As Americans fight two wars abroad, here in Honesdale the memories of soldiers fallen, soldiers lost, and the men and women of today’s armed forces who carry the flag through thick-and-thin were granted their just honor at Veterans Day ceremonies on Wednesday.
“They saved you ... they saved me ... so that you and I have all these things we are going to learn about in social studies class,” said Wayne Highlands Middle School Principal Tim Morgan at a Veterans Day ceremony there, an auditorium packed with students and those who answered the call of duty.
“We appreciate the dedication ... you’ve made,” he said, adding that each soldier’s contribution made the essence of this country possible - the Bill of Rights. It happened “because some people have sacrificed themselves. It’s a very special day.”
As guest speaker, Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Richard Hnatko, of Preston Township, shared a few of his tank-training experiences and also what it’s like to serve in the military.
“It’s a life of extremes; things are either very, very good or very, very difficult,” he said. “Perspective is what keeps us centered and balanced.”
He also acknowledged the bravery of today’s military men and women who are experiencing no shortage of conflict.
“We’ve living in very difficult times for our military,” said Hnatko, a Forest City Regional graduate, citing the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq which seem to have no end in immediate sight.
“It’s okay to judge the wars,” he told the middle-school students. “It’s not okay to judge the soldiers.
“Take a moment to thank all those brave men and women who serve this country ... and thank God because if they didn’t do what they did we wouldn’t have the freedoms.”
Across town at Veterans Park near the Wayne County Fairgrounds, members of the Honesdale High School Band played patriotic songs through saxophones, as veterans stood in salute to “America the Beautiful” and the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
Held by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 531 in Honesdale, the ceremony also included prayers for deceased soldiers, poetry, and a laying of a wreath at a veterans monument there by the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.
“It is a fact that we served to the best of our ability,” said John Gaudenzi, a Pennsylvania National Guard veteran and member of the American Legion Post 807 in Hamlin.
“The noble and the brave ... and those who rest in a grave,” said VFW Post 531 Commander Michael J. O’Hara in his closing remarks. “We salute our families for their love, kindness, and understanding.”