Politics & Government

Have Veterans Pass Their Stories On To Younger Generation: Wechsler

Havertown observes Memorial Day.

As many gathered at Veteran's Park Monday morning, Haverford Township Board of Commissioners President Bill Wechsler requested that everyone on Memorial Day should speak to family members and friends who served in the military and have them tell their tales of service to help keep the American spirit and inspiring stories alive so they can be passed down for generations to come.

The ceremony featured many groups, such as veterans' organizations, the five-fire companies and the police department.

Many from veterans groups read the names of the fallen as a bell was struck for each name.

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Marching Band performed various patriotic songs.

For little Mariel O'Leary, the 7 year old said she thought the 21-gun salute was loud, but knew that Memorial Day was to observed America's fallen soldiers, such as her grandfathers Tony and Jack.

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For Reagan Spahr, also 7 and dressed in red, white and blue like O'Leary, she was told that Memorial Day was for her Uncle John, who died in Iraq.

Her father, Stephen Spahr, explained to the Haverford-Havertown Patch that his brother was a lieutenant colonel in the Marines and his plane crashed in Iraq, on May 02, 2005. After his death, John Spahr was made a major.

"I cried a little," Stephen Spahr said as he remembered his brother during the ceremony.

For Father John J. Hickey of the Catholic War Veterans Post 731 in Havertown, the ceremony and the day made him remember friends who passed on.

"I remember the men in our club (Catholic War Veterans Post 731) who are no longer around any more and are sorely missed," he said.


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