Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
VFW/American Legion hosts Zoom commemoration
In a COVID-19 pandemic world, many things have been changed. But as the Archer Epler VFW and American Legion Post 979 proved, forgetting those who gave the ultimate sacrifice isn’t one of them.
Although different - the Memorial Day commemoration was held via Zoom it was no less respectful or meaningful as it hosted a lineup of all-female elected officials.
U.S. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-5 of Swarthmore, gave a brief history of the event, explaining it formerly was called “Decoration Day” in the years after the Civil War as survivors decorated the graves of 20,000 lost in both armies at Arlington National Cemetery.
“Since that time, Americans of all faiths and political views have shared the responsibility to honor the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform in service to our shared American values,” she said.
She shared how she and her family joined the Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery Sunday and a group of Vietnam veterans to decorate the graves of veterans there. “It reflects the history of our country,” she said. “It’s the resting place of hundreds who have served our country, including more than 20 Medal of Honor recipients dating all the way back to the Revolutionary War. It also reflects our nation’s progress in diversity in being the final resting place of some of the first African Americans to serve in our armed services.”
In referencing Private Joseph Archer and Private William Echler who both died in the fall of 1918 during the final campaign to win World War I, Scanlon spoke of her great-uncle, Bob Scanlon, a member of the American Expeditionary Force who also was killed in battle - on Oct. 13, 1918, in France. To those attending the Zoom event, the congresswoman showed a picture of her family member before he shipped out to Europe as well as the Gold Star medal that his mother kept.
“This year as we pay our respects to all our fallen veterans and pray for their families, sadly, our hearts are heavy, as we also mourn the deaths of nearly 100,000 Americans from COVID-19,”
Scanlon noted. “One of the hardest parts of this epidemic is that it has hit our seniors the hardest and in recent days we have lost, just in this region alone, dozens who survived the battlefield only to succumb to this insidious virus.”
Yet, she also recalled the scores who have risen to meet this health care challenge, including those continuing to serve today from veterans to medical professionals to first responders to essential workers to community volunteers helping neighbors.
In other years having come to the Archer/Epler Memorial Day commemoration, state Rep. Margo Davidson, D-164 of Upper Darby, expressed gratitude for those who could join her this year.
“This year, I am just thrilled to be joined by so many honorable and distinguished ... female leaders who have joined us today who were not in office when I first started coming to Archer Epler to celebrate the lives of our heroes,” she said. “The fact that they are here today is a testament to the sacrifice of those who have gone before us and have made the ultimate sacrifice.”
As she spoke, she wore the hat of her son, Nadar Baker, who has been deployed for the last six months as she noted the sacrifices and the pride of loved ones of those in the service. She added that her Marine grandson, Vincent Baker, had just been deployed to Japan.
“It is my honor and my privilege to stand with you today whether virtually or in person to honor the lives of our heroes,” Davidson said.
Delaware County Council
Vice Chairman Dr. Monica Taylor spoke of the county’s Military Tribute Board, displaying all those in active service from Delaware County and the POW/MIA chair monument that sits in the Government Center lobby in honor of those still missing and those who were prisoners of war.
“This Memorial Day, although our circumstances are much different, we urge all residents to remember those who served and protected our lives and liberty,” Taylor said. “Let us remain grateful to them and appreciative of their sacrifices.”
Upper Darby Township Council President Laura Wentz said the township appreciates all that these veterans groups do, including remembering those who lost their lives.
“We have the highest respect for veterans in our township and county and our country,” she said. “You all put your lives on the line for us and we have the freedoms we have today because of you so we greatly appreciate all that you do.”
Upper Darby Mayor Barbarann Keffer offered thanks for having the Memorial Day service and to commemorate the occasion in an unbroken way, including her appreciation for the slideshow that showed different pictures of past Memorial Days with the gravestones and crosses honoring those lost as well as those saluting them and remembering them, often in red, white and blue.
“During this coronavirus, we remember how very fragile our freedoms are and it makes it all the more special that you’ve gone out of your way with the help of Council President Laura Wentz to put this all together,” Keffer said.