Veterans Day ceremonies
Jefferson Township Historical Society will hold a Veterans Day service at 6 p.m. Nov. 11 at the White Church on Fire Road, Eldersville.
Retired Maj. Loretta B. Kendall, a native of the McDonald area who grew up on a dairy farm in Oakdale, will be guest speaker.
Kendall enlisted as an E-1 with the 112th Tactical Fighter Group Air National Guard in 1983 in Pittsburgh and was assigned as a supply technician.
After 13 years in supply, she became a paralegal with the 171st Air Refueling Wing in Pittsburgh, and eventually became the first female chief master sergeant (E-9) in Pennsylvania in the legal field. After completing law school, she was selected to be an officer in the Jag Corps. Kendall was the first E-9 to become an officer in the Air Force and the Air National Guard. In 2000, Kendall was deployed to Kosovo.
Later, she served as staff judge advocate for the 167th Air Lift Wing in the West Virginia Air National Guard for eight years until her retirement in December 2014.
Kendall previously owned a trucking company hauling U.S. mail and currently has a private law practice in McDonald. She has bachelor’s and associate degrees in accounting, and a Juris Doctor from Thomas Cooley Law School. She also obtained an associate degree in logistics from Community College of the Air Force. She is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and West Virginia and has been admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, D.C.
The service also will honor Judy Cooper, a longtime member of the historical society, who died Sept. 11. Her son, Matthew Cooper, will speak about his mother’s dedication to veterans.
For more information, call 727-947-9782.
Veterans of any of the U.S. armed forces will be honored at a Veterans Appreciation ceremony at 7 p.m. Nov. 9 at Harveys-Aleppo Grange Hall, West Roy Furman Highway.
Monongahela Veterans Council will hold Veterans Day ceremonies at 10 a.m. Nov. 11 in Chess Park, Monongahela. Attendants should arrive by 9:30.
Participating in the annual service will be the Mon Valley Leathernecks, Shipmates and members of American Legion Posts 302, 613 and 949 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1409.
The program will open with invocation by the Rev. Bill Bailey of Journey by Grace Church, followed by the National Anthem featuring Kim VanVooris.
Guest speaker will be Susan Meighan, director of Veterans Affairs for Washington County.
The benediction will be delivered by the Rev. Richard Bass of Holy Tabernacle of God in Christ, and the Mon Valley Honor Guard will provide the rifle salute and taps.