The 36th Annual Franklin Township Killed in Action Ceremony was held on Saturday at Phifer’s Ice Dam.

Barb Snowberger, a former Kindergarten teacher at Franklin, welcomed everyone to the program.

“This event was started in 1988 with teacher Larry Hill and his students at Franklin Elementary School, when a monument to honor the 29 Franklin Township residents who died in military service was constructed,” Snowberger said. “After the school closed (in 2018), the monument was reassembled here at Phifer’s Ice Dam, where we gather each September to continue to remember those whose names will be ready today.”

Connor Stay, emcee for the past six years, admitted that when he first began to emcee the event, he was terrified that he might make mistakes or do something wrong.

“What does this have to do with veterans?” Stay asked. “Do you think those veterans, when they were drafted or signed up for service; do you think they were super confident in themselves? Do you think they knew they were going to be OK, that they would make it out alive? No. They were scared. They were young people. They didn’t know what they were doing; but, they did it anyway, to show how much they loved their country.”

Pastor Jennifer Eckhart, a former student at Franklin Elementary, sang the national anthem, offered the invocation, and offered her remarks on the the importance of this service.

“Mr. (Larry) Hill taught us history in a way that made it come alive, feel real, and made us proud to be American,” Eckhart shared. “He helped us in every way he knew how to love our country, to recognize that our democracy came at a price, and that freedom is what our nation was founded on, and free is what we were meant to be.”

Cindy Sabol, former First Grade Teacher at Franklin for 36 years, introduced the guest speaker, Petty Officer Kirk Cressley, who served with the U.S. Coast Guard, where he served for eight years, and is a former student from Franklin Elementary.

Cressley related how he was stationed in Virginia when a notice came out for an isolated duty assignment in Alaska. Cressley volunteered for the position. The post was in a small island near the end of the Aleutian chain of islands, Attu Island.

“We were so isolated, that mail and food only arrived every two weeks,” Cressley shared.

Attu Island had been taken and was occupied by Japanese forces during World War II. hile Cressley was stationed here, he became interested in the history of the island.

Eight World War II veterans who had fought on Attu Island were flying in for two weeks, and Cressley was asked if he would accompany them during their visit.

“They showed me their fox holes, gun placements, and described the battle in vivid detail.

“I listened as they shared their stories of brothers lost in battle. I saw battle-hardened men tear up as they spoke about their fallen comrades. It was a privilege to witness how talking to each other and speaking the names of the fallen, seemed to bring some sense of peace and closure.”

Sydney Zarelli, a second grade teacher at the Lehighton Elementary Center, and a former student at Franklin Elementary, spoke of her memories of the program at Franklin Elementary.

“I can remember very clearly sitting outside on a bright and sunny morning. All students and staff would be dressed respectfully in red, white, and blue, ready to honor soldiers, from our township, who offered the ultimate sacrifice.”

“Participating in these events in multiple ways, even as a young child, was something I could remember being proud of.”

Justin Fritz also spoke. Fritz taught at Franklin from 2014 until the school closed in 2018.

“Today’s program is to give honor and give thanks to the men and women of Franklin Township, and all of those who have served and sacrificed, fought, and served a purpose greater than themselves.”

The program also included a medley of military songs, honoring the various branches of the military and the reading of the Honor Roll of the War Dead.

Members of the Lehighton UVO provided an Honor Guard Salute, and Connor Stay played taps on trumpet.

The 29 men who were honored are: Claire Ahner, WWII; Benjamin Bachman, Civil War; Willard Begal, WWII; Ronald Christman, Vietnam; Thomas Connor, Civil War; Charles Ditterline, WWI; Charles Dotter, WWII; Russel Focht, WWII; Horace Hangen, WWI; Walter Haydt, WWII: Reed Held, WWII; John Hoats, Korea; Clyde Houser, Vietnam; Paul Keiser, WWII; Clifford Kemmerer, WWII; Delroy Kern, WWII; Alex Lentz, Civil War; Peter Mangold, Civil War; Elwood Miller, WWII; Amandus Moyer, Civil War; Melvin Nothstein, WWII; Jonathon Ruch, Civil War; Henry Samuels, WWII; George Storm, WWI; Raymond Strohl, WWII; Wilbur Wentz, WWI; James Whitehead, WWII; John Penberth, WWII; and Richard Whiteman, Korea.