In World War II, Chester Crocker of Wiscasset served in the Pacific Theater. On June 3, 1945, a Japanese kamikaze plane struck the Navy ship he was serving on, the USS Allegan.

Crocker earned several awards for his service, including the Combat Action Ribbon and the Philippine Liberation Medal with One Bronze Star; but he never actually received them and, for seven decades, never sought them.

Then William Cossette Jr., commander of American Legion Post 54 in Wiscasset, found out. Beginning in June 2013, Cossette worked with the office of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, to get Crocker his honors.

It all came together one year later, on June 6, in the Wiscasset High School gym.

Crocker got the medals, an American flag flown in his name over the U.S. Capitol on May 30, and the extended applause of students, staff, fellow veterans, and families of current service members. Crocker gave them all a wide salute. The crowd rose to its feet.

Adria Horne from Collins’ office announced the presentation of Crocker’s awards and the flag. The ceremony held added meaning for Horne, who was on active duty in the Army from 2001 to 2011. While serving on a small island in the Philippines in 2009, she met a Filipino WWII veteran with a folded American flag he said General MacArthur gave him when the man was liberated from a Japanese POW camp.

“It is just a humbling experience for me today ... that we can now present you with a flag that commemorates your service (during) the same time. Thank you so much, Chester. Thank you so much for your service, from a grateful nation,” Horne said.

Friday’s school day leading up to the assembly centered on the 70th anniversary of D-Day. WHS technology education teacher Robert W. Cronk, a Vietnam War veteran, and his fellow staff member Joe Hovance came up with the idea a few weeks ago.

Cronk’s father Robert E. Cronk served on the Navy ship LST-359 when it took part in the Gold Beach landing in the Normandy Invasion.

The teacher said he wanted students to see that WWII was about more than dates. “It took an entire nation ... to overcome the tyranny of Hitler and Mussolini and the attempt to take over the world.”

Cronk said he is totally humbled by veterans, who give up those times in their lives to protect freedom and democracy.

“And I think we're forgetting about it, and I think we need to stop at times and think, and reflect upon the people who preserve the freedom that we have.”

Cronk brought in his father's uniform, sea and duffle bags, and medals.

Every half-hour on Friday, a different student was to leave class and ring a ship’s bell in the lobby 15 times, by day’s end totaling 550, the number of America’s WWII vets who die each day, Cronk said.

The school’s student council skipped its year-end celebration to instead donate the $200 for it to the Legion post’s purchase of American flags for routes 1 and 27.

“There’s nothing more meaningful than the greatest flag in the world,” Council President Logan Grover said in remarks on stage before he, Vice President Briana Goud and President-elect Ridge Barnes shook hands with a line of veterans.

Friday’s event would help students understand the sacrifices that have been made for their freedom, and helps make real the history they are learning in class, student council adviser Deb Pooler said. “I believe it is important that our students can truly learn and understand what came before them to better understand what lies ahead.”

Shania Marr, who graduated as a member of Wiscasset High School’s Class of 2014 on Thursday night, June 5, said she was surprised the school put on the special day. She enlisted in the Army National Guard in January, and heads off to boot camp in August. During Friday’s assembly, her parents Lisa and Russell Marr of Wiscasset received a red and white banner with a blue star, to hang in a window at home.

“I couldn’t be more proud of her, proud of the decisions she has made,” Lisa Marr said afterward.

Among other families accepting the banners were Alna’s Roger and Beth Whitney, parents of Marine Corps Reservist Raymond Whitney. He was away on a two-week deployment. It was very nice that the school wanted to honor those who serve, his father said. “It’s a good day to do it on,” he added about the anniversary.