SHAMOKIN - Duty, honor and country. Protect and serve.
Those words served as the theme of the annual Memorial Day March and Service Monday morning, when veterans, police and firefighters from Shamokin and Coal Township joined together to honor the lives of their fallen comrades and those still serving to protect the freedoms Americans enjoy.
The program sponsored by the Joint Area Veterans Organizations and Shamokin and Coal Township firefighters and police officers began at 9 a.m. at the Timothy A. DiOrio Memorial on Cliff Street near Arch Street.
Brian Williams, a firefighter from Maine Fire Company in Coal Township, placed a wreath at the memorial in honor of DiOrio, who was the only Coal Township firefighter killed in the line of duty. DiOrio died Nov. 1, 2002, at the age of 36 while battling a fire in Trevorton. He was an active member of Maine Fire Company.
The Rev. Tammy Gessner, who serves as chaplain for Maine Fire Company, recited a scripture reading and offered a prayer during the brief ceremony at the memorial. Gessner is pastor of Richfield United Church of Christ and serves as chaplain at Geisinger Medical Center.
Witmer memorial
The march then moved to the Cpl. David Witmer Memorial at the intersection of Independence and Sixth streets. A service was held at the memorial featuring a Fraternal Order of Police prayer and tribute given by Shamokin Cpl. Darwin Tobias III to Witmer and other officers who paid the supreme sacrifice while protecting and serving the lives of others.
Shamokin Patrolman Nathan Rhodes, who is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, placed a wreath at Witmer's memorial, while Seth Lowe played Taps.
Witmer, who was killed in a shooting in Zerbe Township on Nov. 13, 1983, was the only city policeman to die in the line of duty.
Firemen's memorial
Another brief service was conducted a block away at the Shamokin Fireman's Memorial at Independence and Market streets.
Shamokin Councilman and longtime firefighter William Milbrand gave a welcoming address and led a group of firefighters in prayer, while Dave Britton, a firefighter of Liberty Fire Company, placed a wreath at the memorial.
The procession of veterans, police, firefighters, officials from Coal Township VFW Post 317, Shamokin American Legion Post 73 and its ladies auxiliary, a military vehicle operated by welding instructor Michael Bradley from Northumberland County Career and Technology Center and a horse named Ope handled by U.S. Air Force veteran Ken Dugan then proceeded to the Price of Freedom Memorial on Lincoln Street, where the main program was held featuring guest speaker Tommy Symons, of Primrose.
John M. Schenewerk, commander of Coal Township VFW Post 317 and chairman of the Memorial Day March and Service, served as master of ceremonies for the program.
'Decoration Day'
Following the singing of the national anthem by the Shamokin Area High School Band under the direction of Kevin Styer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, the Rev. Karyn Fisher, pastor of St. John's United Methodist Church, Coal Township, gave the invocation that stressed a "passion for peace."
The band then played "America the Beautiful," while Lowe played "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes.
Symons, who was in the Army Reserves from 1969 to 1975, discussed the origin of Memorial Day - or Decoration Day, as it was initially known. He said Gen. John Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued an order May 5, 1868, designating May 30 as the day to remember fallen comrades in the Civil War by decorating their graves with flowers.
The speaker, who is a historian with the John Kehoe Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Girardville, past president of the Minersville Area Historical Society and chairman of the annual Decoration Day Program at Union Cemetery in Minersville, talked about the importance of remembering DiOrio and Witmer, along with Sgt. Ralph Starr, who was the area's oldest living veteran, and Col. Ben Purcell, the highest ranking prisoner of war of the Vietnam War, who both recently passed away.
"This weekend, from the smallest village to the largest city, not only in the United States, but around the world, Americans will stop and remember the sacrifices made by our brave men and women," he said. "It is right we gather today to remember them and their deeds. It is right to place flowers and wreaths at their graves and memorials. And it is right to thank their family and friends for the sacrifices made. But it is also right to thank those who survived, those who stand among us everyday."
He added, "Without the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, the Amvets or Vietnam veterans, we would have no parks, no memorials, no memories of the brave who gave all for us. They are continuing the tradition started by the Grand Army of the Republic more than 140 years ago. Let us thank them now before they are gone."
Symons told the crowd, "Never forget that it is the veteran who gives us freedom of speech. It is the veteran who gives us the right to vote. And it is the veteran who defends our flag and country."
Symons has a son, Spec. Thomas F. Symons, who is a cavalry scout with the 82nd Airborne Division in the U.S. Army.
Names read
Bonnie Alleman, president of the Shamokin American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, recited a tribute to veterans known as "The Path of the Warrior" from the Humanity Healing Network that stresses courage, commitment and resilience and states that the purpose of war is ultimately peace.
Following the band's playing of "God Bless America," Schenewerk and veteran Christopher Christian, who also is a member of the Memorial Day March and Service Committee, read a list of members of Coal Township VFW Post 317, Shamokin American Legion Post 73 and Amvets Post 80 who passed away during the past year. As each name was read, a bell was tolled in their honor.
Wreaths were then placed at the memorial by representatives of the local veterans organizations.
Schenewerk thanked all participants and citizens who attended. He also praised Stephanie Moore, of Berwick, for making flowers for the program, Mary and Mike Duganitz for providing the sound system, other committee members John and Angie Arnold and Sandra Schenewerk, and Mary, Frank and William Schmidt for donating a floral arrangement. The Schmidts, who are grandchildren of the late Max Schmidt, co-founder of the Fuhrmann and Schmidt Brewing Company, served as grand marshals in Friday night's Anthracite Heritage Parade.