During the afternoon of Veterans Day, Nov. 11, Stephens Funeral Home, Upper Macungie, hosted a ceremony recognizing the service of local veterans and acknowledging the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.

To commemorate the anniversary, Matthew Stephens, supervisor of the funeral home, led the Vietnam War Vets Pinning Ceremony.

All veterans who were on active duty in the armed forces during the Vietnam War, or family members representing Vietnam veterans, were presented with a pin on behalf of Stephens Funeral Home to honor their service during the conflict.

The veterans or veterans’ family members were also presented, at an outdoor reception after the memorial ceremony, with a handcrafted ceramic dog tag, representing their sacrifices and a difficult part of their life story.

Master Chief Petty Officer George Folk of Macungie was the featured speaker.

Folk spent 26 years on active duty in the U.S. Navy, serving in the Pacific during World War II before volunteering for multiple tours of duty in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” the Navy Achievement Medal and a Bronze Star.

Folk spoke about his military experiences, from serving on numerous ships to his time in-country in Vietnam, but his speech also touched on the often-negative attitudes faced by Vietnam War veterans returning home from overseas.

“I only deliver these snatches of my military career to expound on the feelings of the serviceman, who knows how it felt to be a returning veteran to an indifferent nation,” Folk said.

According to Folk, the danger faced by service members is part of their duty to keep others safe, and their actions and sacrifices should be appropriately remembered and honored.

“Our soldiers are well trained and brave, and when they come home, they deserve our utmost gratitude.

“Our servicemen who risk their lives to keep the war from our shores and our cities don’t need to be reminded by saying, ‘thank you for your service.’”

Richard Stough, a retired Lutheran pastor and former Navy chaplain from Cetronia, presented the opening and closing prayers, giving thanks to veterans for their service and for organization of the memorial ceremony.

Stough also led the audience in reciting the Lord’s Prayer and Psalm 23, the latter of which he noted was especially meaningful to him as he carried out his chaplain duties in naval hospitals during the Vietnam War.

“To many of us it has had a special meaning, not only as we have pause to give our last respects to loved ones, but also as we have encountered the most challenging experiences of our lives,” Stough said.

Members of the American Legion and the Sons of the American Legion for Post 576 in Allentown formally presented the flags of each service branch and performed the Posting and Retirement of the Colors ceremonies.

Paul Craph, a 99-year-old Army veteran from Allentown and Legion member of Post 576, also received a celebratory gift basket from Stephens as the oldest veteran attending the memorial ceremony.

The All in Good Time Barbershop Quartet entertained with musical performances, singing the “Star-Spangled Banner” and renditions of “America (My Country, ’Tis of Thee),” “America the Beautiful,” and “God Bless America” during the service.