Veterans Day ceremonies: A tradition so that others do not forget

On a blustery Saturday morning, a group of some 25 veterans, family and friends paid their respects and remembered their comrades at honors rolls and cemeteries in Delmont, Export and Murrysville.

To Army veteran Jerry Deible, 72, of Murrysville, who fought in the Vietnam War, “If we don’t do this,” then younger generation may not know “what this country is, and what it’s about.”

Deible was joined by fellow veterans for the Veterans Day ceremonies conducted at the Eastview Union Cemetery in Delmont, the Delmont Presbyterian Church Cemetery, and honors rolls at the White Valley AMVETS Post 85, Delmont, the Export-American Legion Post and the Murrysville Community Park.

Wreaths were placed in front of the honors, a rose was placed to remember those Missing In Action and the White Valley AMVETS fired a salute.

The ceremonies honoring the veterans were held Saturday instead of Thursday, which was Veterans Day, because of conflicts with veterans’ work schedules, said Paul Foresman, second vice commander of the White Valley AMVETS.

Foresman, an Air Force veteran, said they have been conducting Veterans Day ceremonies at the White Valley AMVETS since the post was founded in 1945 — starting when those who served during World War II returned home.

“We want to keep up the tradition. We’ve been doing it 76 years. We want to pay tribute to those who have fallen,” Foresman said.

To Kevin Hartman of Delmont, an Air Force veteran who served as a security police officer from 1981 to 1984, the ceremonies are important reminder.

“You’ve got to remember the veterans,” said Hartman, whose father, as well as uncles, served in the military.