On Saturday, Edmund “Ted” Crittenden, a petty officer in the U.S. Navy, who served aboard the USS Allen M. Sumner destroyer, was presented the quilt of honor and a plaque by representatives from the Daughters of the American Revolution during a ceremony at Francis City Hall. Crittenden was b orn in Hoytsville on March 24, 1927. Raised on his grandfather’s ranch, he enjoyed trapping and skinning muskrats, selling their pelts for $1.50 each. With this hard-earned money, he said he purchased a couple hounds from back east to hunt cougars and other wildcats. During World War II, Crittenden volunteered to join the Navy at the age of 17 on March 6, 1945, serving as a boatswain’s (“Bo-suhn’s”) mate on the destroyer USS Allen M. Sumner. He said he remembers how seasick many of his shipmates where while crossing the San Rafael Swell, but it never bothered him. One of his responsibilities was to operate a tender to transfer his captain to and from the ship. As an 18-year-old, Crittenden ran a crew of seven other seamen. Crittenden said he was stationed on the western Pacific island of Guam when the components for the atomic bomb were delivered by the cruiser USS Indianapolis. Crittenden remained in the Navy for about 18 months following the end of the war. Traveling all over the Pacific, he visited Australia, the Philippines, China and Japan. He endured the infamous naval rite of passage to become a shellback, having crossed the equator. He returned to Hoytsville in January of 1948 and soon married his wife, Pauline. There they raised five children: Ronald, Norman, Kendall, DeAnn and Cindy. Crittenden worked for Summit County for many years, eventually retiring from there. Following Pauline’s passing in 1983, Crittenden married his second wife, JoAnn. Together they have lived in Kamas for 40 years. Now, Crittenden is known for his love of woodwork and fishing, and his “Old Fisherman Crossing” sign can be seen while driving north on Foothill in Kamas. His legacy includes 32 grandchildren, 95 great-grandchildren and three great great-grandchildren. Also during the event, organized by Councilman and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Clint Summers, Cold War Victory medals were presented to eight other veterans in Francis: Roger Cox, Jack Prescott, Robert C. Delaney, Wilfred J. LaPointe, William W. Striegel, Mark Avery, Charles Farrell Jr and Eric Averett. The post Veterans honored at Francis City Hall ceremony appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less