~ On June 6, Mayor Ken McClure honored World War II veteran Jack Hamlin with the Key to the City at The Montclair Senior Living. Hamlin, who was born in Springfield in 1921, graduated from Springfield High School (now Central) and attended Drury University. He also played Minor League Baseball for the New York Yankees' farm club in Joplin in 1939.

However, when World War II broke out, Hamlin enlisted in the service like many other men. Due to a childhood illness, he was unable to serve but still wanted to contribute to the war effort. He joined the Coast Guard with the intention of defending his homeland.

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But fate had other plans for Hamlin. He soon found himself crossing the English Channel on June 6, 1944 - a date that would go down in history as D-Day. Mayor McClure praised Hamlin's bravery and dedication to his country during this pivotal moment in history as he presented him with the Key to the City.

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