Vets honored around county
Chris Rosenblum and Ed Mahon
Centre Daily Times
Friday, November 12, 2010
BELLEFONTE—Whether they wore a helmet, carried a rifle or a pen, all veterans earned David Dimmick's gratitude on Thursday.
As the keynote speaker for the Veterans Day ceremony in front of the Centre County Courthouse, Dimmick lauded the contributions of everybody who served in the military throughout America's history. And that included the dozens of veterans sprinkled throughout the audience.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let me say, each one of you is a hero, whether or not you saw combat," said Dimmick, a local retired Pennsylvania Air National Guard lieutenant.
On a clear morning, the ceremony was one of a few held locally to thank those who wore their country's uniform in war or peace. The Penn State Veterans Organization and Brookline, a retirement facility in College Township, also sponsored tributes.
In Bellefonte, Dimmick said, men and women answered the call in each of the nation's wars, ensuring "free will could be defended and tyranny defeated" in World War I and saving "the planet from madmen" during World War II.
He commended the Korean War and Vietnam War veterans present, as well as the current generation of veterans who served in Iraq and "the cold, barren mountains in Afghanistan."
"For accepting that responsibility and accepting that sacrifice, it just seems right that we stand here to honor you," said Dimmick, the father of a Navy combat pilot.
Jim Shreffler, a Bellefonte veteran, walked over in his old Navy destroyer jacket "to honor all the veterans, past and present." That covered his family: His grandfather served in the Army, his father and two uncles fought in World War II, another uncle went to Korea and another pulled two tours in Vietnam.
At Brookline, retired Col. Gerald Russell told about his World War II experiences during the Battle of Iwo Jima, which lasted 36 days in 1945 and left 6,821 Americans dead.
On the second day, Russell was hit by shrapnel in the cheek, earning his first Purple Heart.
On the fifth day, one of his fellow Marines spotted something atop Mount Suribachi.
"We could see a small group of individuals. The wonderful part of it was we could see old glory... We knew what we were there for," Russell said.
As he told the story, he sat in front of a banner that said "Thank you for your service to the country" created by Easterly Parkway Elementary School students, an American flag, and one of the original copies of the iconic photo of the flag-raising.
Russell recalled a tough gunnery sergeant who cried when he spotted the flag.
"God that's the most beautiful sight I've ever seen," Russell recalled him saying.
At the end of Thursday's celebration, World War II veteran and two-time Purple Heart recipient Ray Fortunato asked those present for a favor: Go find a veteran.
"And give him or her a big hug," he said.
Chris Rosenblum can be reached at 231-4620 and crosenbl@centredaily.com.
Ed Mahon can be reached at 231-4619 and emahon@centredaily.com.
PHOTO CREDIT (4): CDT/Christopher Weddle
