Lloyd W. Kilmer

Stewartville, MN - Lloyd W. Kilmer grew up in Stewartville, MN with his parents and 4 brothers. Lloyd enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served as a B-24 bomber pilot in the 8th Air Force during WWII. He flew 16 missions, was shot down over Holland, and successfully crash landed his aircraft with no injuries to the crew. Lloyd was taken prisoner and served the remainder of the war at Stalag Luft III. Lloyd returned to civilian life in Omaha, NE, married Marie Beckwith and had 2 sons. He graduated from Creighton University and worked in real estate and the savings and loan business. He served his community as the Douglas County Clerk for 2 terms and remained active in Republican Party activities, Rotary, Scottish Rite and the American Legion. After moving to Sun City West, Lloyd was very active, along with his second wife, Ruth, in the American Legion, Ex-Prisoners of War, VFW, DAV and other veterans' organizations. He was instrumental in establishing the Boulevard of American Flags along RH Johnson. All of these flags are veterans' casket flags and they represent a veteran who fought for our freedom. The American Legion Post 94 organizes and flies these flags. Now the flags fly 5 times a year on the now renamed Boulevard of Flags. After being included in Tom Brokaw's 2000 book "The Greatest Generation" and subsequent NBC program, Lloyd spoke to countless groups across the country about his war experience and service to his country. He was inducted as a member of the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame in 2004. His wife, Ruth and his sons, Lloyd Jr. of Davenport, IA and Frank of Santa Fe, NM survive Lloyd. His first wife, Marie, preceded Lloyd in death. Memorials should be sent to Northwest Valley Veterans Association, P.O. Box 5181, Sun City West, AZ 85376-5181.