War Veteran Still Helping Home Front

Del.icio.us

A World War II paratrooper who landed at Normandy on D-Day has been named 2006 Kaneohe Citizen of the Year for voluntarily picking up litter in his neighborhood during morning walks.

Zane Schlemmer, who is 82, called his deed a “win-win situation,” for his neighborhood and his family. He stays fit by bending down to pick up rubbish - a movement he sees others paying to do at the gym - and his 15-year-old granddaughter in Honolulu boosts her allowance by recycling the cans and bottles her grand-dad collects.

When it’s not raining, Schlemmer’s week-day walks take him along a 2-mile route from his Kaneohe home to Benjamin Parker Elementary School.

“Sometimes I do it on the weekends, but I like to read the paper on Sunday mornings,” admitted Schlemmer, whose beautification efforts began four or five years ago.

At the board’s Dec. 21 meeting Schlemmer received a certificate of recognition and a $25 gift certificate donated by Yamashiro Hardware. He also received honorary certificates from the City Council and state Senate, presented by Venus Alcoba, an aide to Barbara Marshall, and Sen. Jill Tokuda, respectively.

“We just wanted to recognize Mr. Schlemmer and citizens like him who go out of their way to make Kaneohe a better place to live,” said board chairman Roy Yanagihara, who nominated Schlemmer after seeing him picking up litter.

“There were others nominated as well,” he added, “but he was the group choice.”

Schlemmer is no stranger to honors. For his participation in the 1944 Allied offensive, Schlemmer has a road and a modest museum in France after him, courtesy of the grateful farmer in whose orchard he landed. “Paratroopers never cry, but it sure brings tears to the eyes,” he said of his wartime recognition.

Now a retired real estate developer, Schlemmer said his spirits are buoyed by the sense of accomplishment his efforts produce and folks he sees on his walks.

“People will honk their horns, or if they’re walking they’ll thank me,” he said. “Since I’m doing it early in the morning one couple gave me one of those illuminating belts to wear (for safety). That’s typical of what I’ve run into. They’re just wonderful.”