Communities across the Lehigh Valley and the country came together on Memorial Day to remember and honor the sacrifices of service members who have been killed in action.
In Whitehall Township, a series of ceremonies began at 10 a.m. as Post 7293 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars held ceremonies by the Spirit of the American Doughboy statue, dedicated to honoring community members who served in World War I, before holding another ceremony at Egypt Memorial Park at 10:30 a.m.
Both ceremonies saw Post Commander Nathaniel Smith give speeches detailing the history and significance of Memorial Day and the importance of younger Americans learning about and recognizing the past and present sacrifices of America’s service members.
The ceremonies also included a wreath laying and demonstrations of Post 7293’s color and rifle guards before being concluded by prayer.
In an interview, Smith said the VFW holds its ceremonies annually for both Memorial Day and Veterans Day, regardless of weather conditions. It rained throughout the ceremony at the Spirit of the Doughboy.
“This is a personal commitment to me,” Smith said. “I lost my brother in Vietnam in 1970. We basically perform these services rain or shine.”
Keith Haas, who was present for the ceremony at Egypt Memorial Park, also has a similar connection to the armed forces through his father, who served in the U.S. Army. He also, like Smith, disregarded the weather as a factor for his decision to attend.
“It’s above all about showing respect, and without respect, you can’t show honor, and without honor, we can’t show respect,” Haas said. “No matter what the weather is, that shouldn’t determine anything because our men and women that are active and have served have fought and gave their life in worse weather than a little drizzling rain.”
Haas said he felt it important that Memorial Day continues to be recognized, especially by younger Americans, so that the “wrong decisions” are not made in the future through remembering the sacrifices of the past.
Following the conclusion of the VFW’s ceremonies, the crowd proceeded to join up with the Hokendauqua and Fullerton posts of the American Legion as well as the Whitehall Police Honor Guard in a larger ceremony at the Whitehall Township Municipal Building.
The ceremony, which began at 11:30 a.m., included speeches from Whitehall Township Mayor Joseph Marx, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Rick Sherer.
“Since the founding of the United States, it is estimated that 558 million Americans and immigrants have lived in this country. More than 1.1 million of them are defending the United States and [more] were in combat actions since the American Revolution,” Marx said. “They each have stories to tell. The crosses at Normandy. The graves at Arlington. The markers at Punchbowl. The fallen heroes who rest in places unknown. We are here for them.”
“Memorial Day is more than just a long weekend or a day off. It’s the time to remember, honor and celebrate the lives and legacies of the brave men and women who gave their lives in the service of their country,” Sherer said. “Today, we explore the history and significance of Memorial Day, highlighting the importance of honoring the fallen and hopefully inspiring the living to live their lives with purpose and meaning.”
The ceremony concluded with Hokendauqua Legion members Dale Donovan and Andrea Bohner singing “Amazing Grace” and a closing prayer.
Amy Kaufmann, who served in the U.S. Navy and retired with the rank of lieutenant commander, said she felt that younger Americans were less likely to make the same sacrifices that those in her family made during wartime, something she thinks further highlights the need for future generations to take part in recognizing Memorial Day.
“My parents were part of the Greatest Generation in World War II and everybody contributed to the war effort, whether it’s saving metal cans at home or growing a victory garden. Even at 18 years of age, people were lining up to go to war to fight for the nation,” Kaufmann said. “That’s the ultimate sacrifice, and I don’t see that in the younger generation. We go about our lives, and that appreciation is being lost.”
She said honoring the sacrifices of service members in turn acknowledges that, without them, there wouldn’t be as many freedoms as there are being enjoyed today.
“We go about our lives and we’re worried about what we’re gonna bring to picnics, or something like that, but we’re not really focused on what the true meaning of Memorial Day is,” Kaufmann said. “I think, as Americans, we owe it to our nation to appreciate those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to their lives and gave us our freedoms so that we could go out and picnic which, I think, more and more, we take for granted as Americans.”