In commemorating Veterans Day, Mayor Rey Martinez and the Loganville City Council honored WWII Veteran Roger Botkin at Thursday’s City Council meeting. Martinez welcomed Botkin, his wife Maxine, and his family to the floor and read a proclamation recognizing Botkin for “his extraordinary service in the US Army and World War II.”
The proclamation chronicled Botkin’s service, noting that he signed up for the draft in the US Army in 1943 when the US was entering the Second World War.
“Going through basic training in California, he was stationed on several bases in the US before being sent to Europe on a troop ship. It was 1944 and Roger was assigned to drive ambulances. Taking the wounded from the field hospitals to the hospital ships. He was 19 years old. After the end of the war in Germany, Roger was sent to the Philippines where he hauled supplies. Two and a half years later, he was home. Mr. Botkin had traveled around the world, an experience that changed him.”
Martinez also noted that Botkin and his wife this year celebrated 71 years of marriage, having met her when he returned from the war.
“She was quiet and he, the opposite. An example of a beautiful lifetime of love, they are the best of friends. They know each other’s thoughts just by sharing a look. They have completed 71 years of marriage. They have lived through hardships. They raised a family and now, they take care of each other.”
Members of the American Legion Post 233 also stepped up to pay tribute to Botkin for his service and to invite him to Post 233 Veterans Day dinner and ceremony.
Martinez also proclaimed Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, Poppy Day in the City of Loganville.
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