Nathan Krajcirik remembers how blue the sky was on Sept. 11, 2001, and the words of his grandfather, a Korean War veteran, as he drove them home from school.

“You think they’ll let me back in the Army?” he recalls his grandfather saying that afternoon.

On Monday, Krajcirik, commander of Lansford American Legion Post 123, reflected on Memorial Days past, standing as a young boy at his grandfather’s side, and also those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country so others could enjoy freedom.

“As the years go by, we lose our membership,” he told those gathered in Kennedy Park in Lansford. “We lose the ones who were there, who remember their time and service, and the people they knew from our town that made the ultimate sacrifice.”

Plaques from Lansford’s high school, the Legion, St. Michael’s churchyard and other places list the community’s war dead, Krajcirik said.

“It is our duty to ensure that those who gave the ultimate sacrifice will not be forgotten or go unnoticed,” he said. “And that we live every day of our lives in eternal gratitude of those service members who died for us in combat and service to the United States.”

Krajcirik asked those in attendance to be good Americans, and try to leave their community and country better than they found it.

“It doesn’t take much for us to do the right thing,” he said. “I think the world we live in with all the unrest ... the best we can do is pray and serve each other.”

The national media has focused heavily on the nation’s spending and its debt, but Krajcirik said the national debt will always be the lives of the men and women in service to their country never came home.

“We’ll never be able to pay that debt, but all we can do is the best that we can and ensure that they didn’t sacrifice their lives for nothing,” he said. “The Legion is still here to foster and perpetuate 100% Americanism and I hope you are too.”

Krajcirik also provided an update on the activities of the post, which has served the community since 1919.

About a month ago, Firefly Farms in Franklin Twp., which raises service and therapy dogs for veterans, approached the post about matching dogs with deserving veterans, he said.

The post decided to buy a therapy dog, not for a person, but all of the veterans in Carbon County, Krajcirik said. The dog will be handled by Christine LeClair, their service office and first vice commander, who is also the county’s Veterans Affairs director, he said.

“So, every veteran that comes into her office and goes down to the vet center at St. Luke’s has access to an emotional support and therapy animal when they are going to file their claims, meet with a social worker and go through what could potentially be a stressful occasion.”

Krajcirik thanked everyone for coming to the service.

“I’m grateful to those who gave their lives in service to our country, and grateful to all of you that show up year after year for our Memorial Day observance,” he said. “Enjoy the day, enjoy the time with your families, because we were given the opportunity to do so.”

Past Commander Richard D. Pogwist, who led the services, spoke on the origins of Memorial Day, a national day of remembrance first observed 155 years ago honoring the Civil War dead.

“The holiday’s name obviously changed over the years, but its ideals and intention have not,” he said. “Memorial Day is a day of both grief and celebration, reflecting on the tragic loss of life and recounting the courageousness of their service.”

American Legion member Robert Dobosh placed a wreath at the war memorial, while Angela Nardini sang the national anthem and “God Bless America.”

Marian Catholic High School student Maggie Homyak read Gen. John A. Logan’s order for a national day of remembrance, while St. Jerome Regional School students Reagan and Jack LeClair read “In Flanders Fields” and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, respectively.