Duty, honor and country

BY HELEN B. FOSTER
Correspondent

Susquehanna County District Attorney Jason Legg was once again the keynote speaker at Susquehanna Borough’s annual Memorial Day service held at the Veteran’s Memorial board in the Shops Plaza on Monday, May 26. For more than a decade Legg has accepted American Legion Post 86’s invitation to come and remind all those attending why we observe Memorial Day.

“Memorial Day drives home a sacred lesson, one learned by every serviceman and woman. It speaks of duty, honor and country.” Legg said. “As we remember those who died to preserve and protect us, we are also reminded that we, as a people, can and must do better.”

He continued by speaking about duty, honor and country. Duty, not only as it pertains to serving your country but everyday life; Honor means doing the right thing, not what just benefits us. A soldier knows honor and we need to rediscover it and try to be honorable; Country, putting your country first, like those who gave their lives for us.

“How many of us wake up in the morning thinking that today may be the day that we die for our country? Unless you are a serviceman or woman, then the answer is not many of us,” Legg said. “Duty, honor, country, this creed should not only drive our servicemen and women, it should drive us,” he said.

With Post 86’s Adjutant Gene Stewart as Master of Ceremonies, the Memorial Day service opened with Susquehanna Community High School band playing the National Anthem and a Boy Scout from Troop 81 leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Post 86 Chaplain Stan Lindow offered a prayer as did Ron Whitehead.

Mayor Nancy Hurley thanked the American Legion for all they have done over the years for not only the veterans but for the community. Today we remember all those who gave the supreme sacrifice, she said.

Magisterial District Judge Jodi Cordner said it was an honor and a privilege to be asked to participate in the Memorial Day ceremonies. She spoke of all the veterans families who came out for the service and told of the history of Memorial Day that started in the south following the Civil War with states in the north and west following.

State Representative Sandra Major thanked the American Legion for planning the service that gave everyone an opportunity to pay their respect for those who have given so much. “They died for you and me and all our generations so we would have the best place in the world to live,” she said.

Post 86 Legion Riders turned out in great numbers for the parade and the service. Ray and Terry Rockwell, members of the Legion Riders, had the honor of placing the wreath at the monument next to the service board.