Allen O. Delke Post 16 American Legion of Slatington honored members at the April 11 meeting who had 50 and 70 years of continuous membership.

Substitute Chaplain Earl Snyder prayed, "Send thy peace to our nation and to all nations."The POW-MIA chair was uncovered by historian Mark Queen. It is a reminder to spare nothing to help those missing in action.Members of the Post have spent decades supporting the American Legion as it works toward justice, freedom and democracy. The four-part Legion opens eligibility to the Legion, Sons of the American Legion, Legion Riders and the auxiliary, said Commander Robert Churetta.Fifty-year members are Mark Queen, Arthur "Ted" Kistler, Paul Solt and Richard Moser. Seventy-year members are Clair Schneck, Charles Person, John Heiney and Charles Rowlands.The plaques presented to each man read "name," a longtime and dedicated member of the American Legion, Department of Pennsylvania has been certified to have been a member in good standing continuously for "either 50 or 70 years as appropriate." And be it further known that such record of consistent loyalty to The American Legion merits the honor of being cited as an outstanding contributor to the programs of the American Legion.They were signed by National Commander Dale Barnett, National Adjutant Daniel Wheeler and Post Officer Robert Churetta.Michael Bodnar, 14th district commander, announced there had been a memorial service for National Chaplain the Rev. Ted Kelly, who passed away. You guys with 50 and 70 years, even 20, 30 and 40 years, keep this going. Tell Congress to take care of the veterans.Congress wants to outsource the Veterans Affairs, saying "We don't need it." It was a commander in the 1940s who started the Veterans Administration and wrote the GI Bill. Our work has not ended. As far back as the Romans people said something should be done for veterans but it was soon forgotten. Bodnar said at one time the Legion had 300,000 members in Pennsylvania.Paul Solt was in a construction battalion, the 128th Pontoon. Using a landing craft vehicle, he was a personnel transport officer. In World War II he served "all over the Pacific" and was in Yokohama, Japan, for a few days just before the surrender. He served from 1943 to 1946.Ted Kistler spent much of his 5½ years in Germany, where he was a cook and then mess sergeant. Thanksgiving was the biggest day of the year. He remembers how they patrolled twice a year around Berlin during the crisis there. The Russians sat and watched and they waved to each other. His last two years were spent in Kentucky, where he was discharged as a staff sergeant.Clair Schneck was sent to Rhode Island after his training and then went to Port Hueneme, California, where he played ball until he was sent overseas. He serviced equipment before it was sent to Japan. He was in the regular Navy for four years and the Naval Reserve for another four years and was in World War II. He went in the military right out of high school and got his diploma upon his return, when he worked at Mack Trucks.Charles Rowlands worked with anti-aircraft and field artillery until the unit was broken up. He was sent to Berlin, where he was in charge of the labor office hiring Germans for work. He was in several camps in the states, but many of the units were broken up and he moved on. He is proud of being in the Post and attending every Memorial Day service and many military funerals. He said he is fortunate that at 92 he is able to continue what he likes to do.Mark Queen was drafted and sent to Vietnam for a total of two years active duty. He has been in the Army Reserves for 25 years and kept up his training in an armored battalion, where he became a battalion operations sergeant. He served as adjutant for the Post, district commander for the 14th district, and vice commander for the whole Eastern section.