Published: November 11, 2009 11:16 pm      

Township dedicates monument

East Taylor Township native John Zupancic, a Vietnam War veteran, helped dedicate East Taylor Township’s veterans memorial Wednesday.

Zupancic now is retired from the Secret Service. But he remembers where he was on Sept. 11, 2001.

He was working in the World Trade Center complex on that fateful day.

Then the first hijacked airliner slammed into the twin towers

“We thought a transformer blew,” Zupancic said.

“Then they notified us and we got out and helped other people get away from everything and just watched the building burn.”

Zupancic returned home Wednesday to be the keynote speaker at the East Taylor ceremony.

The stone monument located at the township municipal building bears the names of 108 township men and women who served in all branches of the armed forces.

“I believe this monument captures the memories, commitment and valor of the living and fallen veterans,” Zupancic said.

“Because of our veterans, this country will remain the land of the free and the home of the brave. This is an absolute true statement.”

About 100 people turned out for the monument dedication.

Men from VFW Post 155 in Geistown raised the American flag and a flag honoring MIAs and POWs. A bugler played taps, prayers were said, patriotic songs rang out and the monument was uncovered as residents crowded around to glimpse the names of family and friends etched into the gray stone.

Harry D. Glacken Sr. found his name and those of four other Glackens who served.

“I love my country,” said Glacken, an Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War. “This is wonderful for the men who died.”

VFW member Robert Haberkorn paid tribute to the East Taylor veterans “who fought for the defense and preservation of our way of life.”

“This is a solemn and important occasion,” he said. “These men and women are worthy of far greater recognition than mere words.”

Supervisor Bob Spanko said the honor roll was the idea of a former township supervisor, Ronald “Red” Loya.

“It was long overdue,” Spanko said. “We want to honor our vets.”

Plans are in the works to add more names, he said.

Spanko credited Rich Bailey of Shetler Memorials of Johnstown for designing the honor roll.

Others who helped included township Supervisor Art Thomson and his wife, Bonnie, and Dave Hirko, a Jackson Township official.

“I think it’s a wonderful thing the township did,” said resident Marilyn Pavic, who attended the ceremony. “Not enough people give the veterans credit for what they did.”

A representative from the office of state Rep. Frank Burns, D-East Taylor, also attended.