About 75 people braved threatening weather on Memorial Day to attend a noon service at the Vietnam Killed in Action Memorial for the third annual remembrance of those fallen heroes from Bethlehem who paid the ultimate price in service to America. Doug Graves of the Bethlehem Detachment 284 of the Marine Corps League emceed the service which was dedicated to the memory of Marine Corps League member John Kachmar who recently passed away. Kachmar had been awarded two Purple Hearts while serving in Vietnam.

Keynote speaker, Ken Nichol, a member of the Marine Corps League and president of the United Veterans & American Legion Post 379, kept his remarks brief. “It is an honor to be here today,” he said.

U.S. Congresswoman Susan Wild spoke about being raised in a military family. “Nothing in our nation is as precious as the lives of our veterans and our troops,” said Wild.

Each of the 35 who are memorialized on the granite monument on East Church Street in front of Bethlehem’s City Hall had a photo presented, their name read aloud, and a bell sounded in a very moving part of the service.

Bethlehem Area School District superintendent Dr. Jack Silva laid a floral bouquet at the base of the Memorial in remembrance of the 35 Bethlehem area young men who gave their lives in service to their country.

Sofia Tremblar sang “The Star Spangled Banner,” Joseph McDermott sang “America the Beautiful,” Liberty HS Grenadier Band piper E.J. Powers played “Amazing Grace,” and Robert Hawke played “Taps” to conclude the service.