Approximately 400 veterans and their guests were treated to dinner at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe on Friday night.

It was the second year for the “Together With Veterans of NEPA” Veterans Day Dinner and Resource Fair.

“This program is hosted by ‘Together with Veterans,’ a rural suicide prevention and awareness program,” said Christine LeClair, director of Carbon County Veterans Affairs. “But, this dinner tonight was made possible because of a donation from RUNegades, Inc., who puts on the Jim Thorpe Running Festival each year. This year, they raised over $9,000 which they donated to our organization. Most of the entire night is because of them.”

The evening’s program was dedicated in memory of Chad Robert Peyton, USMA Class of 2003, CW2, U.S. Army.

Members of the Palmerton United Veterans Organization led the Color Guard to start the event. Wyle Johnson, TWV NEPA Steering Committee member led the prayer for the evening. Angela Nardini sang the national anthem.

Nicholas “Chip” Gilliand, Division Chief of Reintegration and Outreach at the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, introduced the event’s guest speaker, Daniel Dailey, the former Sgt. Major in the U.S. Army.

“Today is a great day to be a soldier,” Dailey said. “That’s what we say in the Army. As a matter of fact, every day is a great day to be a soldier. And it’s truly humbling to be in a room with so many phenomenal, fine veterans from our local community who have proudly served.”

Dailey also took a moment to thank the veterans’ families.

“It takes an incredibly strong family support system to be a successful service member. It is incredibly hard to be deployed and serve overseas. But, in my opinion, it’s those that we leave behind that have the tougher job.

“Service is the act that forms the bridge between the ideas that are outlined in our founding documents, and the advancement of the ideas in reality.”

Dailey also touched on the difficulties that all branches of the military, along with other organizations, first responders, police, and others have in getting people to step up and serve.

“Despite the centuries-long legacy of selfless service; today, as a nation, we are failing to inspire our rising generation to see service as worthwhile,” he said. “The nation’s ability to defend our national security and our economic prosperity and advance the constitutional values depends on this next generation’s ability to answer that call.

“Our veterans are our credentials. You tell the stories of where America has been, while the next generation of service members who are serving right now will tell the story of where we are going. Tomorrow is Veterans Day, and we are truly grateful for your service. But, tomorrow, I would ask that you not only reflect on the incredible service you provided; but, continue your service by inspiring the next generation to do the same.”

The Resource Fair featured organizations to help veterans: Carbon Military and Veteran Affairs, Together With Veterans of NEPA, Victory for Veterans from the St. Luke’s Penn Foundation, Carbon County Recorder of Deeds to help record CD214 forms for veterans, Heritage Hills Senior Community, Carbon-Monroe-Pike Mental Health and Developmental Services, and Carbon County Area Agency on Aging.

Donors included: Arthur Williams, RUNegades Inc, Carbon County Chapter PASR, Vietnam Veterans of Carbon County, Schuylkill-Carbon Marine Corps League, Palmerton Area Library, and Weatherly American Legion Auxiliary.

Other donations were from St. Luke’s University Health Network, Lehighton American Legion Post 314, Penn’s Peak, Panther Valley Public Library, St. Jerome Regional School, Lehighton Middle School, Hershey’s, Emily Reaman Photography, Students of ISST at BHA, Unique Pretzels, and Weis Markets.

Together With Veterans NEPA is made up of veterans advocate, local and regional behavioral health professionals, federal, state, and local-level government that work together to create public health initiative to address veteran suicide in rural communities throughout the NEPA region.