Penns Valley observes Memorial Day with services

SPRING MILLS — Memorial Day is a day set aside to honor the fallen veterans of America’s numerous military conflicts. Services are held in cemeteries throughout the land, where the graves of fallen soldiers, sailors and pilots receive bouquets of fresh flowers and clean, new American flags. Some of those services have blossomed into town-wide celebrations, with a long list of peripheral events, but others remain simple, steeped in the tradition of quiet reverence.

One such simple service is held each year in the village of Farmers Mills. There’s not much to see in this tiny village on Ridge Road, near state Route 192 — just a few houses, barns and St. John’s Union Church and Union Cemetery, which hosts an annual Memorial Day service. There’s almost no advertising or fanfare, but people in Penns Valley know it’s there, and they show up every year.

Nearly 150 people attended this year. They were issued flowers and small American flags, and then they walked about 300 feet up the road to the gates of Union Cemetery.

Flag bearer Tim Zerby, of Centre Hall, led the congregation, ranging in age from toddlers to senior citizens, along a meandering path through the sylvan hillside cemetery, where they paused to lay flowers on the veterans’ graves as they passed by. A brass choir of Penns Valley High School band members played sacred music during the procession.

Union Church member Bud Harris addressed the crowd, stressing the importance of remembering the sacrifices of the deceased veterans, and lauding the courage of the family members left at home during times of war. “Let’s not forget their families, and the great pain they had to bear losing a son, father or husband,” he said. “They need to know we still care.”

A Millheim American Legion member referred to the “almost visible presence” of the fallen veterans. As he spoke, it was easy to imagine a cadre of World War II GIs, World War I doughboys, Civil War soldiers in blue, and even musket-bearing Revolutionary War soldiers standing among the crowd in silent appreciation.

Zerby read a roll call of veterans buried in the cemetery. The ceremony finished with a 21-gun salute by Millheim American Legion members, a Civil War cannon firing by Jimmy Brown, of Hampton’s Battery F and the playing of taps.

The service then moved to the Union Church sanctuary, which was filled by the large crowd. Patriotic hymns were sung, poems were read and then an address was given by guest speaker Brown. Clad in a Union artillery soldier’s uniform, he spoke of several Civil War veterans from the Penns Valley area, including an ancestor named Nathaniel Brown who is buried in Union Cemetery. He brought several uniforms and articles of equipment to show what life was like in the Union army.

He noted that many soldiers died from drinking contaminated water and from amputations performed on the battlefield using unsterile instruments. He also explained the different rankings of the soldiers, and the roll of the three Army divisions of infantry, artillery and cavalry. The service also included prayers, readings and congregational hymns.

On Memorial Day afternoon, another simple memorial service sponsored by American Legion Post No. 779 of Old Fort was held at the Lutheran and Reformed Cemetery on West Church Street in Centre Hall. Nate Summers, the post’s chaplain and a Vietnam War veteran, opened the service, and introduced the guest speaker, state Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, to the crowd of about 75 people.

Benninghoff shared memories of his father, a World War II veteran, hanging a flag on their house with great care every Memorial Day when he was a child. “At one time, I asked my father why he did this each year,” said Benninghoff. “He looked at me and said, ‘Because not every soldier gets to come home. Never forget, son. Never forget.’

“I’m grateful that we haven’t forgotten, and that you have taken the time to share with your family and friends about today, and not just for a moment, but as a lifestyle.”

Benninghoff also said we owe a great debt of gratitude to all those who fought to liberate and protect people in all the conflicts our country has endured. He urged his audience to also honor those listed as missing in action. “We pray for their families who have spent their lifetime trying to pay honor to their memories, with hope slowly extinguishing, as the years go by, of their safe return.”

He noted that all Americans want freedom to worship, to vote or to speak their mind, but not all are willing to do what it takes to defend those freedoms.

“I want to ask you to go today, and honor those that have fallen by not forgetting them, and sharing the message with others,” said Benninghoff.

The service concluded with the reading by Summers of a roll call of local veterans who passed away since 2011, a 21-gun salute by the firing squad and taps played by bugler Ryan Johnson.