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Time to get caught up on some mail that has come in, along with other items of interest to veterans.

First, let me bring you up to date on the banner with all the stars that was in the First Presbyterian Church during World War II. Each star stood for a church member who was in service and by the end of the war there were more than four hundred stars, each one meticulously sewn on the banner by church members. Tragically, 20 of those dark stars had to be replaced with a gold star, signifying that that service man or woman had died in service.

The banner still has not been found, despite a call in this column for any member of First Presbyterian Church who has information about the banner, a significant emblem showing how the church supported the war effort with its own blood. This is a tragedy. World War II was the last time this nation stood as one," that we Americans united in a joint effort to win the war, focused on ridding the world of the horrors of brutal dictatorship.

We functioned as a nation, and we succeeded: we spent our treasure and the lives of our citizens in a worthwhile cause. No nation can do more.

May I again ask those of the First Presbyterian family to send any information they can about this most valuable historical item.

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In a previous column, I wrote about the big bands of the World War II era, their leaders and also about the vocalists we all listened to during those war years. Jo Stafford was a very special vocalist. She recently died, but I can remember being overseas, and every night before we turned in, she was on Armed Forces Radio and put us all to bed with "Good Night, My Love" -- and the memorable lines: "I'll whisper goodnight, Turn out the light and kiss my pillow, Making believe it's you." There wasn't one GI in the entire Mediterranean Theater who did not believe Jo Stafford was singing directly to him! Of course, they were all wrong: I was 20, and I knew that Jo Stafford was singing directly to ME!

Included in the catalog are the top tunes of the war years. By year they are:

l 1941: "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," "Green Eyes," "Elmer's Tune," "Racing With the Moon" and "I Hear a Rhapsody."

l 1942: "Tonight We Love," "Moonlight Cocktail," "Miss You," "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree," "Tangerine."

l 1943: "There Are Such Things," Paper Doll," I've Heard that Song Before," "That Old Black Magic," "As Time Goes By."

l 1944: "You Always Hurt the One You Love," "Besame Mucho," "Long Ago and Far Away," Mairzy Doats," "I'll Get By."

l 1945: "Till the End of Time," "Sentimental Journey," "A Cottage For Sale," "Rum and Coca Cola," "There! I've Said it Again."

For all you ex-GI's who are wondering: "Begin the Beguine" came out in 1938, and "In The Mood" came out in 1939.

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Robert Parker, a Greensboro veteran with an excellent war record that includes two combat tours in Korea with the 24th Infantry Division as well as a tour in Vietnam with the Air Force, sent an e-mail asking all veterans (actually, all citizens of this country) to fly the flag Sept. 11. As Parker explained, "Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this seventh anniversary of one of our country's worst tragedies. We do this to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms." And from this old veteran, a big Amen. My flag will fly on Thursday.

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I recently wrote about Vietnam veteran Porter Halyburton, who was invited to speak to the United States Men's Olympic Baseball team. He gave the team a motivational talk just before they flew off to China as representatives of the United States. Halyburton must have said some right things -- the team won a bronze medal and represented America with discipline, ability and honor.

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Those who have served their country have earned the right to be remembered. If you will send me the names of any veterans who have died in the year 2008, it will be an honor for this veterans column to remember them in the last column of the year. Please include the veteran's full name, which war they were part of, branch of service (Army, Navy, Marines, etc,) rank (sergeant, petty officer, lieutenant, etc.), and your name and telephone number. Please write me before Nov. 30.

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I will be teaching a course on the Civil War at the Greensboro Historical Museum, starting Sept. 23 and running 10 consecutive Tuesdays. There is a nominal charge. To reserve space, please write Greensboro Historical Museum, 130 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27401, or call 336-373-2043. Class size is limited to 50.

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NEXT COLUMN: We will continue our look at how Greensboro's religious and service institutions supported the World War II war effort. The column will detail how the West Market Street Methodist Church (the "United" designation was a postwar addition) gave comfort to those in their church family, ministering to those on the home front as well as those in uniform, and also opened its doors to those service men and women who were stationed in Greensboro before going overseas.