| Raymond R. Rotenberger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| June 21, 1892 - August 13, 1918 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Newspaper's account of Raymond's death | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Private Raymond Rothenberger Died in France on August 13th--Body Recovered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Special by Staff Correspondent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A gold star replaces the blue in Trumbauersville's flag. Private Raymond Rotenberger was drowned in France and is the first boy from the section to pay the supreme sacrifice of freedom. His mother, Mrs. William Rotenberger, received a telegram from the war department which read: "Deeply regret to inform you that it is officially reported that Private Raymond R. Rotenberger -- supply train -- died of drowning August 13-- body recovered." A mother, father, six brothers and five sisters, as well as the entire community mourn his death. He was 26 years old and left home four months ago, having been called to Camp Meade. His stay there was short, as in July he arrived in France. He was a member of the Reformed congregation in Trumbauersville and sang in the choir. He was a member of several fraternal organizations in that section. |
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| A Brave Mother -- His mother, who was grief-stricken received letters from her son dated France, August 6th and 11th, in which he said: "The country is very beautiful where I am at present--midsummer weather. The houses are all built close together with steps leading right out of one house into the next." He also stated in the letter that he took a walk trying to meet old-time-friends and met a good friend from Philadelphia, a young man who was a fellow worker while they both were employed in Philadelphia. He closed by saying: "Mother, pray for me and all of us boys that we are all taken care of and God watching over us." Mrs. Rotenberger was eagerly awaiting a letter from her son when the telegram explained all. As the telegram indicates, Raymond Rotenberger died two days after writing his last letter to his mother. His mother is sad over her loss, but says: "I am proud of the fact that he was so willing and ready to serve his country and died while serving for our freedom." Besides his parents he is survived by these brothers: Edwin, John, Harvey, Jacob, Elmer, all of Trumbauersville and vicinity, and Allen, of Allentown; and these sisters: Mrs. Emma Dietz, of near Shelly; Mrs. Lillie Jones, Laura, wife of Charles Long, of Trumbauersville; Sallie, wife of Harvey Sell, Trumbauersville, and Esther, wife of Lewis Wonsitler, of Trumbauersville, Mrs. Daniel Miller, of East Greenville, is a cousin of the hero. |
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