Request for National Memorial for Darrell “Shifty” Powers- Grass Roots Effort!
Summary of eRumor:
A request for a national memorial service for Darrell “Shifty” Powers who died on June 17, 2009 and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry during World War II.
The Truth:
The internationally televised memorial service for Michael Jackson after his death in June, 2009, sparked a lot of criticism from people who asked, “Why aren’t we devoting that kind of attention to other people who are more worthy of recognition such as American heroes in the military.
That collective mood became focused on Darrell “Shifty” Powers, who served in World War II and whose story was a part of the HBO television series Band of Brothers.
Powers died on June 17, 2009 after a bout with cancer. Calls for a national memorial service of some kind for Powers began appearing in various sites including the Herald-Gazette in Barnesville , GA. Click for story.
This spread to larger grass roots efforts that started appearing all over the Internet including Craig’s List and resulted in the day of July 20. 2009 being a day of memory and honor of Shifty Powers.
According to his obituary posted on the Tri Cities website of the Bristol Herald Courier, Powers volunteered to serve in the 101st Airborne Infantry during World War II and saw action in France and Belgium fighting the Germans.
updated 07/16/09