Those who have served and are serving our country in the armed forces were recognized Monday in Schuylkill Haven and Orwigsburg.
Wreaths were presented in honor of the different branches of the military at Schuylkill County Vietnam Veterans Memorial near the First United Church of Christ along Route 61 in Schuylkill Haven.
“We are gathered here today at this site as well as different locations across America to remember that we are one nation with one flag. We are all proud to be Americans that live in a free society made up of many people, many races, from many occupations. The freedoms we enjoy today have not come without a price. Lying in cemeteries throughout this nation are men and women who gave their lives so that we can live in freedom and without fear,” Kristina Wolfe Miller, vice president of the Schuylkill Haven American Legion Post 38 Ladies Auxiliary, said.
The auxiliary sponsored the event with assistance from the Schuylkill Haven American Legion Post 38. This is the third year for the event in Schuylkill Haven. The ceremony featured the national anthem played by the Williams Valley Elementary Band, from the Williams Valley School District, remarks from various speakers including Schuylkill Haven Mayor Mike Devlin, the laying of the wreaths, taps and a 21-gun salute. Attending were local and county leaders including Schuylkill County Commissioners Gary Hess and George Halcovage and members of the public. Students from schools in the county also attended.
The wreaths in three 53-foot-long trailers that left at 8 a.m. Sunday from Columbia Falls, Maine, and arrived early Monday morning. The trucks could be seen at 12:23 p.m. escorted by a Schuylkill Haven state police car, a firetruck and the Patriot Guard Riders, a motorcycle group. In all, about 100 trucks filled with 901,000 wreaths will be placed in honor of service members. Jim Farrell, a member of the board of directors for Wreaths Across America, said the three trucks that stopped in the borough carrying 18,000 wreaths will go to The Andrew Johnson National Cemetery in Tennessee, the Houston National Cemetery, Texas, and a wreath will to go to Natchez, Mississippi, for a ceremony. At least 40 of the 100 trucks with 230,000 wreaths will go to Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, for a ceremony Saturday, he said. The wreaths sponsored by donations from individuals, corporations and others.
Before the wreaths were placed, Miller talked about the sacrifice of those who have served our country.
“There are many men and women serving today in all branches of the military, here at home and in places far away that most of us have never heard of. These men and women are part of the best-trained best equipped force in the world. We honor them and their families for the sacrifices they make each day to keep our country free from terrorism, hatred and injustice that plague the world community. When you see a veteran or active duty member of the armed services, take a moment to say ‘thank you’ We owe them our way of life, and a moment of your time is well spent,” Miller said.
During the ceremony wreaths were placed in memory of those serving or who have served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines and POW/ MIA. A wreath was also placed in memory of Capt. Jason B. Jones, a native of Orwigsburg. He was in the special forces and died June 2, 2014, near Jalalabad, Afghanistan, in a small arms fight.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, two students from the Williams Valley School District, Gavin Schnoke, 12, a sixth-grade student, and Jarred Stroup, 10, a fifth-grade student, played taps.
Wreaths will also be placed at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville. The auxiliary presented a check for $1,000 for wreaths they will be placed there noon Saturday. Anyone interested in helping Saturday to lay wreaths may call 570-385-5013.
Students at the Blue Mountain Middle School also honored veterans Monday during a ceremony. This is the second year for the event at the school. As in Schuylkill Haven, wreaths were placed in honor of those who served in the military, POW/MIA and Merchant Marines. A wreath was also presented to the family of Jones. A procession went through the halls of the school. Songs were sung and six eighth-grade students read essays about what freedom means to them. Justin W. Frantz, lead social studies teacher at the middle school, said the program was bigger this year.
“The ceremony is not about us or the school, it is about showing the appreciation that these people deserve,” he said.