Veterans get vaccinated at North Penn clinic

Service members also honored by officials

LANSDALE >> Around 300 veterans received a COVID-19 vaccine early Sunday morning as part of Skippack Pharmacy’s vaccination clinic at North Penn High School.

“They were absolutely ecstatic and happy to be here,” said Dr. Mayank Amin, pharmacist and owner of the Schwenksville-based pharmacy which conducted the pop-up clinic at the school.

While the clinic officially opened at 10 a.m. Sunday, a 1.5hour time slot from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. was reserved for participating veterans in the 1A priority group.

“We’re so thankful to what the veterans have given to our com

munity … and it’s our obligation and duty to pay it back to them,” Amin said.

The vets who turned up Sunday morning completed military service during several periods of combat including the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Bruce Hengey, a 74-yearold man from Harleysville who served during the Vietnam-era, credited his loved ones for coming to the temporary clinic at the Lansdale high school.

“To tell you the truth, I wouldn’t be here if it wouldn’t be for my family,” he said.

After getting his first dose and waiting for the required 15-minute observation period, Hengey checked out and walked over to a table where he saw U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-4th Dist.

Dean handed out pins and designations to Vietnam-era veterans, thanking them for their service.

“It’s thrilling. I am overjoyed,” she said. “You can see the sense of relief and satisfaction in their faces. These are people that have served our country and are waiting in line for this lifesaving vaccine. So I’m just soaking up the joy of the people who are going through here.”

Dean recalled “one gentleman said that ‘you don’t have any idea how meaningful this is to me and how I will prize this, and my family will prize this.’”

With having two brothers served in that war, it’s personal for the Montgomery County native.

“I was a little girl at that time, and I know how unappreciated the vets were once they were returning from Vietnam, and from their incredibly honorable service,” she said. “So anytime we can do anything to lift up their service, it’s in my DNA, it’s something I want to do.”

RACHEL RAVINA - MEDIANEWS GROUP U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-4th Dist., stands with her brother, Bob, left, as she gives a commendation to Vietnam-era veteran Fred Rainer, of Lansdale, Sunday morning during a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at North Penn High School.

RACHEL RAVINA - MEDIANEWS GROUP U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-4th Dist., left, stands for a photo with, Judith, Michelle and James Saunders, after James received a commendation from Dean for his service. James received the COVID-19vaccine Sunday morning at a COVID-19vaccination clinic at North Penn High School in Lansdale.

RACHEL RAVINA - MEDIANEWS GROUP Nancy Welsh, a nurse and Skippack Pharmacy volunteer, administers a COVID-19 vaccine Sunday morning to Bill Bluot, of Abington Township. Serving during the Vietnam-era, Bluot participated in Skippack Pharmacy’s COVID-19vaccination clinic at North Penn High School in Lansdale.

RACHEL RAVINA - MEDIANEWS GROUP Volunteer Susan Ligget, left, administers a COVID-19vaccine to Robert Heymer, an 88-year-old Korean War veteran, Sunday morning during a temporary vaccination clinic at North Penn High School in Lansdale.

RACHEL RAVINA - MEDIANEWS GROUP Vietnam-era Veteran Philip Bagley, 73, of Elkins Park, converses with U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-4th Dist., Sunday morning during a COVID-19vaccination clinic organized by Skippack Pharmacy at North Penn High School in Lansdale.