Veterans Day is an annual opportunity for the nation to honor those who have served in the Armed Forces.

But for Streator native Henry O. Simons, who served in World War II for four years, the honor his mother gave him has lasted beyond a lifetime.

Anna Mae Simons was an aspiring writer in her time and to ease the pain of being distant from her son, wrote him poetry to keep him close.

"I know those boys loved their mother and she loved them," said Ann Mobley, Anna Mae's granddaughter. "Uncle Hank was a wonderful man, too. He was just a good-hearted, kind person. Everyone admired him and I don't think he ever had an argument with anyone. He was just a good person."

Henry Simons entered the U.S. Army June 28, 1941, and served as an auto mechanic. During his service, he was stationed in the Rome-Arno campaign, the air offensive in Europe, Burma and India.

Simons was awarded multiple decorations and citations, including an American Defense Service Ribbon, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with two bronze battle stars, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with one bronze battle star, four overseas service bars and one service stripe.

Simons was honorably discharged Sept. 12, 1945.

Mobley said Simons was reluctant to speak of his experiences in the war.

"He had nightmares," she said. "When they came home they didn't want to talk about it. They didn't have a lot of help in those days."

Upon his return to Streator, he was employed by Virl Z. Hill Chevrolet and Thatcher Glass Co. and farmed for many years in Otter Creek Township until his retirement.

Simons died Aug. 11, 2001. He was 81.

According to his obituary, the song "Barbara Allen" was to be played at his funeral. The song portrays a young man dying of unrequited love for Barbara Allen. At his deathbed all she can say is, 'Young man, I think you're dying.' When he dies, she is grief-stricken and soon dies as well. Often, a briar grows from her grave and a rose from his, until they grow together.




To My Son

I stood at the window looking out at the night,
And I saw that old moon just shining so bright.
And I thought as I looked at that moon up there in the sky,
How often we have watched him, my son, you and I!
And then as I gazed at him so far up there above,
I thought he might carry a message of love.
Just tell him I love him,
Please moon!
Tell him I miss him and to come home real soon.
Tell him I pray God to keep him safe and all right.
Just give him my love and whisper good night.

Written by: Anna Mae Simons for son Henry Simons while he was stationed in Burma and India in 1944.