Stories and memories filled the summer breeze Sunday as more than 400 people gathered at Brown Park to honor 40 men who grew up playing the baseball sandlots of Omaha and died in World War II.
The men's names — including Nile Kinnick Jr. — were engraved on a bronze plaque that had hung for nearly a half century at Rosenblatt Stadium. After plans were made to demolish the old ballpark, longtime groundskeeper Jesse Cuevas contacted community activists John Stella and Steve Cavlovic, who began searching for a suitable place to locate the plaque.
"I am sorry it took this long to honor these (veterans)," Cuevas said. "We can't begin to compensate their families for their loss, but they now know that we shall never forget them."
Omaha contractor Joe Smejkal designed and built a 6-foot limestone monument to display the plaque, which is placed inside the entrance gate down the left-field line. The monument, funded by private donations, is flanked by a poem "Never the Same," written by a mother of one of the men honored there.
People traveled from as far away as Texas, California and Colorado for the dedication, hosted by American Legion Post 331. Brown Park at 15th and U Streets was one of the main Omaha ballparks in the amateur baseball heyday of the 1930s and '40s. The ball diamond there has been renovated and hosts American Legion games.
Jim Wachtler, 69, of San Diego said his father, Elmer Wachtler, grew up playing at Brown Park before going off to war.
"I didn't even know that plaque existed until someone called me," Wachtler said. "I can't believe all the people who turned out for this."
A cousin, Bill Wachtler, told a story about Elmer Wachtler and his three brothers "hiring out" to play for Lyons, Neb., in a game at Wisner, Neb. It seems Elmer was pitching for Lyons when a disputed call by an umpire caused the Wisner fans to come boiling out of the stands and onto the field.
"The Lyons team all jumped in their cars and got out of town, but after awhile they realized Elmer was missing," Bill Wachtler said. "They figured he was getting beat up, so they drove back to Wisner, only to find Elmer in a bar making friends."
The unveiling of the plaque followed brief remarks by several dignitaries, including Mayor Jim Suttle. Jim Wachtler unveiled the plaque along with Sandy Kriss Neneman and Judie Kriss Evans, whose father, Jim Kriss, died from wounds suffered while fighting with the 17th Airborne.
About 18 members of the Kriss family were on hand for the dedication, including Jim Kriss's 85-year-old widow, Evelyn Kriss. She traveled from Fort Collins, Colo.
"There are so many familiar names (on the plaque) from so many years ago," Evelyn Kriss said. "This is really a great honor for all of them, and I'm very proud to be here to see this happen."
After the ceremony, many in the crowd adjourned to a reception at Post 331 that included polka music. As the crowd dispersed, a new generation of baseball players took the field and began infield practice.
"It's great to see how they made this into a first-class baseball stadium," Bill Wachtler said. "Now, these American Legion players can stop, look at this monument and realize the sacrifices that previous generations have made."
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