BY DAVID KENNARD - dkennard@idahostatesman.com
On most days, a light breeze barely moves the branches of the giant box elder trees at the Star Cemetery.
The solid headstones below contain names, dates, sometimes poetry. But they provide only a glimpse of the lives of those like Joy Ayres who lie buried beneath the carefully groomed lawn.
The land for the cemetery was donated by Joy's grandparents in 1900, and his grandmother planted and nurtured the box elder trees that once lined the cemetery. Two remain.
Across the cemetery from his grandparent's marker, two small American flags have been pushed into the dirt next to Joy's headstone.
A treble clef and a rose are carved into the granite next to his name and the date of his death - Independence Day, 2008.
Many people attending the Aug. 2 funeral service expected little more than a simple ceremony for a simple man who moved away from home to serve in World War II.
But after taps was played and the flag that draped the casket was given to Waldtraut "Val" Ayres, his wife of 48 years, word began to spread about the man who served his country in three wars.
Joy, known by most people as a gentle man who loved to grow roses and listen to fine music, was born in Star in 1914.
Ayres was a soldier who in 1970 retired at age 56 after 24 years with the Army.
He worked as a medic and later in the finance corps.
Among the ribbons he wore on his uniform was a red ribbon with a single blue stripe, signifying he was decorated by the Army with a Bronze Star for heroic or meritorious action in conflict.
An oak leaf cluster he wore with his medal showed that it was the second time during his service in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam that he had been decorated with the honor.
An Army Commendation Medal, again with an oak leaf cluster, shows his sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service.
Val said besides his medals and some handwritten journals, she has only limited information about his service.
"He never talked about it," Val said.
The two met and married soon after the end of the Korean War while Joy was stationed in Berlin.
Another assignment took the couple back to America for a short time, but war soon took him to the other side of the world again.
Joy served in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive in 1968 when the North Vietnamese army made a massive surge in an attempt to crush the South Vietnamese army and its allies.
A simple journal entry in his personal papers reads, "3 Jan. '68 "The Year of TET" - 4 Feb. '69, U.S. Army, Pacific (Vietnam).
More medals - including the Vietnam Gallantry Cross given by South Vietnam to soldiers honoring deeds of valor in battle - recognize his service there.
Joy came home from war for the last time in January 1970 and went to work for a library district in Olympia, Wash.
His focus turned to Val, who sang opera as a young woman before the war destroyed Berlin.
"He loved good music. And we attended the opera often," said Val. She chuckled and then said, "I wouldn't have married him if he didn't."
Val also said Joy loved to play the piano. "It was his second hobby," she said.
The two started growing roses and became well known for their work with the Centennial Rose Garden in downtown Olympia.
Joy and his wife raised the money for the garden, which today contains a collection of about 100 varieties of roses.
Although his 93 years took him around the world many times, Joy was returned home to be buried among the dozens of family members representing six generations of Ayres in the Star Cemetery.
David Kennard: 377-6436
In Remembrance is a weekly profile on a Treasure Valley resident who has recently passed away. To recommend a friend or loved one for an In Remembrance, e-mail dkennard@idahostatesman.com.
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