Sep 22, 2006 2 min read

David and Darlene Means, formerly of Uniontown, recently received formal commissions as captains in the Salvation Army. “It has been a long time coming,’ said Capt. David Means, but he added, “It has been interesting and educational.’

Faced without a job and uncertain future in 2001, Means and his wife, Darlene, were approached by then Western Pennsylvania Divisional Commander Col. Joseph DeMichael, about taking on a post in Latrobe.

Not knowing where that would lead, they agreed and spent the next three years as “employees in charge’ of the Latrobe Corps.

“I worked as bookkeeper at the Uniontown unit for six years, so being on the other side of things was definitely a change,’ said Capt. Darlene Means.

After their tenure in Latrobe, the couple was sent to the Army’s School for Officer Training in Suffern, N.Y.

“That was a dramatic move for us,’ said David Means. “Being out of school for nearly 30 years, we were certainly fish out of water.’

The couple ventured into what was supposed to be a two-year training program in New York.

But after their first year of school, the couple was told that they would not return for their second year.

David Means reflected on that moment, “When we were given that news, my first thought was ‘They don’t want us; we’re too old.”

But their fears were quickly put to rest when they were sent to Meadville as “Cadets on the field.’

“This was sort of like our position in Latrobe,’ said Darlene Means.

Finally after serving one year in Meadville, the couple was commissioned, along with their son and daughter-in-law as captains.

This ceremony was held at the Exposition Center in Secaucus, N.J.

“If I had my choice, I would have done the two years of training five years ago,’ said David Means, “but God’s timing is perfect. This was five years in the making but it was well worth it.’

Along with David Jr. and his wife, Kristen, serving as captains of the Indiana, Pa., Corps, the Meanses have a daughter, Nicole, and son-in-law, Philip Hostetler, who serve as captains at the Rochester, Pa., Corps.