JGA SEPT-OCT 08 - The Jewish Georgian

September-October 2008 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 21
Jewish World War II veteran
finally rests in peace
ewish World War II veteran Jean William Levy was recently honored in a posthumous
ceremony in Palmetto, Georgia. JLevy
was a decorated veteran who passed away on December 11, 2007. He was laid
to rest in an unmarked grave as a result of a “county burial.”
At the request of Senator John Douglas from Social Circle, the Georgia Department
of Veterans Service agreed to conduct a traditional Jewish unveiling ceremony to provide
a grave marker and honor Levy. Veterans Service then contacted the Georgia Commission
on the Holocaust to assist in the ceremony.
Chaplain Steven Lindenblatt, a rabbi, presided over the ceremony. Members of the
Department of Veterans Service; Kim Brown, of the Georgia Commission on the
Holocaust; Levy’s lifelong friend Barry Wiener; and other members of the community
were present.
Kim Brown, coordinator, Georgia Commission on the Holocaust; Barry
Wiener, attorney and friend of Mr. Levy; Sylvia Wygoda, executive director,
Georgia Commission on the Holocaust; Senator John Douglas;
Commissioner Pete Wheeler, Georgia Department of Veterans Services;
Tom Cook, assistant commissioner, Georgia Department of Veterans
Services. This photo was taken in the Governor’s Office during the presentation
of the flag from Mr. Levy’s casket and the commendation from
President Bush to the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust.
The graveside memorial service began at 10:00 a.m. with words from chaplain
Lindenblatt. Other speakers included Senator Douglas; Brown; Oma Parnell, chairman of
the Newton/Rockdale Veterans; and Wiener.
Upon completion of the unveiling, the Honor Guard from Fort Gillem began the traditional
military service—two soldiers played “Taps” on the bugle, while the other two
folded Levy’s flag. The flag was then presented to Wiener, who, in turn, gave it to the
Georgia Commission on the Holocaust to preserve Levy’s memory. “Mr. Levy would
have wanted the commission to have his flag,” said Wiener.
“Not only was it an honor to be able to attend such a beautiful service for this man, it
was incredibly humbling for his best friend to present the Commission on the Holocaust
this symbol of his service in WWII,” said Brown. “It is men like Mr. Levy who bravely
fought for the freedoms and humanities that the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust
represents.”
Levy was born in Evans, Georgia, in February of 1924. He served in the U.S. Army
in WWII and was wounded in action in France during December 1944. Levy became a disabled
veteran and spent many years at the Veteran’s Hospital.
Although he never fully recovered, Levy received a bachelors’ degree in industrial
engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in June 1948. He earned his LL.B.
from the Woodrow Wilson College of Law in 1958 and was admitted to the State Bar of
Georgia in June 1959. Levy continued to practice law on behalf of disabled veterans until
his death.