The Whitehall Township Memorial Day ceremony was held May 30 at the municipal building, 3219 MacArthur Road. Fullerton American Legion Post 367, Hokendauqua American Legion Jones Quigg Post 739 and the Egypt Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7293 teamed up to hold a heartfelt ceremony.

A large turnout of attendees, including Boy Scout Troop 79 of Stiles and Troop 32 of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, assembled by the picturesque war memorial directly in front of the municipal building.

Pam Hittinger, with Egypt VFW, opened the service by singing a rendition of the national anthem.

Post Commander John Treiber, with Fullerton American Legion, was the master of ceremonies. An honor guard was on hand from all three Posts.

Whitehall Mayor Michael P. Harakal Jr. made a short speech thanking all veterans, particularly those who gave their lives to preserve freedom and democracy. He spoke about his recent moving experience visiting cemeteries in Europe that have many American soldiers buried there.

Treiber introduced keynote speaker Adm. David Kunkel, a retired 37-year Coast Guard veteran.

Kunkel urged all present to continue to remember and celebrate Memorial Day. He noted Memorial Day celebrations have become one of the most cherished days of national observance, adding that 645,000 men and women have laid down their lives to protect our freedoms since World War I. He asserted they must never be forgotten.

Kunkel singled out several veterans who gave it all. He mentioned U.S. Army Air Corps Lt. Col. Thomas Lynch, of Catasauqua, who was credited with shooting down 20 enemy planes.

Sadly, Lynch’s plane was shot down March 8, 1944. His body was never recovered. Hokendauqua-North Catasauqua Bridge is named in his honor.

Kunkel spoke about his wife’s uncle, Donald Follweiler, an aviation radio man 3rd Class. He was a rear gunner in a dive bomber. On Nov. 25, 1944, he was killed in action when his plane was shot down over the Philippines. His body was never recovered.

Coast Guard hero Douglas A. Munro’s actions were chronicled by Kunkel. He is the only Coast Guard member to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.

In his closing remarks, Kunkel reiterated that “Freedom is not free,” and he asked the question, “Why do we continue to celebrate Memorial Day?”

He quoted Oliver Wendell Holmes who answered this question in 1884.

“This particular day celebrates and solemnly reaffirms, from year to year, a national act of enthusiasm and faith. It embodies, in the most impressive form, our belief that to act with enthusiasm and faith is the condition of acting greatly.”

The ceremony concluded with a gun salute to the fallen service members and the playing of taps.