Vietnam veterans highlighted in Cecil Township ceremony
Stacey Honse Fowlur, center, of Meridian, mourns the death of her father, Atlee Honse, who died Nov. 11, 2012. Honse served with the Marines. Fowlur and her niece, Macie Helch, have come to the Veterans Day ceremony at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies for the past several years to remember and honor their father and grandfather.
An honor guard made up of local JROTC and Young Marines groups presents the colors at the beginning of Wednesday’s ceremony.
From left, Congressman Tim Murphy, keynote speaker U.S. Army National Guard Lt. Col. Hillis J. Tinglum, state Sen. Camera Bartolotta and state Rep. Jason Ortitay stand at attention while taps is played after the wreath presentation to honor veterans.
U.S. Army National Guard Lt. Col. Hillis J. Tinglum delivers the keynote address at the Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Cecil Township.
Vietnam veterans were ordinary people called to serve in extraordinary ways, said U.S. Army National Guard Lt. Col. Hillis J. Tinglum. He delivered the keynote address at the Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Cecil Township.
Cemetery director Ron Hestdalen lamented that it was the treatment of veterans from that conflict that makes us pause to consider how Americans should express gratitude to all service members.
“They were both warriors and peacekeepers. Yet when they returned, they were treated with indifference and disdain,” Hestdalen said. There are nearly 7 million surviving Vietnam veterans, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Tinglum said he’s humbled to be among some 22 million living veterans who answered the question of, “if not me, then who?” He said in addition to honoring and thanking veterans, that gratitude should extend to vets’ families.
“From the spouse anxiously awaiting the next letter or email, to the child who hasn’t seen their parent in months as that soldier, airman or sailor remains stationed far away,” Tinglum said, “we, too, are eternally grateful for your sacrifices.”
The call of duty, Tinglum said, is answered by those who find its cry obvious. He said the history of American armed forces is upheld by a tradition of volunteers making the choice for country over their self-interests. As he quoted British philosopher John Stuart Mill, he lionized veterans as realists who answered the call because they understand military action is necessary in a tumultuous world.
“Let not any one pacify his conscience by the delusion,” he quoted, “that he can do no harm if he takes no part. … Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.”
The solemn ceremony wasn’t without its moments of levity, offered in part by U.S. Congressman and Navy Lt. Cmdr. Tim Murphy, R-18th. “Words mean different things among branches,” he said, “for instance, when the Army hears ‘secure a building,’ they post guards; when the Navy hears it, they close the doors and shut off the lights; when the Marines hear it, they kill everyone inside and post up a new HQ; when the Air Force hears it, they take out a five-year lease with a good extension option. But every service member knows these words, and their meaning – honor, courage, commitment and sacrifice.”
A group of likely future service members – Junior Reserve Officer Corps students – presented the Pennsylvania and American flags and various branches’ colors before taps was played and a chilling rendition of “Amazing Grace” from a Veterans Administration bagpiper, Kate Matthews, was performed. Veterans in the crowd of about 250 held salutes; state Rep. Jason Ortitay, R-South Fayette, and state Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll, stood as color guard members laid out several wreaths.
”There is nothing we can say or do to match the sacrifices you’ve endured,” Bartolotta said.
“Today is a day when we hit pause to say something we should say so much more often: thank you, veterans,” Ortitay said.
“To those living and dead, we thank you,” Hestdalen said. “You wore the uniform to protect our nation and our liberty and our freedom, and upheld the democratic principles for which we stand.”