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Proud Family Honors Their Own 'Band of Brothers'

In a Feb. 12 memorial ceremony, 14 plaques were dedicated to military service members of the same family.

Saturday, atop under a cloudless sky, a family gathered to voice gratitude, celebrate and remember. While people often amass upon La Jolla’s crest for these reasons, the group assembled at the Veterans Memorial the afternoon of Feb. 12 gathered in honor of a truly unique family history.

Cliff and Amy Hopkins of Mulberry Grove, Ill. had 13 children — 11 boys and two girls—born across a span of 26 years beginning in 1912. Each of the 11 boys served in the U.S. military, with eight of the brothers enlisted simultaneously during World War II, and the other three during the Korean and Cold War eras. This familial pride in their country is what set Saturday’s events in motion.

“I wanted to honor my brothers while I’m still here,” said Hope Hopkins Coleman, the 10th child and first girl to be born into the Hopkins family.

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Now, at 80 years old, the California resident recalls a lifetime of proud, but often unsettling moments when sending family members off to serve their country. In addition to her brothers, Coleman’s husband, son and brother-in-law also served.

It was through a sense of family pride, and an introduction to Mt. Soledad Memorial Association Board of Trustees member Charlotte Perry, that Coleman decided she wanted to do something more in paying homage to her family’s military history.

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You could say Coleman’s resolution spurred the creation of a “family plot” of sorts. With the purchase of 14 memorial plaques from the Mt. Soledad Memorial Association, one for each of her brothers and three more for her husband, son and brother-in-law, the Hopkins family now represents the largest related group commemorated at the Veterans Memorial.    

To top it all off, it was agreed that the family would come together for a dedication ceremony to take place at the memorial. The culmination of these plans took place at noon on Saturday as children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers and the like, some residents of California and others traveling from places as far as Washington D.C., North Carolina and Illinois, made the trip up Mount Soledad for the occasion.

“It’s unlike any ceremony we’ve ever done before,” said Bruce Bailey, president and COO of the Mt. Soledad Memorial Association. “Never have this many plaques been dedicated at once.”

While performing the ceremony’s introduction, Bailey discussed what it means to be a veteran, and the common oath that all service members take. In his words: “A simple oath; not a simple calling.”

Reflective of both those who serve and the loved ones they leave back home, this sentiment seems to resonate with service members from any era, and the families who support them.

Mary Hopkins Lanahan, daughter of the third Hopkins son, Robert, offered one such example in a story about her father’s return from WWII, after spending nine months as a POW in a German prison camp:

“Dad said the hardest thing from the war was getting off that bus and walking the last block home. Here was a man that had been shot down and held as a POW, and he was most emotionally overcome by how much he missed his family,” said Lanahan.  

Similar stories were shared throughout the afternoon, both in casual discussion and during the dedication ceremony. Each veteran and representative plaque was introduced individually by a combination of wives, children and other relatives to each man. Respect was also paid to the departed with a flag at half-staff and a bugle sounding "Taps."

Although not formally represented on the memorial walls, the Hopkins women weren’t hung out to dry; especially not Coleman, who spearheaded efforts to acquire commemorative spots in honor of her family.

During the ceremony, the youngest of the 13 Hopkins siblings, Linda Hopkins Drake, acknowledged the efforts of her big sister before the crowd of 60 or so onlookers, made up of both family and unrelated visitors to the memorial.

“I want to thank my sister Hope, who could be likened to a military cheerleader,” said Drake during her speech.

Drawing laughs from the crowd, Drake continued on to recount her older sister’s lifetime involvement in the military service of her family members, from actions as simple as keeping newspaper clippings of wartime reports to her offering of support and emotional comfort.

“What you see here today, is a result of her [Coleman’s] dream, commitment and tenacity,” said Drake. A standing ovation followed.

After the formal ceremony wrapped up, photos were snapped and more hugs and familiar words exchanged.

The Hopkins men and spouses of the two Hopkins women were noted as having served their country with a sense of duty and humbleness.

“My dad rarely spoke about it [military service] — all the men were modest of their many accomplishments,” said Lanahan.

In listening to the stories a recurring theme is apparent: The 13 Hopkins children were respected leaders and role models, both through their military service, and later professional and personal lives.

“Today was a moving, joyous occasion,” said Drake. “A very proud moment for our family.”

The Hopkins Family plaques can be found on the "F Wall" of Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial.

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