L. Marc Burlile Sr. served three tours overseas, two in west Germany and one in Korea, but the retired corrections officer knows what it’s like to return home.

Many who left their homes for battle, however, never did and for that reason, he said, Memorial Day is a solemn remembrance of their legacy.Burlile, Schuylkill County resident and commander of American Legion Department of Pennsylvania District 13, was the guest speaker Sunday at two services in Coaldale sponsored by the town’s United Veterans Organization.“Freedom ranks among the greatest gifts known to man, but like anything of value it has its price,” he told the crowd. “Our understanding of freedom may be limited, but our gratitude to those who provide it is unending.”Among the questions pondered by Burlile was how to quantify the sacrifice made by the men and women of the Armed Forces?While there is no one answer, he offered a few suggestions.“Count number of deaths in service to the country, count the number of notes in Taps, count the number of Little League games a boy’s father would not be there for or the number of walks a mother will not be able to go on with her daughter,” he said. “Add that up and it will give you some idea of the sacrifices that are made for our freedom. What you can’t count is the grief in a mother’s heart when they find out their child is not coming home from battle.”During the service, guests heard the names of all Coaldale veterans who have died in the past year.They are Margaret Arner, Vern J. Balliet, Joseph Cipko, Thomas Dorian, Glenn Flecknoe, Michael J. Frendak, Charles “Banty” Herring, Russell R. Hill, Andrew Hosak, Steven Kacik Jr., Nicholas King, William Nesterak, Margaret M. Petrucci, Martin Polakovic, Philip Price, and John M. “Jack” “Moe” Williams.Coaldale Mayor Joel Johnson called Memorial Day one of the most solemn days in our country.“It’s a day when Americans, regardless of ideology, race, creed or political persuasion, join together to remember the sacrifices of those who answered the nation’s call,” Johnson said. “The significance of this day is sometimes confused or distorted. The true meaning of Memorial Day is sometimes distant, vague and lost in commercialism. We often fail to recognize the magnitude of the deeds of the men and women who held true to the notion that evil and tyranny must not prevail.”The Panther Valley High School Band and the school’s JROTC participated in the program.Jimmy Rickert, Coaldale American Legion post commander, was master of ceremonies.The first of Sunday’s services was held at the Seek Veterans Memorial with the latter ceremony at Coaldale Veterans and Women’s Memorials.“Those who are gone we can no longer thank verbally, only in prayer,” Burlile said. “Let us not take their sacrifices for granted and ensure their memory does not fade away.”