Seventh Annual Freedom Medal Dinner honors local veterans and community leaders
SPRINGFIELD »The Delaware County Veterans Memorial Association partnered with Delaware County Council to host the Seventh Annual Freedom Medal Dinner Thursday night at Springfield County Club, recognizing the accomplishments and service of local veterans and community leaders who make a difference by their support of veterans.
Over 500 guests attended the cocktail hour and dinner, followed by the presentation of the Freedom Medals to the special guests of honor on stage. The medals were awarded individually to each honoree by U.S. Marine Corps veteran Joseph Daly, DCVMA board president, accompanied bystate Sen. Tim Kearney, D-26 of Swarthmore, and Delaware County Councilman Kevin Madden. Prior to each award presentation, attendees watched brief film clips spotlighting the awardees’ exemplary military service and continued support of veterans and their causes.
This year’s Freedom Medal honorees include U.S. Marine Corps and Navy veteran Lieutenant General Ronald Coleman; U.S. Army and Pennsylvania National Guard Veteran Brig. General Carol Eggert; U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Maura “Mo” Gillen; U.S. Marine Corps Veteran James “Jim” Birkhead; and U.S. Navy veteran Gladys Hoffmire Martin. A Freedom Medal was also awarded posthumously to the late U.S. Navy veteran Angelo Marsella.
June Rocklin Robbins, a World War II “Rosie the Riveter” is the recipient
of the 2021 DCVMA President’s Award. The third-grade teaching team at Wallingford Elementary School, a part of the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, received the annual “Dedication to Our Country and Education Award.”
The year, the “Dedication to our Country and Community Award” went to Boeing. Since 2010, Boeing has hired more than 13,500 veterans, supported more than 800 military and veteran-specific programs and organizations, and its 2019 veteran-owned business subcontracting totaled about $450 million.
Other highlights of this year’s ceremony, emceed by mistress of ceremonies Sue Serio, Fox 29 weather anchor, included Pledge of
Allegiance and National Anthem led by Wayne Williams of Gen. Smedley D. Butler DET 741 and the St. Katharine of Siena School Band led by Stephanie Twohig; opening and closing remarks by Daly; brief welcoming remarks by Springfield High School student Ethan Johnson; a patriotic essay written and read by student Lucia Forte of St. Katharine of Siena School in Wayne; blessing by Rev. James Kelly, Pastor Emeritus of St. Pius X; Posting and Retirement of Colors by the MCL General Smedley D. Butler Det. 741, Vietnam Veterans of America and the Villanova, Widener and West Chester University ROTC; Playing of Taps by Martin Holahan and Emil Pilacik; remarks by DCVMA board
member Ralph Galati, U.S. Air Force Captain and former POW about the POW/ MIA Missing Man table set up aside the stage; brief, heartfelt “Lest We Forget” remarks by DCVMA founding member and memorial land donor Claude de Botton; and singing of “God Bless America” by Carolyn Hilton-Finney.
The patriotic celebration benefits the Delaware County Veterans Memorial, an interactive educational venue located at 4599 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, that honors the service and sacrifice of all veterans. For more information on the Delaware County Veterans Memorial or to read more about the 2021 Freedom Medal winners, visit http://www.delcoveteransmemorial.org.