(From left) Back row: John Hall, Ken Locke, Major Bill Welch and Jim Griest.
Front Row: Major Trish Welch, Commissioner Ken Baillie, Woody Zimmerman and Ann Howe.

WARSAW — The Warsaw Rotary Club met Friday, Dec. 18, for the 50th annual Warsaw Rotary Salvation Army Day.

The club collected $42,103.96 to support outreach in Kosciusko County. The originator and chairman of the event for 49 years, however, was not present and was honored for his efforts in the spirit of Rotary International’s motto, “Service Above Self.”

Seventy-one years ago, N. Bruce “Angels” Howe Jr. was serving in Europe in the United States Army. Going into France the day after D-Day, he found himself and his unit in the midst of the now famous Battle of the Bulge.

Allied forces pushed the Germans back. He was awarded a field promotion to first sergeant and five battle stars by 1945. He returned to Winona Lake after the war and continued a career in gospel music, publishing with Homer Rodeheaver and later Word Publishing.

Howe was inducted into the Warsaw Rotary Club April 11, 1952, and met Brigadier Brice Phillipson of The Salvation Army, beginning a close relationship between the two. Howe served as president from July, 1959, to June, 1960.

In December, 1965, Howe decided to honor his friend with “Brice’s Day” to raise funds for the S.A.’s “Tree of Lights” campaign. A little more than $800 was raised that first year and Phillipson was deeply moved by the efforts of the Warsaw Rotary Club. Phillipson passed away in 1974, but Howe never forgot his friend, changing the event to “Brice Phillipson Day.”

“Brice Phillipson Day” continued to grow until 1990, when it changed to “Phillipson-Howe Day” in honor of Howe’s 25th anniversary chairing the event.

Howe was looking forward to the 50th anniversary of supporting The Salvation Army, which is celebrating 150 years of service around the world and 94 years in Warsaw. He went on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., in September and noted, “Being a 63-year Rotarian and supporting The Salvation Army, serving in the U.S. Army, volunteering with the fire department and many other efforts in Winona Lake have meant so much to me. Ann and I are looking forward to this December and the 50th anniversary of Salvation Army Day.”

But God had other plans. Howe responded to his “last call” on Oct. 9.

“He gave to so many different causes and who knows how many $2 bills and $1 coins he has given to others, especially children over the years,” noted John Hall, chairman of the event. “Remember when you pass Center Lake Park in December, the beautiful display began with the generous donation of Bruce and Ann of their lights and decorations that used to adorn their beloved “Dream Lake” that thousands went to see each Christmas season,” Ken Locke, Co-Chairman said. “Bruce loved to tell others, ‘I love life.’ Warsaw Rotary/Salvation Army Day is one example of one of the Greatest Generation driven to leave the world a little better place than he found.”

Commissioner Ken Baillie attended the meeting, representing The Salvation Army headquarters in Indianapolis that helps oversee the operation of the Corps and Community Center. “I commend the Warsaw Rotary Club for their support of the mission of The Salvation Army,” he said, “Your giving has insured all these years and today that we can reach out to those in need, not only at Christmas but throughout the year.”

Donations are still being accepted for this anniversary celebration. Checks payable to The Salvation Army can be sent to the Warsaw Rotary Club, P.O. Box 1473, Warsaw, IN 46581.