A Treasure Unveiled: Community and Discovery Honor a Navy Veteran's Legacy

An ordinary envelope, long unmarked and tucked away, has unfolded a story of service, history, and community in Rochester. Local resident Joe Hass, embarking on a quest to decipher a piece of his father's past, has catalyzed an extraordinary communal effort, culminating in a unique display honoring his father, Joseph Anthony Hass, a U.S. Navy veteran who served from 1943 to 1946.

The journey began with a discovery by Joe Hass of an envelope left behind by his late father. Curiosity later turned into a deep dive into history, leading Hass to the doors of various local businesses and individuals, including Steve Joh of Hamlin Cleaners, and his father, Chang Joh, whose own past intersected with the narrative within the envelope.

In a pivotal moment, Chang Joh, a native Korean, found himself translating a Japanese shipping label—a language he was compelled to learn during the Japanese occupation of Korea. The label, once attached to a soldier's bag, emerged as a highly emotional thread connecting past and present.

The project blossomed with local contributions: graphic artist Linda Fournier crafted the visual narrative, while the skilled hands of Jim and Alice Foster at Framer's Workshop gave the display its form. Titan Printing’s Hal Humiecki provided a backdrop of history, with Luka from Office Depot preserving an 80-year-old map through digitization.

"The journey to honor my father became a community project," said Joe Hass. "It was more than uncovering a personal history; it was about working with amazing local businesses that made suggestions to bring this project to life."

The display, which now features the image of a nautical map opened only for the second time in over eight decades, the shipping label, and the research notes by Hass, stands as a testament not just to a veteran’s legacy, but to a community's spirit and dedication to remembering history.

“It was exciting to be included in the journey to find the meaning of a historic artifact, and to be trusted to design the best way to tell its story both visually and in a way that proudly shared its historical importance,” said Linda Fournier.

The memorial will be available for viewing at Chief Financial Credit Union’s Community Center and Branch on the Chief Financial Campus at the corner of Rochester and Diversion from November 13, 2023 through November 30, 2023. All are welcome to remember and honor both a personal and shared heritage.

For more information, please contact Joe Hass directly at joehass@gmail.com.