Between introducing speakers to start off Friday's "Salute to Veterans" at the Gino J. Merli Veterans Center, state Sen. John Blake mentioned something the facility's namesake told him.
"He always said, 'Never forget. Never forget the service men and women,'â" Mr. Blake said.
In anticipation of Veterans Day on Monday, the event organized by Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. at the center aimed to follow the late Mr. Merli's direction to the state senator.
After a series of brief addresses, a "Back to the World Veteran Service Fair" offered information on resources available to veterans - primarily employment options.
"We're secure, and we need to take the time to remember that that security was afforded to us by you," said George Stark, director of external affairs for Cabot.
In a brief address to the roughly 50 people in attendance for the salute before the fair, Mr. Stark emphasized not only the importance of hiring veterans for their sake but their unique value to employers.
"Hands down, the experiences that veterans bring to our industry is second to none," he said.
The importance of finding employment for veterans is paramount among the various issues facing both returning soldiers and those who have long since completed their service but have not yet found their footing, said Brig. Gen. Michael G. Gould, deputy adjutant general of the state Department of Veterans Affairs.
Hiring veterans not only reduces unemployment among the group but also helps alleviate issues such as homelessness and mental health problems.
"It's an umbrella over all other issues," Gen. Gould said. "It's important that we give our veterans a hand in trying to get them hired."
Gen. Gould also stressed the need for monetary donations to veterans assistance programs, like the Veterans Trust Fund program he oversees.
"They wrote a blank check to the United States of America and said, 'Cash this if you need to,'â" he said.
To that end, Mr. Stark closed the ceremony Friday morning by handing a $5,000 check to Gen. Gould on behalf of Cabot to go toward the Veterans Trust Fund.
Contact the writer: domalley@timesshamrock.com, @domalleyTT on TwitterHoliday events
Veterans Day events scheduled across the region include:
Clarks Summit
- Abington Memorial VFW Post 7069, 402 Winola Road, ceremony, Sunday, 6 p.m., Clarks Summit United Methodist Church.
Dupont
- AMVETS Post 189, with cooperation of VFW Post 4909 and American Legion Post 657, ceremony, Sunday, 11 a.m., Dupont Municipal Memorial Lawn; guest speaker: Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Ariana L. Pourmonir.
Honesdale
- VFW Post 531 and American Legion Post 254 joint ceremony, Sunday, 11 a.m., Veterans Park; rain or shine; guest speaker: Cadet Capt. Anthony Carachilo.
- Annual veterans march through borough streets, Sunday, 6 p.m.; brief ceremony in Central Park follows; assemble at pavillion on Main Street by 5:55 p.m.; vehicles for those who cannot march; open to service men and women, veterans and those marching in memory of veterans; Michael O'Hara, 335-2641.
Newfoundland
- Phillips-Zacharias-Phillips Post 859 American Legion celebration, Monday, 11 a.m., Veterans Memorial, Carlton Drake Memorial Park (opposite Wallenpaupack South Elementary School), Main Street; reading of the fourth- to sixth-grade essays "What America Means to Me," awarding bronze, silver and gold medals; Wallenpaupack Area High School band performing patriotic selections; speaker from command at Tobyhanna Army Depot.
Old Forge
- American Legion Post 513 and VFW Post 4954 ceremony, Sunday, 11 a.m., Old Forge Borough Building.
Scranton
- Asbury United Methodist Church singalong concert service, Sunday, 7 p.m., sanctuary, 720 Delaware St.; refreshments follow in church hall; free, 343-1035.
- Koch Conley American Legion Post 121, Scranton, Veterans Day program, Sunday, 10:30 a.m., city Showmobile, Lackawanna County Courthouse Square, North Washington Avenue side; University of Scranton ROTC Color Guard presenting colors; music by Paulette Costas; traditional honors by the NEPA Marine Corps League rifle salute and bugler; wreath presentations by various veterans organizations; keynote speaker, U.S. Rep.-elect Matt Cartwright.
- Marywood University office of military and veteran services Veterans Day Roll Call, Monday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Fireplace Lounge, Nazareth Hall; honoring service members fallen during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn; list of 6,600 names will be read aloud throughout the day; nationwide moment of silence participation, 2 p.m.
Throop
- Herbert Clark American Legion Post 180 and VFW Post 7251 meeting Sunday, 9:30 a.m., Throop Municipal Building; memorial services, 10, Veterans Memorial Monument, 11, VFW Post 7251 Memorial Monument.