More info on Ralph Freiberg
To the Editor:
Thank you to The Argus for printing the story about Eitzen native Ralph Freiberg who died in World War II and was honored at Memorial Day services last week.
There are two additional places where Ralph’s name is inscribed which reflects the gratitude of the British people toward those from other countries who fought and died in defense of England.
At the magnificent St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, designed by architect Christopher Wren and completed in 1710, is the American Memorial Chapel and the Roll of Honour book containing the names of over 28,000 Americans who lost their lives in the Battle of Britain. The book is under glass and every day, someone wearing white gloves turns the page so that over time all 28,000 names will appear. Ralph’s name is in that book. When contacted by e-mail to verify that Ralph’s name was there, a staff person at the Cathedral said he would make the effort to see that the page with Ralph’s name was open on our Memorial Day.
The Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede on Englefield Green, 20 miles southwest of central London on the River Thames commemorates the over 2,000 airmen who were lost in World War II. All of those recorded have no known grave anywhere in the world and many were lost without a trace. The names are engraved into the stone walls of the memorial, according to country and squadron. Ralph’s name is there.
An additional postscript to the Freiberg story is that one year after he was declared missing, the death certificate was sent to his father as was a condolence card from the King and Queen of England.
Angela Murphy
Caledonia, Minn.
