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Jersey Shore Presbyterian Church hosts Veterans Day Service

By D. Everett Smith For The Express 6 min read

JERSEY SHORE -- The famed World War II Gen. Douglas MacArthur stood before Congress in 1951 and uttered a phrase that has long been associated with him and anyone who served in the military.

"Old soldiers never die, they just fade away," he said.

He then added, "And like the old soldier...I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty."

However, one Elimsport pastor and veteran, Max Furman, disagreed. He said thanks to Veterans Day services and thanks to assistance from Almighty God, anyone who picked up arms to defend their country's God-given freedoms will always be remembered.

In a keynote address to a crowd of almost 200 people at the Jersey Shore Presbyterian Church on Nov. 11, at 7 p.m., Furman said that old soldiers may be a little faded, but they will never be forgotten.

Furman recalled the John Wayne movie, directed by John Ford, "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" and how he played an aging captain who ended his service with a gold watch from his men. Inscribed was "Lest We Forget."

Furman praised such hard-working veterans that they could only do what they do because of the strength of the Almighty.

It was mentioned that Furman lives in Elimsport with his wife, Kathy. He is a father and grandfather and served as a chaplain in the Army National Guard. He was deployed in war-torn and disaster areas. He currently serves in two churches in Antes Fort-Oriole with two Global Methodist Churches.

Besides Furman's address, the event featured pastors from Lycoming County and Lock Haven, patriotic music by the Fair Play Brass band, as well as songs praising God and a promise to pray for veterans of the Armed Forces and their families.

Jersey Shore Mayor Lon Myers welcomed the crowd while the members of the Jersey Shore Honor Guard displayed the American flag and military flags.

Charlie Winkelman, the pastor emeritus of the Jersey Shore Presbyterian Church, acted as a master of ceremonies and explained the event was a concert in prayer divided into five sections with music provided by the Fair Play Brass.

The brass band played a series of patriotic pieces as well as the official themes of each military branch. Former military personnel all stood to applause and were thanked for their service as images of American achievements played on a large screen at the front of the sanctuary.

Associate Pastors Mack and Shallary Duncan from the Well Church in Montoursville led the crowd in a recitation of the 23rd Psalm for the first part of the program, entitled "Giving Thanks for the Fallen and All Veterans."

Both said they were honored to be invited to share at the event.

"We love this," Shallary Duncan said. "We get to give thanks for the veterans."

Mack Duncan had served in the United States Army for two decades.

"I give credit to God and Jesus for being able to serve 20 years in the Army," Mack Duncan said.

The second part of the program was entitled "Prayer for Those who Serve, Past and Present" with Robert Parish, a retired pastor from the Mountain View CMA Church in Jersey Shore. He read several of the Psalms but highlighted Psalm 91 and personalized it for the crowd.

In the third part of the program, Winkelman returned and shared an emotional moment about how his father served in World War II and mentioned his dedication to the United States and how he had passed away recently.

In the fourth part of the program, Pastor Dilonna Coran, of the Restoration Church in Jersey Shore, led a prayer for country and community leaders. Besides Myers, two other leaders were on hand to pay respects to those who served in the armed forces -- State Rep. Joe Hamm and Judge Denise Dieter.

This part of the event ended with three stanzas of "My Country 'Tis of Thee."

In the final part of the night, Pastor Joyce Bucknor, of Anem Church in the Woolrich/Lock Haven area, led a prayer for the country and the world.

At the end of the event, a special offering was collected for the PA Wounded Warriors.

According to the official site, "The late Major General Gerald Sajer and his wife, Helen, founded Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors Inc. in 2006 to support and assist Wounded Warriors and their families as the soldiers returned from deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq."

It was noted that the PA Wounded Warriors was not associated with the Wounded Warriors Project.

After the event, Hamm explained why he attended.

"I always feel at home at this service," Hamm said. "At an event like this, veterans can look to God for the many challenges and we pray He will guide us."

The event was spearheaded by Presbyterian church member Sandy Vought.

She explained that between her involvement in the local VFW post and her connection with the church, she felt compelled to "bring everybody together" after 9/11.

Vought had the idea for the service and brought it to Winkelman, who was pastor at the time. With their efforts, the service began to grow over the years.

"My faith in Jesus Christ, along with my love and commitment to our veterans, is my heartfelt drive for a successful service," Vought said.

When asked how much effort goes into preparation for this event, she said it is always on her mind.

"I am always thinking about the service," she said. "I am thinking about next year's Veterans Day service. We have 30 volunteers who helped this year."

She explained that it is not hard for her because the military is close to her.

"My father, his brothers, my husband, my son-in-law, and many other family members and friends have all served our country," she said.

Vought hoped this was a sentiment shared by all Americans.

She said, "If citizens could just remember that when a soldier signs on the dotted line, they are protecting our lives, our values, most of all our freedoms in this wonderful country of America."

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