‘Remembrance, courage, honor’: Foster Joseph Sayers and other veterans honored with flyover
TIM WEIGHT/FOR THE EXPRESS Dignitaries and attendees pause to witness an A-10, piloted by Air Force Lt. Colonel Ryan Yingling, as it soared above a special tribute held at Bald Eagle State Park to honor PFC Foster Joseph Sayers and all other military veterans who have served our country.
TIM WEIGHT/FOR THE EXPRESS In the absence of US Congressman GT Thompson, Cindy Kunes was in attendance to present Foster Sayers, Jr. with one of the two American flags that had flown over the Capitol building. The other was presented to Sayers, Jr. previously, before Thompson left to return to Washington, D.C.
TIM WEIGHT/FOR THE EXPRESS The Sayers Medal of Honor Memorial site at Bald Eagle State Park is pictured.
TIM WEIGHT/FOR THE EXPRESS Dignitaries and attendees pause to witness an A-10, piloted by Air Force Lt. Colonel Ryan Yingling, as it soared above a special tribute held at Bald Eagle State Park to honor PFC Foster Joseph Sayers and all other military veterans who have served our country.
TIM WEIGHT/FOR THE EXPRESS In the absence of US Congressman GT Thompson, Cindy Kunes was in attendance to present Foster Sayers, Jr. with one of the two American flags that had flown over the Capitol building. The other was presented to Sayers, Jr. previously, before Thompson left to return to Washington, D.C.
TIM WEIGHT/FOR THE EXPRESS The Sayers Medal of Honor Memorial site at Bald Eagle State Park is pictured.
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HOWARD -- PFC Foster Joseph Sayers was killed in action near Thionville, France, on Nov. 12, 1944. In his memory, remembrance, courage and honor were prevalent during a special tribute and military flyover held to celebrate his heroic actions that claimed his life during World War II.
Under sunny skies, many gathered at the Sayers Medal of Honor Memorial site at Bald Eagle State Park on Tuesday, exactly 80 years after Sayers' death, to remember his courageous actions and to once again bring honor to one of our local heroes who died defending our liberties and freedom. The memorial tribute not only paid honor to Sayers, but to all military veterans who have served our country.
At 2:30 p.m., the A-10 aircraft came into view and made its way up the Bald Eagle valley. Piloted by Air Force Lt. Colonel Ryan Yingling, the A-10 soared proudly against the backdrop of the beautiful blue sky.
The memorial tribute was arranged in partnership with the Howard Area Lions Club, the Milesburg Lions Club, the Milesburg American Legion Post 893 and the Centre County Veterans Affairs office.
Brian Querry, Director of Veterans Affairs in Centre County, was the Emcee during the afternoon program. Querry thanked his service officer, Sherry Narehood, for her efforts in securing the military flyover for the momentous occasion.
Howard Area Lion Bob Patishnock gave the opening invocation of the ceremony. Patishnock is a close family friend of fellow Lion Foster Sayers, Jr., and was thrilled to be asked to be a part of the 80th anniversary tribute.
Patishnock prayed that "as we come together this day to this consecrated ground, we pay our respects, to honor and most importantly to remember the sacrifice of our brother... and we pray that his selfless examples of courage, bravery and service to his fellow soldiers and to his country long ago will never be forgotten... Help us to stay faithful to his example and to live our lives accordingly, mindful also of our own duty of service to others."
Larry Butler, an Air Force veteran and former WoodmenLife agent who was instrumental in creating the Medal of Honor Memorial site at Bald Eagle State Park, led the attendees in the pledge to the flag. The American flag and others flown at the memorial site were proudly fluttering in the chilly breeze during the afternoon ceremony.
A spoken rendition of the Star Spangled Banner was read by Joy Oakley, Debbie Richner-Powers and Randy Leathers, parishioners at the Howard United Methodist Church.
Cindy Kunes, in the absence of Congressman GT Thompson, presented Foster Sayers, Jr. with one of the two American flags that had flown over the capitol building.
The original flag presentation was done during the morning hours before Thompson left Centre County for his political duties at the Capitol. One of the flags will adorn the flagpole at Schenck's Cemetery near Howard, the final resting place of Foster Joseph Sayers and numerous other military veterans who served their country.
Each of the Centre County Commissioners attended the ceremony along with representatives of the Centre County Sheriff's Department.
Foster Joseph Sayers, III, returned to Centre County from Colorado with his family for the ceremony. He spoke a few moments on the importance of each of us having the courage to stand up and make a difference, just like his grandfather did 80 years ago.
Following the benediction, Foster Sayers, Jr. and other Howard Area Lions unveiled the newest bricks in the Walk of Honor at the memorial site. Some 50 new bricks, each engraved with a military veteran's name, were recently laid in the walkway.