VETERAN BANNERS HANGING PROUDLY IN LONG BEACH

Submitted by Kim Friedrichs

Dear 908 Magazine,

In April of this year (for the third consecutive year), a callout was made to nominate veterans with a connection to Long Beach through the Veterans Banner Program. The program is administered by the Long Beach Office of Veterans Support and the Veterans Commission.

Over 130 veterans or their family members responded, and a total of 65 veterans were selected for the program. Their banners were installed in July throughout the city and will remain until summer 2027. This program honors, celebrates and recognizes veterans like my father in a very special and unique way.

My father, Ed Kniss, joined the United States Army in April 1944. He left his family home in Rock Falls, Il, at the young age of 18, as he was eager to serve his country in WWII.

Dad served in active combat in France, participating in the Battle of the Bulge. In 1945, he received the Bronze Star for bravery and heroic achievement in action. His courage under enemy fire saved his platoon, averted casualties and aided his men.

My dad returned to the States and attended North Central College in Illinois on the GI Bill. This is where he met and, as he would say, “became smitten with,” Beverly Wolter of Aberdeen, South Dakota, who would become his bride.

Ed Kniss' banner is located across from the Long Beach Airport (north of Spring St/south of Wardlow Rd)

After graduation, Ed and Beverly moved to Long Beach in 1954, where they settled in the Los Altos neighborhood. He was a very talented artist and photographer. He attended post-graduate courses at CSULB where he majored in art to add to his repertoire of artistic talents.

At one point, my mom and dad owned and managed a small retail camera store in North Long Beach. Later, my dad would become manager of Winstead Camera at several stores in Long Beach. He eventually became a publicity photographer for the Long Beach Unified School District where he worked most of his adult career. He also taught photography at the evening adult school at Wilson High School.

The pride and joy of my parents’ lives was their family — one daughter, three sons, and eventually, eight grandchildren. Ed and Bev were longtime members of the Los Altos United Church in Long Beach where they were actively involved and made many dear and close friends.