May is Military Appreciation Month

May is Military Appreciation Month

by | Apr 30, 2018 | Blog

Franklin County Visitors Bureau (FCVB) honors veterans and military members during May for Military Appreciation Month and invites all to explore the military history of Franklin County. Discover sites of military history in the self-guided tour of Franklin County Military Trail. Download from the FCVB website here. Learn and explore nearly 300 years of Franklin County’s military history.

Grove Family Library on Ragged Edge Road in Chambersburg celebrates Military Month with a series of special events in May. All events are held at the library.

  • Vietnam Veteran Lou Lerda will speak about his experiences as a member of the Special Operations Helicopter Company of the Army on May 2, 2 PM to 3:30 PM.
  • Learn more about World War I as Judith Redline discusses her father, Kenneth Redline, and his book, Dig or Die. Redline, a resident of Altoona PA, participated in every major engagement of the American Expeditionary Forces and received Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Silver Star.
  • A special screening of Thank You For Your Service will take place on May 9, 2 PM to 4 PM.

Armed Forces Day on Saturday, May 19 is the Annual Community POW/MIA Service of Remembrance at the Historic Letterkenny Chapel, Letterkenny Army Depot, 2171 Carbaugh Avenue, Chambersburg, which adjoins the Franklin County Veterans Park. The service begins at 11 AM.

CASHS Naval Junior R.O.T.C. Cadets will present the colors. The guest speaker will be Colonel Alexander P. (Al) Shine, U.S. Army (Retired) who retired in 1990 after 27 years of distinguished global service with the U.S. Army. Participants in the service will include Colonel Stephen Ledbetter, Commander, Letterkenny Army Depot, who will present welcoming remarks. Cheryl Wauls, President of the United Churches of the Chambersburg Area, area clergy and laypersons will also take part in the service. Special music for the service will be provided by the Community Chorus directed by Marcel Coates and by Freda Dorand, Organist, First Evangelical Lutheran Church. Charles M. Nitterhouse Post 1599 Veterans of Foreign Wars will lead military honors in front of the Chapel when the service concludes. The service is sponsored by the United Churches of the Chambersburg Area.

During Military Appreciation Month—learn, honor, and remember the military service that Franklin County citizens committed to their country.

Veterans Day Service at Letterkenny Chapel Set for November 12

Veterans Day Service at Letterkenny Chapel Set for November 12

by | Nov 8, 2017 | Blog

The Franklin County Visitors Bureau highlights the Veterans Service at Historic Letterkenny Chapel and Franklin County Veterans and 9/11 Memorial Park on Sunday, November 12, 2017, at 3:00 p.m., at the Chapel, 2171 Carbaugh Avenue on the Letterkenny Army Depot, in Chambersburg. The services is organized and presented through the efforts of the United Churches of Chambersburg and the Historic Letterkenny Committee.

The guest speaker will be Chaplain (LTC) Grover DeVault, a native of Plainfield, NJ. He is a graduate of North Plainfield High School; Columbia International University, Columbia, SC; Faith Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PA; Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA; and Lancaster Bible Graduate School, Lancaster, PA. Dr. DeVault served 20 years on active duty and was stationed in Greenland; Germany; Da Nang, Vietnam; and Fort Hood, TX among other locations. He has received the Legion of Merit Medal, Vietnam; Vietnam Service Medal (4 Stars); Bronze Star Medal; National Defense Medal (2 Stars); and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with Palm); as well as the Distinguished Service Medal of the State of New Jersey, among other medals.

He has served as a Pastor in Brooklyn, NY; Lancaster, PA; Frederick, MD; and Trexlertown, PA; as Professor of Pastoral Studies at Lancaster Bible College; and as Chaplain of the Pennsylvania State Police from 2004-2012. He and his late wife Nancy Conover are the parents of four daughters, thirteen grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Special music will be presented by the Community Chorus, under the direction of Marcel Coates. The organist will be Freda Dorand.

The colors will be presented by the CASHS Naval Junior R.O.T.C. Cadets. Members of Charles Nitterhouse VFW Post 1599 will serve as the Honor Guard.

The service is open to the public. Veterans are encouraged to attend in uniform.