GAYLORD LESLIE MERCER / ISLE VOLUNTEER
COURTESY PHOTO
Gaylord Mercer played Uncle Sam in the Kailua Fourth of July Parade for 38 years. He died Monday at the age of 88.
‘Uncle Sam’ was a fixture
in July 4 parade
Hawaii's Uncle Sam is being memorialized today with his old red, white and blue uniform and top hat resting on his casket.
Burial services for Gaylord Leslie Mercer, who played Uncle Sam in the Kailua Fourth of July Parade for 38 years, are being held today at Borthwick Mortuary. The retired salesman, 88, from Hawaii Kai, died Monday at the Maunalani Nursing and Rehab Center in Kaimuki.
Mercer was "a true patriot, a real trouper, a real soldier, even though he didn't wear a (military) uniform," said retired Army Lt. Col. Darrell Large, a friend and neighbor.
Because of an injury, Mercer was unable to serve in the military, but he made up for it, Large said. "He took such pride in this (being Uncle Sam). He would say, 'Whenever I get this Uncle Sam uniform on, I feel like a different person.'"
Large drove Mercer on the back of his convertible for a couple of years so he could still be a part of the Fourth of July parade after he broke his thigh bone in 2001.
Mercer handed out flags to children, and even grew his own beard because marching in the sun made the fake ones fall off, said his daughter, Lynn Mercer DeFelicis.
DeFelicis said her father, born in Springfield, Mo., also appeared at various military and civic events in the community, following his initial appearance as Uncle Sam for the Hawaii Bankers Association to promote savings bonds.
Mercer was "very gregarious and always shook people's hand," she said. "He was very sweet, very kind and very generous ... a warmhearted spirit. He was without pretension."
DeFelicis said she asked Large to promise her father the day before he died that Large would take over as Uncle Sam so her father would not worry. Large said he did so, but he will not make a full commitment "until I know I can represent Uncle Sam and at least do honor to it," he said. "I don't want to be so far below (what he did). He has big shoes to fill."
Mercer gave his support to such organizations as the Hawaii Foodbank, the Boy Scouts and the Hawaii Blood Bank, donating 140 pints of blood throughout his life. He was a lifelong member of Kiwanis International and a member of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church for more than 40 years.
Mercer also was a champion mile runner in college until a severe heel injury ended his running career and made him ineligible for the military. But it did not stop him from running local marathons in his 70s, long-distance swimming and riding his bike up Kaimuki's hills, DeFelicis said.
Mercer is also survived by wife Shirley O. and two grandchildren. Visitation at Borthwick is at 9 a.m. today, with a service at 10 a.m. The family requests aloha attire and no flowers.
Donations may be made to the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church or other charity.
