As the Summer of 2009 comes to a more or less official end with the Labor Day weekend, at the Mauch Chunk Lake Park just a short distance past the admission booth, family, friends, and coworkers gathered to hold a remembrance ceremony to honor one of their own.

They gathered on Saturday morning under beautiful blue skies to remember, honor, and pay tribute to Orlando V. Minichiello, "Park Ranger 13", who passed away last year.A memorial tree was dedicated and a plaque presented by the Park Commission, and the park staff to his family in memory of Orlando who was affectionately known by the nickname "Jello" to those who knew him best.According to Park Director Dave Horvath, "he was a familiar face at the admissions booth for many of the park's visitors. He was well liked and some visitors would even stop by and visit him at his house."Orlando worked for four years at the park from June 2004 until July 2008, where in addition to the admission booth, he also worked in the park office assisting visitors and he did the hay rides there in the fall as well.The tree that will serve as a permanent memorial for him out in the park is a Pin Oak, which seemed quite appropriate in that he was fond of wildlife and squirrels in particular and he would even hand feed them at his house.Now, through the Pin Oak's acorns, the squirrels will continue to be fed by the tree which will eventually have a marker placed by it.The plaque, which has a park ranger's badge and a Mauch Chunk Lake Park emblem engraved on it, bears the inscription: "In Loving Memory of a good friend and steward of the Mauch Chunk Lake Park Orlando V. Minichiello Park Ranger 13 June 25, 2004 - July 07, 2008."It was presented by Horvath to Minichiello's wife, Mary, during the ceremony.Horvath said that "the plaque will be on permanent display at the park office and will serve as a reminder for those of us that were fortunate enough to have known and grown to love Ranger 13."