Veterans and their loved ones were recognized during Lansford Alive Event Committee’s Annual Veterans’ Recognition Dinner held Saturday evening (May 16, 2015) at the Lansford American Legion. Veterans were treated to free dinner during the event.
American Legion’s 30th District Senior Vice Commander Harry J. Wynn III, who served as event emcee, provided opening remarks.
Soloist Angela Nardini said the National Anthem and God Bless America.

Invocation was done by Pastor Daniel Smith of the Nesquehoning Baptist Church.
Special guests included Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Brooks (728th Combat Sustain Support Battalion, 213th ASG, PA-ANG), Bernie Pavlik (ex-POW of the Korean War and Lansford native), Estelle Sverchek, 97 (retired WWII Army nurse from Lansford) and others. Other veterans honored were Rudy Balas, Denny Boyle, Joe Butrie, George “Bucky) W. Brimmer Jr., Thomas Brimmer, Joseph Clewell, Michael Ellis, Ed “Buzzy” Gurka, Donald R. Jones, Joseph Klementovic, Michael J. Knies, Alex Maketa, Edward Martin, Melvin McLean, Will Nace, Joseph A. Nichols, Art Orach, Stephen J. Orach Jr., David J. Padora, Ed Porambo, Daniel Smith, David W. Spence, John Stanko, Andrew Swider, Larry Wagner, Gallus S. Wukitsch Jr. and Barbara Willis.

Other guests and dignitaries included Martin Ditsky, Lansford Borough Council President; State Senator John Yudichak, 14th District; State Representative Doyle Heffley, 122nd District; Wayne Nothstein, Carbon County Commissioner; Tom Gerhard, Carbon County Commissioner; Bill O’Gurek Carbon County Commissioner; and Henry Desrosiers, Carbon County Department of Veterans Affairs and so on.
Marie Ondrus served as emcee during the awards program. Ondrus stated her appreciation to all the attending veterans, veterans groups, local/county/state officials, and volunteers.

TamaquaArea.com Video: (Videography courtesy of Janine Ondrus)

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