Local news

Howard Lions honor Sayers with annual ceremony

HOWARD -- The Howard Area Lions Club, with the help of the Centre County VA, held the annual Foster Joseph Sayers Memorial Ceremony Friday to honor what would have been the year of the local war hero's 100th birthday and 80 years since his valiant sacrifice in WWII.

Attendees, among whom were Sayers descendants, local politicians and veterans, all gathered at the Sayers Dam Memorial Site in Blanchard for a moving display of remembrance for our country's fallen troops ahead of Memorial Day.

Speakers included Centre County Commissioners Amber Concepcion, Mark Higgins and Steven Dershem; Clinton County Commissioner James Russo; Pennsylvania State Representative Paul Takac; and keynote speaker Colonel Brad W. Pierson. Sayers's grandson, Foster Joseph Sayers, III, also spoke, sharing the life story of his grandfather.

"His origins would suggest perhaps his life was worth nothing, but one day -- in one battle -- his life meant everything," said his grandson.

Son of Alice Sayers, Private First Class Foster Joseph Sayers, Sr. was born in Marsh Creek, Centre County, on April 27, 1924. As a youth he was sent to foster care because his mother, who was legally deaf and blind, was unable to care for him. His father did not claim him. According to Sayers III, during his time in foster care he was used as child labor on farms and in coal mines.

He entered military service when he was only 18 in March 1943. Sayers was part of Company L, 357th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army.

One year later in 1944, his regiment was shipped to Liverpool, England, while his wife, Ellen Gardner, was pregnant. He would never meet his son.

In June of that year he participated in the allied invasion of France, storming the beaches of Normandy on D-Day.

On Nov. 12 1944, near Thionville, France, during an attack on heavily fortified hostile German forces entrenched on a nearby hill, Sayers charged up the steep approach and set up his machine gun 20 yards from the enemy line.

To distract the Germans' attention while his company crossed an open area to flank them, Sayers charged through heavy machine gun and rifle fire to the edge of their emplacement. He killed 12 German soldiers at close-range before taking up a position behind a log where, while engaging with the enemy, he was killed by heavily concentrated return fire. His fearless assault enabled the company to sweep the hill with minimum casualties and proceed onward.

The battle at Thionville was crucial for the war effort because the 357th Infantry were needed to join General George S. Patton's forces in filling the gap in the Battle of the Bulge, the decisive battle in the European theater.

For his bravery in the line of duty Sayers was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously. He is one of only 464 Medal of Honor recipients from the war. The Howard community decided to honor Sayers' memory and sacrifice by naming Sayers Dam in Bald Eagle State Park after him.

Foster Joseph Sayers, III shared that he visited Thionville decades later while studying in college. During his visit he had the opportunity to share his grandfather's story with some locals. While telling the story of Sayers' sacrifice the locals wept and embraced him and, powerfully, thanked him for their freedom.

"I'd never had any doubts about the worthiness of my grandfather's cause before that, but it was so meaningful to feel that gratitude firsthand. There truly is nothing more noble than sacrificing your life so others are free to live theirs," said Sayers, III.

"We all knew there was something special about what Foster Sayers had done to be awarded the Medal of Honor and have his name associated with this beautiful place, but we really did not understand the gravity of it," said keynote speaker Colonel Brad W. Pierson, an area local.

In 2012, the Howard Area Lions Club made the decision to establish the Foster Joseph Sayers Memorial Site positioned at the breast of the dam in Liberty Township. This memorial was dedicated to commemorate the valor of the WWII hero, as well as to honor the club's members, a significant number of whom are veterans, and to pay tribute to all United States military veterans.

"What is important is that we continue to tell the stories of our lost heroes, friends and family that did make the ultimate sacrifice. Help put faces and stories to the names on the wall," said Colonel Pierson.

At the event, the Director of the Centre County Veterans' Affairs Office, Brian Querry, also recognized Don Miller, 98, a WWII, Korean and Vietnam veteran, and Bill Gentzel, 92, a Korean War veteran, for their service.

Participants in the memorial ceremony included Army veteran Amy Kowatch, who sang the National Anthem; Father Bert Kozen, V.F. Chaplain Brigadier General-PA, who gave the invocation and benediction; Foster Joseph Sayers, Jr., who participated in the laying of the wreaths and unveiling of memorial bricks alongside Ron Davy; and Brian Querry, who gave the closing remarks.

The Pleasant Gap American Legion handled the return of the colors, Bellefonte VFW Post 1600 Honor Guard performed the gun salute, James Franklin, retired GY/SGT for the US Marines, played Taps and John MacMillen, a Vietnam veteran from the USAF, was the bagpiper.

"We can't stop honoring and remembering that we're free because others were willing to sacrifice," said Foster Joseph Sayers, III, closing out his speech with a thanks to all those who served and could be in attendance.

Foster Joseph Sayers, Sr. rests at Schencks Cemetry, Howard Township. His Medal of Honor can be viewed at the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg.