Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Remarks of U.S. Senator Bob Casey As Prepared December 10, 2008 Yesterday, I came before the Senate to pay tribute to Pennsylvanians who gave, as Lincoln said, “the last full measure of devotion” in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Therefore, today, I would like to honor the men and women of Pennsylvania who have served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. This struggle began in the weeks following the gravest terrorist attack on American soil – and it was a direct response to eliminate the sanctuary of those who plotted the horrific events of 9/11. The men and women who have served in Afghanistan have faced extreme danger, but have persevered with a can-do spirit. Our men and women of the United States Armed Forces are in a class all their own. And, like their brothers and sisters serving in Iraq, they mourn the sacrifices of their own. So here in the Senate, I would also like to enter into the Congressional Record the names of those twenty five Pennsylvania heroes who may have...

Jeffery Craig of Shinglehouse and Donna Sloan of Eldred look at medals posthumously awarded to their son US Army Staff Sergeant Heathe Craig, who died June 21, 2006, in Afghanistan. The medals were presented during services Monday morning in Veterans Square. By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Bradford's Memorial Day observance was made even more poignant this year as the community honored two servicemen who died recently in Iraq and showed their support for local soldiers who will be going to Iraq later this year. Master Sergeant Thomas Maholic of Bradford and Staff Sergeant Heathe Craig of Knapp Creek, New York, were among the fallen servicemen honored during this morning's Memorial Day services in Veterans Square. Craig died June 21, 2006, in Afghanistan when his UH-60 helicopter hoist malfunctioned while attempting to evacuate a fellow soldier during combat operations. His parents Jeffrey Craig of Shinglehouse and Donna Sloan of Eldred accepted honors on his behalf. Fo...

Memorial Day is the time set aside to remember veterans who died in service to their country. That means we honor such people as Master Sergeant Thomas Maholic of Bradford, who died in Afghanistan in June of 2006, when he was fatally struck by enemy small arms fire during a cordon and search mission. We also remember Staff Sergeant Anthony "Bib" DeLucia of Bradford, who died in August of 1944 when his B-24 Liberator crashed into a mountainside in South China. Corporal Jason L. Dunham of Scio, NY, died in Iraq in April of 2004 after throwing himself on a grenade, attempting to use his helmet to shield himself and others from the explosion. PFC Ross McGinnis of Knox died in Iraq in December of 2006. McGinnis was perched in the gunner's hatch of a Humvee on patrol in Baghdad when a grenade flew by him and landed inside where four soldiers were sitting. He called out a warning, then leaped into the vehicle and covered the grenade with his body. The grenade exploded, killing h...

A federal judge has issued liens against a fundamentalist Kansas church and ordered two of its members to post cash bonds while they appeal a $5 million judgment resulting from the church's protest at a military funeral.The Westboro Baptist Church has filed a motion seeking to stay last November's verdict, in which a jury found that the Topeka, Kan.-based church intentionally inflicted emotional distress upon Albert Snyder of York, Pa. Snyder's son, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder was killed in Iraq in March 2006. The church frequently pickets military funerals, arguing that the deaths of U.S. troops overseas are part of God's punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality. Six members of the church showed up in Bradford for the memorial service for Master Sergeant Thomas Maholic, who died in Afghanistan. Their efforts to protest were stymied by members of the community and the Patriot Guard Riders.

As of March 23, 2008, when the American death toll in the Iraq war reached 4,000, 187 soldiers from Pennsylvania or with strong ties to the state had been killed or died in support of combat operations. These are the soldiers from this region who have died: Spc. Michael T. Gleason, 25, of Warren, killed in a vehicle crash. Spc. Sean R. Mitchell, 24, of Youngsville, killed by a bomb. Spc. Jonathan R. Kephart, 21, of Oil City, killed in an ambush. Pfc. Michael W. Franklin, 22, of Coudersport, killed by a car bomb. Sgt. Andrew Jodon, 27, of Karthaus, killed by an explosive. Sgt. 1st Class Scott R. Smith, 34, of Punxsutawney, killed by an IED. 2nd Lt. Christopher E. Loudon, 23, of Brockport, killed by a bomb. Pfc. Ross A. McGinnis, 19, of Knox, died after throwing himself on a grenade to protect fellow soldiers. Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Tully, 33, of Falls Creek, killed by an IED. You can find the complete list of Pennsylvania soldiers HERE Master Sergeant Thomas Maholic of Bradford was k...