A reunion held by a family that possesses appreciation of who their ancestors were and who will follow them in the future was abundantly expressed at a special gathering.

This was not your ordinary family reunion of all fun and fluff. It was a demonstration of the felt significance of their enduring, extended family.

On Aug. 15 at North Catasauqua William J. Albert Memorial Park, 701 Grove St., about 60 members of the Lerch family were on hand to hold their 100th family reunion.

A century of gathering is a testament to the resilience of this special family.

The celebration began with a call to order reading of Psalm 100, followed by a rich meeting agenda that included various reports and ended with awards presented to different categories of the attendees.

On particular note were Scott and Karen Statler, of Eagle Rock, Mo., a small town near the Arkansas border. They traveled in excess of 1,000 miles to attend the reunion. They won the “traveled most miles to attend” award.

Karen Statler said they have been attending for years. The Press asked if Scott Statler ever gets the question of if he is related to the Statler Brothers. He responded no. Scott noted quickly as a Statler, he is “the one who cannot sing.”

Karen Statler is originally from Palmer Township - and Scott Statler from Wilson Borough - before they moved to Missouri.

Other award winners were Genevieve Lerch, for receiving the “oldest Lerch present” at 89 years old, and Logan White for the “youngest Lerch present” at 16 months old.

The family with the “most Lerch children present” was Timothy Ewing, who had four kids at the reunion.

The “longest married Lerch couple present” was Carol and Charlie Resh, with 49 years of marriage. The “shortest married Lerch couple present” was Cory and Melissa Blocker, with one year and nine months of marriage.

Sisters wearing the Lerch pedigree were Jane Correll and Alice Keller. Jane Correll has attended the reunion for more than 60 years, and Alice Keller has been coming for about 70 years. Their mother, Mae (Lerch) Kolb, formerly of Coplay, recently celebrated her 100th birthday. Mae was unable to attend the event. (The Press learned this week that Kolb died Aug. 22.)

Both Correll and Keller commented on the importance of a family reunion and expressed how grateful they are for the family members who started the Lerch reunion in 1921 - and for those who have kept it going for a century.

The reunion concluded with a benediction.

The final benediction reading from the Lerch prodigy was from singer Steve Green - “And may all who come behind us find us faithful. May the fire of our devotion light their way. May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe and the lives we live inspire them to obey. May all who come behind us find us faithful.”