Service Above Self

John (Chick) Miller has been selected to be the Grand Marshal of the Westfield Memorial Day Parade.

A resident of Westfield, Chick entered the Army in August of 1944 right out of High School.  Initially he was sent for training to Fort Dix and then onto Kentucky.  After he spent four weeks training for the Infantry, then four weeks training as a Tanker and then another 4 weeks training in artillery, he was shipped overseas, entering the theater of the European War in Italy.  There he served as a Private in the 701TD (Tank Battalion) operating the 90MM guns mounted on the tanks.  He was stationed in Naples, Salerno, the outskirts of Rome and Trieste.  When Germany surrendered, he was slated to be sent to continue the fight in Japan.  Just prior to shipping out to Japan, he attended a USO show the Andrew Sisters performed in.  After a break, the Andrew Sisters came out and announced that Japan had surrendered.  Chick’s brothers also served in WWII.  One was stationed in New Guinea and the other in Germany.  During the Civil War, Chick’s grandfather, George Watts, was a member of the N.J. Volunteers in the Union Army.

“Service above Self” is the motto of Rotary.  Chick has lived that motto.  Not just in his service to his country, but also by joining and becoming a dedicated Mountainside Rotarian for 35 years.  At times, he served as President and Secretary of the club.  Rotary volunteers work and contribute financially to support projects within their local community and the world.  Rotarians fight to eradicate disease, combat hunger, provide pure water and sanitation where lacking and promote peace throughout the world by helping those less fortunate.

The Mountainside Rotary is proud to have Chick as one of our members and congratulate him on being selected to lead the Westfield Memorial Day Parade as its 2014 Grand Marshal.

You too can make a difference!!!  Join with Rotarians worldwide and leverage off those efforts already being made.  Enjoy a barbecue lunch on us and find out more about Rotary at the Famous Dave’s Restaurant in Mountainside on Rt. 22 East every Monday (except legal holidays) from 12:15PM – 1:15PM or visit Rotary.org.