An Air Force veteran who served in the military for 14 years, with tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, was the main speaker during the annual Carbon County Veterans Day program held Wednesday in Jim Thorpe.

Nate Krajcirik, a lifelong resident of the Panther Valley, told of the many veterans he knew in his hometown when he was a child. “Growing up in Lansford, I don’t think you could have thrown a rock and not hit a vet,” he said. “I remember a lot of people being referred to by my parents and grandparents as they were in ‘the service.’?”

“I will always consider myself very fortunate to experience comradeship with my predecessors,” he said.

About 100 people attended the program held in Josiah White Park.

Speakers beside Krajcirik included Christine LeClair, director of Carbon County Veterans Affairs, who served as the master of ceremonies; Carbon County Commissioner Wayne E. Nothstein, a U.S. Air Force veteran; Tom Gerhard, representing the office of Congressman Dan Meuser; Brad Hurley, representing the office of state Sen. John Yudichak, and Marguerite Green, representing state Rep. Doyle Heffley.

Kathleen R. Crampsie sang the national anthem.

Military veterans from several veterans’ organizations formed a color guard, with a gun salute to veterans.

Krajcirik said, “In my involvement in the Legion and VFW since my return from the active duty in the Air Force in the fall of 2011, I have met some amazing individuals. And when I think about being humbled to be asked to speak to you today, I think about the humble heroes that I knew as a young man in Carbon and Schuylkill counties; and those I had the honor to call ‘comrades’ upon returning home.”

“I remember how good I was treated when I came home,” especially by Vietnam War veterans, he said.

He said the Vietnam veterans “didn’t get the same treatment, to say the least.”

“It’s hard for me to sum up what the term veteran means, but I’ve had the privilege to know a lot of men and women that have lived up to it. Some of the most unassuming people I’ve ever known provided the most extraordinary service to our country.”

He said, “I was taught to be a good American by these men and women. I would ask everyone to do the same.”

Krajcirik encouraged his fellow veterans to reach out to younger returning veterans.

“We have the highest veterans suicide rate in the entire Commonwealth,” he said. “These guys aren’t gonna beat down your door but bring them in and give them a place to belong.”

“We have to come together for our community and our country and support each other,” he said.

LeClair said, “Our men and women in uniform have been - and are - the most powerful line of defense against all who try to do harm to our country,” she said.

Gerhard added, “What veterans have given our country is beyond our power to fully repay,” he said.

Nothstein told about the sacrifices of veterans, including separation of family, loss, and post-traumatic stress syndrome.

He said he is concerned, with the holidays coming, “We may lose more veterans due to stress and COVID.”