Wilmer Evers died in a Prisoner Of War camp in the Philippines during World War Two. His mother was given a gold star pin to honor the sacrifice her son made for his country.

In Spokane during World War Two, the Gold Star Mothers met for a monthly luncheon at the Crescent. Mothers whose children died in the war received gold star pins, and sometimes banners, in honor of their sons who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Many of these women joined the Gold Star Mothers group to have a community of people to help them through the trauma of losing a child.

These pins and banners not only honored the sacrifice of these families, but they were also important for keeping up public morale. By the end of 1943 6000 men were killed and wounded each month, and the Baxter Hospital in Spokane had 3000 wounded soldiers as patients. The Spokesman-Review featured articles about the Gold Star Mothers regularly.

One mother given a gold star pin was Gertrude Evers. Her son Wilmer Evers entered military service on May 7th, 1942 as a private in the 440th Ordnance Company, 19th Bombardment Group, V Bomber Command. He was stationed in the Philippines, just before the Japanese conquered the islands. Evers was captured and kept in the Japanese Prisoner of War Camp #2 Davao in Mindanao. In February 1944 he died of internal hemorrhage and malaria just ten days before his 24th birthday.

Spokane lost nearly 400 servicemen in the war.

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During World War Two the United States took measures to ensure civilian safety, which included the creation of the Office of Civilian Defense. The Spokane Office of Civilian Defense helped protect civilians in case of attack and kept up support for the war.

During World War Two there were air raid sirens throughout Spokane including one here on the South Hill. The Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and lightning advance across the Pacific in the early days of the war spooked many Americans. They thought that Japanese air raids in the Pacific Northwest were a real possibility. Blackout drills and practice air raids became a part of Spokane's wartime life. To organize these measures the Office of Civilian Defense was created.

The Spokane Office of Civilian Defense was in the city hall at the time. They did a variety of things for Spokane residents during World War Two, including helping control rationing and providing safety information. For air raid preparation, they distributed gas masks and created the volunteer position of air raid warden to help civilians in the event of an aerial attack. There were about 6,000 air raid wardens in Spokane during World War Two, and they all had a small area in their neighborhood which they were in charge of. Wardens would help residents prepare for a possible air raid by providing them with advice and supplies.

In addition to safety, The Office of Civilian Defense worked hard to maintain morale and support for the war. The Office of Civilian Defense used advertisements in the Spokesman-Review and other newspapers to reassure citizens that Spokane was prepared for danger, and encouraged citizens to join different war organizations and to donate money or supplies to different war-related causes.

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