EXETER — Exeter Events kicked off the 2019 summer months with a street banner program honoring Exeter natives who served in the military. A ceremony was held at the borough building May 18 commemorating veterans and bringing awareness of the military banners that line Wyoming Avenue.
Exeter Events is a committee of borough residents who want to make a difference in Exeter by promoting the borough through special events. The idea was created by borough Mayor Denise Adams when she first took office in 2018.
“It came up in our Exeter Events meetings that we should do something for the veterans in town,” said Exeter Events chairman Lindo Sabatini. “Our first step was to do banners and, looking at other towns how they had the banners up, was a fantastic idea to drive up and down the street and pay tribute to great people for our town that served our country.”
Initially, Sabatini was hoping to sell 20 banners but, since the program started, over 80 banners have been sold and hung.
Sabatini, Lori DeAngelo, Dave Balent, Frank Pizano and other committee members planned the banner program and the celebration honoring veterans in just four months.
According to DeAngelo, 80 chairs were set up for the celebration program outside the borough building and “all seats are filled.” Organizers were pleased with the reaction from the borough, thanking all who attended and made the event possible.
The celebration honoring veterans included a combination of patriotic musical selections sung by students of Exeter-based Perfect Harmony music studio and speakers hosted by Mayor Adams.
Jack Brogan sang his rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner.” Brogan, who will be 90 years old on June 19 and who served on the minesweeper USS Token during WWII enlisting just two weeks after graduating high school in 1946, was happy to take part in the program.
“Thank God we have people that remember the veterans and what they have sacrificed for this country,” Brogan said about Exeter’s program honoring veterans. “A lot of good men lost and the guys that are here being honored, that’s exceptional.”
Featured speakers were Maj. Gen. Anthony J. Carrelli, the Adjutant General of Pennsylvania and a secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, headquartered at Ft. Indiantown Gap, along with Army Staff Sgt. Earl Granville (RET), who lost part of his leg due to injuries he suffered when deployed to Afghanistan in 2008.
Ninety-three-year-old Dick Mooney was recognized during the program as the oldest living veteran.
The PA state award-winning Dupont AMVETS Post 189 Honor Guard posted the colors and played Taps led by Post Commander Bernie McDonald.
“It’s nice to see communities finally start to realize what these guys are sacrificing each and every single day,” McDonald said. “Functions like this, a small one like this, leads to the next one and to the next one where they become huge and making the awareness for our youngster that don’t understand what these guys sacrificed. I’m really proud to go out and do what we do as an honor guard.”
The next Exeter Events program will be the annual Exeter Block Party scheduled for June 1 at the borough building.
Last year’s Hollow at the Moon event was a success, but plans were not definite at press time if a second event will take place. “Hopefully, we can swing that together for the fall,” Sabatini said.
