MONROE - Now there are two.
More than 60 years ago, 12 friends, all veterans and all members of the Cecil Jones Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2312 in Monroe, formed a group called the Last Man's Club.
Alvin Riese and Walter Marty are the last living members of the club.
It was 1947. World War II had ended two years before and 12 young men, all veterans of the war and part of what has been called "The Greatest Generation," decided to form the club because they all knew each other, were members of the VFW and were part of the organization's color guard.
Riese, 88, Monroe, served in the United States Navy from 1945 to 1946. Marty, 85, Monroe, served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1943 to 1946.
"We just started talking about the idea (of a club) and pretty soon we started it," Riese said. "We've been friends for years."
Each member put $2 into a fund that was then put in the bank. The last remaining member living will collect the money collected over the years. It's not much, Marty said.
"There' probably about $900 in the bank," he said with a slight laugh.
But it isn't about the money anyway: It's about their camaraderie through the years.
Marty said the group gathered informally throughout the year, but held a special gathering to remember Veterans Day.
"We try to meet as close to Nov. 11 as possible," he said.
There were three people in the group at this year's annual Veterans Day dinner. However, the third remaining member of the group, George Anton, 87, died Dec. 7. Anton served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 until 1946.
As members began to die, remaining members honored them the following year at the Veterans Day dinners, Marty said.
Next year, they'll to honor Anton.
More than 60 years ago, 12 friends, all veterans and all members of the Cecil Jones Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2312 in Monroe, formed a group called the Last Man's Club.
Alvin Riese and Walter Marty are the last living members of the club.
It was 1947. World War II had ended two years before and 12 young men, all veterans of the war and part of what has been called "The Greatest Generation," decided to form the club because they all knew each other, were members of the VFW and were part of the organization's color guard.
Riese, 88, Monroe, served in the United States Navy from 1945 to 1946. Marty, 85, Monroe, served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1943 to 1946.
"We just started talking about the idea (of a club) and pretty soon we started it," Riese said. "We've been friends for years."
Each member put $2 into a fund that was then put in the bank. The last remaining member living will collect the money collected over the years. It's not much, Marty said.
"There' probably about $900 in the bank," he said with a slight laugh.
But it isn't about the money anyway: It's about their camaraderie through the years.
Marty said the group gathered informally throughout the year, but held a special gathering to remember Veterans Day.
"We try to meet as close to Nov. 11 as possible," he said.
There were three people in the group at this year's annual Veterans Day dinner. However, the third remaining member of the group, George Anton, 87, died Dec. 7. Anton served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 until 1946.
As members began to die, remaining members honored them the following year at the Veterans Day dinners, Marty said.
Next year, they'll to honor Anton.