“It’s not the reporter who has given us freedom of the press, it is the veteran,” speaker Michael DelGrosso said in quoting an essay on the importance veterans play in our society and their role in assuring our society’s freedom.
DelGrosso’s remarks were made at the Veterans Day observance held Tuesday morning at the Tyrone American Legion.
DelGrosso is running for Congress and is part of the family who owns locally operated DelGrosso foods. He is also a veteran who attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 1994.
DelGrosso cited numerous other examples where veterans have protected the nation’s freedoms including religion, speech and assembly.
Perhaps, fittingly for DelGrosso, he also quoted the essay as saying it is the veteran and not the politician who gives us the right to vote. DelGrosso expressed concern that more than 25 years ago, more than 70 percent of all members of Congress were veterans. That figure now stands at less than 30 percent. This gave DelGrosso cause to wonder if the interests of veterans were receiving proper attention in Congress.
VFW Post 4559 Commander William Geist served as host of the event, which included the advancement of colors by Gene Maitland of the American Legion and Art Colyer and Floyd Garmen of the VFW. Other members of the VFW and American Legion participated in the event including the Legion’s Robert Grazier, who led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Tyrone Area High School Pops Ensemble also played a significant role.
Students were able to participate in the event with the Tyrone Area School District observing the holiday. The students performed the National Anthem and later offered other patriotic musical selections.
There were several moving moments during yesterday’s ceremonies including the placing of wreaths, the roll call of the deceased and the placing of poppies to honored those lost in combat.
The POW/MIA table was explained to the audience during the event. It is a symbolic dinner table to demonstrate those missing or those taken prisoner who are absent from a family member’s home.
One of the surprise moments of Tuesday’s event was the appearance of Tammy Weiser of Bellwood. She is an army specialist who is currently home on leave and was able to appear and speak at the ceremonies. Weiser attended Penn State and then transferred to Clarion University.
She was activated in February of this year. Weiser then trained at Fort Drum, N.Y. before being shipped out to Kuwait.
She is a truck driver who has spent her time transporting equipment from Kuwait to Iraq.
“It’s a beautiful country. I wish people here in America saw a lot more of the good that happens over there than the bad,” said Weiser when asked if there was anything special she could tell people about her experience.
She will be home on leave until Nov. 21. When asked if she was disappointed if she would miss Thanksgiving at home, Weiser said no because her boyfriend is stationed overseas and she would be able to spend it with him.
The American Legion ceremonies concluded with a firing squad and the playing of taps and final comments from Geist.
