Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Two Medal of Honor recipients – a man whose life was saved by a Zippo lighter, and the man known as the “real” Forrest Gump – will be honored at the Zippo/Case Museum on Veterans Day. The two American heroes will install special Medal of Honor commemorative lighter and knife sets at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the museum. Harold Fritz was leading a column of heavily armored vehicles through Quan Loi in 1969 when they were ambushed by North Vietnamese fighters. Thrown from his vehicle, Fritz led a point-blank charge on the enemy and was hit several times by shrapnel and small-arm rounds. One particular blow on the left side of his chest knocked him down. He was evacuated by helicopter, but when he returned to the battlefield later that day, he found a Zippo lighter that had been given to him as a going away present by his wife. It had been in his left breast pocket, where it stopped the bullet that would otherwise have killed him. Fritz received his Medal of Honor from President Nixon in ...

President Barack Obama next month will award the Medal of Honor to two Vietnam soldiers and a Union Army lieutenant for his heroics during the historic Pickett's Charge assault at the Battle of Gettysburg, the White House announced Tuesday. Read more here . Photo from Wikipedia The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG – Three Potter County bridges will be named to honor area Vietnam veterans under legislation introduced by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint). Under House Bill 293, the bridge carrying State Route 49 over the Cowanesque Creek in Harrison Valley will be designated the Specialist Kenneth Wayne Lampman Sr. Memorial Bridge. The bridge carrying State Route 44 over the Oswayo Creek in Shinglehouse Borough will be named the Specialist Gerald Duane Stonemetz Memorial Bridge. And the bridge carrying State Route 1022 over Pine Creek in Galeton Borough will be designated the Private First Class Clark Robert Douglas Memorial Bridge. “These men made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and it is important that we remember their service,” Causer said. “Naming these bridges in their honor will serve as a reminder to all of us to pay tribute to these veterans and to everyone who has served or is continuing to serve our country.” Lampman, a resident of Harrison Valley, serve...

State Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) on Wednesday hosted a ceremony honoring the veterans who served our country during the Vietnam War era. Attending the event, which was held at VFW Post 813, 114 Fuller St., DuBois, were 126 veterans and their guests. “It is incredibly important to take time to thank the many veterans who have served our country,” Gabler said. “The sacrifices these brave men and women have made allow us to live the lives we lead and enjoy the freedoms we share as Americans.” Among those in attendance were U.S. Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-5) and state Sen. Bob Robbins (R-50), the program’s guest speaker who completed two tours of duty in Vietnam and received numerous medals for his service. Gabler also announced during the ceremony his sponsorship of legislation to recognize veterans who were exposed to the chemical defoliant known as Agent Orange during their time of service in the Vietnam War Era. “My bill designates October 2012, as ‘Agent Orange Recogn...

HARRISBURG – State Rep, Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) is planning an event to honor all residents of the 75th Legislative District who served during the Vietnam War Era, and is conducting a search for veterans from all branches of the Armed Services to recognize that day. “We have a significant number of veterans in both Clearfield and Elk counties,” Gabler said. “As a country, we don’t give thanks often enough to those who served in war time, and this is an opportunity to do that to those who fought during the Vietnam War Era.” Anyone who is a Vietnam War Era veteran, or knows someone who is, should contact one of Gabler’s district offices so pertinent information may be collected and invitations to the event may be sent. You may contact either Gabler’s DuBois office at (814) 375-4688 or his St. Marys office at (814) 781-6301. The 75th district is comprised of all of Elk County, as well as, in Clearfield County, the City of DuBois, Troutville Borough and the townships of Brady, Husto...

HARRISBURG – Two Potter County bridges are being named in honor of area Vietnam veterans under legislation authored by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) and signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett today. Under the law, the bridge carrying State Route 607 over Freeman Run in Austin Borough will be designated as the Captain Edgar E. Nuschke Memorial Bridge. The bridge carrying State Route 872 over the east fork of Sinnemahoning Creek in Wharton Township will be named the Private First Class Edward Ritsick Memorial Bridge. “Decades have passed since these men gave their lives for our country, but their sacrifice is no less significant today than it was on the day each of them died,” Causer said. “Naming these bridges in their honor ensures that their service is remembered by both current and future generations.” Nuschke served his country for 22 years in the U.S. Air Force. He served in World War II and Korea, and in 1966 was assigned to duty in Vietnam, where he was shot down and killed....

By Dan Toomey Director of Communications OLEAN – Decades after serving aboard the USS Oriskany in the Vietnam War, U.S. Navy veteran Gary Clark of West Almond finally was awarded two service medals honoring the former Petty Officer 3rd Class for his years of wartime service. Over 45 years later, Petty Officer Clark received the thanks he deserved when Senator Catharine Young (R,I,C –Olean) personally pinned the Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze campaign star and the Navy Unit Commendation onto his chest as part of a special ceremony Friday at the Crossroads Conference Center in Belmont. “America’s brave veterans have made unparalleled sacrifices for our country and it was my great honor to present these long overdue awards to Petty Officer Clark. He earned these medals and should have gotten them long ago. I am just glad that his family was finally able to see him get the recognition he deserved,” said Senator Young. Senator Young said the delay resulted from an omission on Petty O...

State Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) is seeking information about Vietnam Era veterans living in the 67th District so he can honor them for their service to our country. "Like the soldiers who served before them and after them, Vietnam veterans made great sacrifices for our country," Causer said. "But their sacrifice was magnified by the fact that so few of these veterans were warmly welcomed home or thanked for their service because of the controversy surrounding that war. "It is time to extend our thanks and appreciation to the men and women who served during this difficult time in our nation's history." Causer is asking area veterans to contact his Bradford office at 814-362-4400 (toll-free 1-866-437-8181) to provide him with their names, mailing addresses, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, branch of service and years of service. Veterans can also register online at RepCauser.com . All veterans who contact the office will be invited to a recognition c...