military with his deep faith. However, Navy requirements at the time called for three years of pastoral experience in the civilian sector before he could be considered for chaplaincy. Determined to follow that path, Wallace pursued a degree in theology and attended seminary after completing college. Upon graduation, he was ordained and began his ministry in New York, launching a lifelong career as a pastor—a calling rooted in both his faith and his time in the Navy. Although he never became a Navy pilot or chaplain, Wallace Cromwell’s years of reserve service laid the foundation for a life of leadership, compassion, and devotion to others—a true reflection of his enduring commitment to serve.
