Bethlehem Detachment 284 of the Marine Corps League held its 48th annual Mess Night March 29 at West Coplay Maennerchor, 3326 N. Ruch St., Stiles, to honor a leader in the effort to assist veterans. The group honored Nancy Smith as its distinguished citizen of the year.

Smith, of Salisbury Township, is a Gold Star Mother. She became an honorary member of Detachment 284 in 2023 because of her commitment to serving veterans. She has been active in the veteran community for many years, supporting the Patriot Guard, the Belleau Wood Chapter of Leatherneck Nation, the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Nam Knights Motorcycle Club, to name a few.

Smith has helped provide donated meals to American Legions in Fullerton, Hokendauqua, Bethlehem, Palmer and more and to Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts in Egypt, Macungie and more.

A Gold Star Mother is a woman entitled to display a gold star on a service flag as the mother, stepmother, adoptive mother or foster mother of a United States Armed Forces member who died while engaged in action against an enemy recognized by the secretary of defense.

Smith was accompanied to the dinner by her husband, Brian. They are a Gold Star family. They lost their son, Joshua, a Marine sergeant, in 2012. He was 27 years old. Joshua served eight years as a U.S. Marine and was honorably discharged.

Traveling around the country to ease the pain of Gold Star families, Smith noted she took the emotional pain from the terrible loss of her son and turned it into a burning desire to assist other Gold Star Mothers in dealing with the profound grief and helping them to move forward. The energy she has to assist other veterans and their families in her mind has no end, it was said.

The Bethlehem Detachment 284 of the Marine Corps League was incorporated by an act of Congress in 1937.

To support the Bethlehem Detachment 284 of the Marine Corps League, which is a member of the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council, send your contribution to George Borman, P.O. Box 317, Schnecksville, 18078. Call 484-664-8862 or visit mclbethlehem.org for more information.