Classic rock band Kansas’s lyrics to “Dust in the Wind” exemplify the human condition of “what have you done for me lately.”

Often the residents of Boynton Beach forget what veterans in World War I, World War II and other efforts some 50 years ago, did to protect the freedom of this country and other countries assaulted by tyrants.

Tom Kaiser, spokesman for the Boynton Veteran’s Council, said his mission is to remind local residents about veterans, both alive and killed in action.

Kaiser said the group has plans to erect a World War I monument at 10 a.m. Nov. 11 at Bicentennial Park, 411 N. Federal Highway. The group will continue to erect monuments thereafter, celebrating those who have fallen in every major war from the past century.

Kaiser, 81, joined the Navy in 1945 at 17 because his brother Robert had lost his life one year prior on Feb. 29, 1944.

“He [Robert] was one of only 407,000 that died in World War II,” Kaiser said.

The theme of the new World War I monument is a pigeon with a medal around its neck to celebrate the bird that flew to the American forces to deliver a note that 500 American soldiers were in danger.

“The war was over in 1918, but 500 soldiers were surrounded by 5,000 Germans,” Kaiser said. “The Germans shot the pigeon down, but it got back up and flew 30 miles to deliver the note. The soldiers were eventually rescued.”

Anthony Nastasi, 84, remembers a group of soldiers that were not so lucky during World War II.

Nastasi was in the 45th Infantry from Oklahoma for the Army. He was active from 1943 through 1945 and was witness to battles in Anzio, Italy that lasted three months, resulting in 40,000 casualties.

“You have memories of different buddies and guys that when you turned around they were not there anymore,” he said. “It is still happening today, where you see these guys on the news who are killed and you really feel for them.”

For information about the Nov. 11 event, call 561-276-1796.

Read more about this story in the Nov. 4 issue of the Boynton Forum.

Mike Rothman can be reached at mkrothman@tribune.com.