Veterans honored at Lehighton Ambulance Association

By STACEY SOLT tneditor@tnonline.com

Members of the Lehighton Ambulance Association took time Saturday to recognize military veterans within the ambulance association. The program, a first for Lehighton Ambulance, was held on Armed Forces Day.

Fifteen members were recognized for their service in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Service dates ranged from 1965 to the present.

Pastor Fred Rodgers of Hope of Christ Presbyterian Church in Summit Hill offered a brief prayer to begin the ceremony.

Each veteran was presented with a framed certificate, courtesy of State Representative Keith McCall and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Jason Smith, a representative from the Eastern Pennsylvania EMS (Emergency Medical Services) also presented a certificate from the EMS Council to each veteran.

Also attending the ceremony was Henry Desrosiers, Director of Carbon County Veterans Affairs, and representatives from the Schuylkill/Carbon Marine Corps League Harry Henry and Andrew Leibenguth.

County Commissioner Wayne Nothstein also attended, and thanked the veterans for their service both in the military and with the ambulance association.

"I want to thank you for what you do," he said, noting that he often sees ambulance members working in the community. He also thanked the ambulance association for recognizing their veterans."Not enough people take time out of their day to recognize the efforts of the Armed Forces," said Nothstein.

Joni Gestl, administrator for the ambulance association, noted that this is the first time the group has officially recognized their members with military background. The association has been planning the ceremony for several months.

"These men bring their military values to what they do every day," she said, noting that many of their EMTs served as medics in the military. "They’re still doing what they enjoy – taking care of people. We knew we had to do something to recognize them."

The Lehighton Ambulance Association also purchased a plaque and engraved the names of each veteran on the plaque, which will be displayed at the ambulance association. Gestl plans to update the plaque each year on Armed Forces Day with the names of new members who are also veterans.

Current members of the ambulanance association who are also military veteran include Eric Bloom, United States Navy, served 1985-1988; Barry Borton, United States Air Force and Army, 1965-1988; James Delacruz, United States Navy, 1995-2002; Christopher Fischi III, United States Air Force, 2003; David Fritzinger, United States navy, 1969-1975; Andrew Girard, United States Army, 1999-2005; Brian Gross, United States Army, 1989-1991; Mark Janner, United States Army and Air Force, 1988-1994; David Keck, United States Army, 1993-present; Justin Markell, United States Marine Corps, 1996-2000; Christopher Pepe, United States Marine Corps, 1993-1994; Michael Smith, United States Navy, 1984-1992; Brian Uhnak, United States Army, 1997-2001; and Larry Williams, United States Army, 1990-1998.

Armed Forces Day is held on the third Saturday of every May and celebrates the joining of the four main military branches under the Department of Defense. The purpose of Armed Forces day is to recognize veterans and current military members serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corp.