Former marine speaks at senior center at pre-Veterans Day service
CONNELLSVILLE – At Veterans Day services, those who served in the military at wartime seem to stand a little bit taller in their military uniforms, remembering the good old glory days and the battles in which they fought. They remember the friends they fought beside and those they left behind in various parts of the world.
And, for the most part, they were young, had dreams of what could be, and countless numbers of them got the chance to live out those dreams, while others were brought home in body bags and buried by grieving mothers and fathers.
But they remember, and they especially remember on Veterans Day.
And even though Sgt. Maj. Frank J. Zadell Jr., retired from the U.S. Marine Corps, was one of the lucky ones who survived two tours of duty in Vietnam and a 25-year military career, he said he still bleeds red, white and blue.
Zadell, speaking to about 50 senior citizens Wednesday at the Connellsville Senior Center in a pre-Veterans Day service, said people who did not fight in a war and stayed home still did their part in the fight for freedom.
“People make sacrifices, whether they are at home or abroad fighting in a war or simply defending freedom on the streets of our nation,” said Zadell. “Those who fight and fought for freedom give and gave the ultimate sacrifice as well as those who were left behind.”
Zadell continued, “Those of us who have come back and those of us who waited have much to be grateful for. Today, as we honor our veterans, let us remember those who have returned and those who gave the last final measure of devotion to duty.”
Zadell said although he retired from active duty in 1986, his years in the Marine Corps were some of the most memorable moments of his life. He added that although he has served all over the world, the United States is still the best place in the world to live.
“I’ve seen it all and I’m here to tell you that we have it good,” said Zadell. “Anyone who has served overseas knows what I am talking about, because there is no other country in the world like ours. The freedom we experience every day we sometimes take for granted.”
Zadell also reminded listeners that Wednesday was the 229th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Donald Burkholder, adjutant of Connellsville American Legion Post 301, reminded the Senior Tigers that the annual Veterans Day parade will be held today in Uniontown beginning at 10:30 a.m.
The parade will stop at 11 a.m. for a 21-gun salute, and a bugler will play Taps to pay respect to all veterans who served in any war, especially military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Burkholder choked up as he told the Senior Tigers that more people generally show up for the Halloween parade than they do for marches on Veterans Day or Memorial Day.
“I think it’s a shame that people don’t show up to support our veterans and to show respect for what they have done and are doing,” he said.
Burkholder said next year’s Veterans Day parade will be held in Connellsville.
American Legion Post 301, American Legion Post 762 of Trotter and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 21 of Connellsville form the Connellsville Veterans Commission Color Guard, which provided opening ceremonies Wednesday at the senior citizens center.