Cape man one of two in U.S. to get Marine League honor

Ron Wilson usually is behind the camera. Tuesday he was the star attraction when the Marine Corps League presented the KFVS12 cameraman of 40 years with its Distinguished Citizen Award.

The Distinguished Citizen Award is a national recognition. The award is presented to those who have assisted others in need and promoted values of citizenship and patriotism. Wilson is one of two Marine Corps League members in the country to receive the award this year.

Before Wilson arrived for work Tuesday morning, about 15 local members of the Marine Corps League gathered inside the KFVS12 parking garage for the surprise ceremony. Not realizing the event he was asked to film in front of the KFVS12 tower was for him, Wilson walked out the door with a video camera under his arm.

With a surprised look on his face, Wilson greeted his fellow Marine Corps League members with a "hoorah" and salute.

As Missouri Commandant Richard Bollwerk presented Wilson with a plaque and the medal, another cameraman began filming.

"I'm shocked. When I walked through those doors, I had no idea what was going on," Wilson said. "I like to be the one behind the camera, not in front of it."

Wilson, of Cape Girardeau, served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1959 to 1963. He achieved the rank of corporal before he was discharged. His brother, Richard, received the Medal of Honor after he was killed trying to save the life of a wounded comrade in the Korean War.

The local detachment nominated Wilson for the award in April. After its approval at the state level, Wilson was announced the recipient of the award at the National Marine Corps League Convention two weeks ago in Boston.

Bollwerk, of Cape Girardeau, was at the national convention to accept the award for Wilson. "It's a very prestigious award. No one from the area has ever received it," he said.

The local Marine Corps League nominated Wilson for the award because of the many hours he spends filming various veterans events in the area. "No matter what we're doing, or if it's some other veterans group, Ron is out there filming it. He goes out of his way to cover all these events," Bollwerk said.

Wilson also maintains Freedom Corner, a veterans memorial at the intersection of Broadway and West End Boulevard. In the summer, Wilson mows the grass around the memorial and places American flags in the ground on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

"It's a humbling honor. I am very grateful," Wilson said.

jfreeze@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246