Cold War veterans to be honored
Saturday ceremony will introduce monument and burial markers MATAMORAS Dedication ceremonies for a National Cold War Veterans Memorial and grave marker will be held this Saturday morning, at the Matamoras Fire House and the Veterans Memorial Park and Education Center at Airport Park. The ceremony announcement notes that the grave marker’s 20” aluminum stake and flag holder “will finally provide the Cold War Veterans of yesterday and those still with us the recognition, dignity, respect and honor they deserve as an American Flag will grace them.” The Cold War started on Sept. 2, 1945, and ended Dec. 26, 1991. Many remember those perilous times: The Berlin Wall, U2 flights, bomb shelters. the Cuban Missile Crisis, the standoff at the Brandenberg Gate, Communist terrorists, The Soviets, Chinese and North Koreans. the fall ot the Berlin Wall, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Cold War Veterans of that era, untold members of the Armed Forces who were willing to shed their blood, and gave their lives to preserve democracy for us still today go without recognition. With this ceremony, that is finally going to change. After doing some research for a Cold War Education Monument dedication, William A. (Bill) Lamac, a co-founder and trustee of the region’s Veterans Memorial Park and Education Center Project, discovered there was no Cold War Veterans Memorial marker which honored the Cold War Veteran. Thus, he proceeded to design and create one to provide a right, to this wrong. The design fills a void, and does not infringe on any trademark, but finally provides the Cold War Veteran with a memorial marker ol their own. The six stars on the design also represents the six branches of the United States Armed Forces: Army. Navy, Merchant Marines, Air Force, Marines and U S. Coast Guard. Mr. Lamac has relinquished all claims to a copyright which he donated to an American Foundry so that if will be made in the United States, and not China He has and will decline any remuneration from this project, believing that to receive recognition from a Cold War Veteran or family would suffice. The ceremony will be held Saturday, September 25, at the former WWII airport hanger, which is now the Matamoras Fire House. There will be a tribute ceremony at 10:45 a.m., followed by the official ceremony at 11 a.m. A reception will follow the ceremonies. Public support is needed The estimated cost of this event is close to $8,900 The organizers are very much aware of the troubling economic times, and therefore are asking for donations of any amount that donors feel comfortable in making. Contributing from $10 to $8,900 will help them cover the cost of this National Cold War Veterans Presentation and Dedication Ceremony. Checks can be made payable to: VMPEC-Cold War (Veterans Memorial Park and Education Center). The Cold War Marker with a 20” aluminum stake and flag holder will be available after Sept. 25. Write or phone for a form: VMPEC. PO Box 303. Matamoras, PA 18336, or phone 570-491-4003 or 570-491-5528.