Philadelphia Never Forgets Its Heroes

HONORS were rendered at Ben Franklin’s grave during the Ben Franklin Post service. Franklin, shown with Frau Hofbrau, began “The Associators” (now the Penna. National Guard) in 1747, when the Quakers would not fight to protect Phila. Associators were mostly Scotch-Irish.

THE LONG blue line began memorial services by Benjamin Franklin American Legion Post 405 in Christ Church Cemetery, where many soldier-signers of the Declaration of Independence are buried.

THE ANCIENT Order of Hibernians held a Memorial Mass for Commodore John Barry, Father of the US Navy, in Olde St. Mary’s Church. Wreaths were then placed at Barry’s grave in the churchyard.

COUNCILMAN Al Taubenberger, left, joins Terry Williamson, Vietnam Memorial president; William Mead, USMC; and Capt. David Rhone, US Navy, among others, in saluting our flag at the Vietnam Memorial.

THE COLOR GUARD teams of the Phila. Police and 82nd Airborne Association march into the Vietnam Memorial for the annual services.

MEMBERS of the Richard Vaux-Ivanhoe Masonic Lodge give up their Memorial Day to lay wreaths at many services. From left, Fran Manero, Frank Fatiga, Vince Fatiga, Chuck Holloway and John Kline, Phila. Public Record correspondent and fellow Mason, present wreath for Korean War fallen.

There are many ways to honor the fallen – but the greatest of these is remembrance.

FRANK BRODSKY, Wells Fargo executive, thanks Andrew Schiavello, left, president of Honor Flight. The program transports World War II and Korea vets, free of charge, to Washington for a whirlwind tour of memorials with police escort everywhere, and cheering crowds welcoming them home. Brodsky is an active volunteer.

IN SOLEMN prayer during the Korean Memorial Service are City Councilmen Mark Squilla and David Oh with Harris Baum, S. Korea Honorary Consul General; and TV weathercaster Tom Lamaine, former Navy pilot.

IN LAUREL HILL Cemetery, Dr. Andy Waskie introduced young Brandon Bredeski, who found the sites of five Civil War soldiers, ranking from Private to Major, who lay in unmarked graves for almost 150 years, and obtained funding for bronze grave markers. Each grave was honored with a rifle salute and prayer, as part of the Decoration Day (which became Memorial Day) annual service in the cemetery. Laurel Hill is the site of the nation’s first memorial event.

A GRAND memorial ceremony was hosted by the USS OLYMPIA at Penn’s Landing with support from the Chapel of the Four Chaplains and other veteran groups, and the US Coast Guard. Capt. Louis Cavaliere, Chapel president, left, led events.