Thirty-two-year old Patricia Bechtold, right, points to a photo of happier days at the Salvation Army to Lt. Holly Yeatts. Bechtold had been a member of the church for 26 years.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
At the conclusion of the closing service, Lt. Gavin Yeatts waves the 109-year-old West Pittston Salvation Army flag. The flag will now stand at the Division Headquarters in perpetuity. Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
An emotional John and Bernice Whispell are shown saying goodbye to Lt. Gavin Yeatts at the conclusion of the closing ceremony ending the 109-year history of the West Pittston Salvation Army.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Lt. Gavin Yeatts, his wife Lt. Holly Yeatts and their 2-year-old daughter Paisley stand before the congregation for the last time as the leaders of the West Pittston Salvation Army. The Yeatts performed an offical closing of 109-year-old branch ceremony on Sunday, June 27, 2020. The Yeatts have been assign to Pottsville.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Lt. Gavin Yeatts’ last sermon was titled ‘God is in Control.’ Yeatts said he and his wife, Lt. Holly, wanted to leave West Pittston on a positive note.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
PITTSTON – An era has finally come to a close when the West Pittston branch of the Salvation Army held a closing service on Sunday, June 27, after 109 years of operation.
Lts. Gavin and Holly Yeatts performed the official service as friends of the Salvation Army as well as board members and congregants attended the ceremony at the branch’s temporary facility on Main Street, Pittston.
It was determined the West Pittston facility had fallen into disrepair, in 2020, after structural damage was detected. National headquarters decided the building had to be razed and a new facility would not replace it.
The Yeatts held a Departure Service out of West Pittston on Aug. 30, 2020, and moved into a temporary office and chapel on Main Street, Pittston.
Over the next several months, the Yeatts did not know the future of the West Pittston Salvation Army, but conducted business as usual until a decision was made in April 2021.
It was decided the West Pittston branch would be dissolved and absorbed into the Wilkes-Barre branch and the official closing date was June 27, 2021.
“The decision to change the way we provide service in West Pittston is not about a lack of leadership, nor effort,” Lt. Col. Larry Ashcraft, divisional commander, The Salvation Army Pennsylvania and Delaware Division, said. “Our Corps officers have done a remarkable job doing the most they could with the resources available. Rather, this change is necessary due to a need to reduce operational costs. By shifting oversight for operations to the Wilkes-Barre Corps, we are able to continue serving the West Pittston community as we’ve done for 109 years.”
Ashcraft went on to say social services such as food, clothing and emergency assistance programs would continue without interruption under a slightly different service model. Seasonal and holiday assistance will continue to be available, as will opportunities for children and senior citizens to attend camp.
The closing ceremony was held during the usual Sunday Service conducted by Gavin and assisted by his wife, Holly.
The service was upbeat and positive with Gavin choosing the theme of his service, “God is in Control.”
“Even though the Salvation Army is closing here we have faith in God and God always has a bigger plan, a bigger purpose and even on a human level, we can’t understand what God does,” Gavin said. “What might be sad to us; might be beneficial to others.”
Gavin said he wanted to emphasis the celebration because of all the good things the West Pittston branch had done since 1912.
“Sometimes it’s hard to put emotions into words,” Gavin said, on how he felt prior to the final service. “There’s a sense of sadness because there are a lot of memories here, not only for Holly and I, but for the congregation, but there’s also a sense of joy and celebration. We planned this worship service around celebrating.”
Gavin, a Florida native, and Wyoming Valley native Holly are expecting their second child this fall. Their daughter, Paisley, will be celebrating her second birthday soon.
“We really enjoyed it here,” Holly said, of their post in West Pittston for the past three years. “It is going to be a little bit harder with me expecting our second child. I’ll be leaving family behind, but we are really excited to go. I had grown a lot here, and I know I’m going to continue to grow with my next assignment.”
Patricia Bechtold, 32-years-old of Pittston, has been a member of the West Pittston Salvation Army since she was 6 years old and was very emotional during the closing ceremony service.
“I’m going to miss them and I’m going to miss the church,” Bechtold said. “They brought a lot here, they brought a lot of youth around, the new officers did, not only are we losing our church, we are losing really good people as well. It’s hard.”
Bechtold said that there has always been a connection with each officer that has served the West Pittston Salvation Army in her experience.
“Every officer that passes through get a connection with and not only are we losing our officer, which we adapt to, but now there’s no church either.”
Bechtold admitted she is not good with change but she will take her time to find a new ministry to follow in the future.
The day after the closing ceremony, the Yeatts, along with their daughter, relocated to Pottsville to take on their new assignment.
The 109-year-old West Pittston Salvation Army flag will be retired and displayed at the Divisional Headquarters in perpetuity.
