Memorial Day is not a day of celebration, but rather a day to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to allow Americans our freedom.

“Never forget,” Christine LeClair, director of the Carbon County Veterans Affairs office said Friday as she spoke about a recent conversation with a widow who lost her husband earlier this month. “This holiday is an extremely painful day for so many and we owe it to their loved ones to give Memorial Day the respect that it deserves.”

Dozens of people gathered in Josiah White Park in Jim Thorpe to do exactly what LeClair said, remember the men and women who served in the military and gave their lives either in wartime or peace.

The special guest speakers for the annual Carbon County Memorial Day ceremony were a husband and wife who both served in the Navy for three decades.

Retired Command Master Chiefs Linda and Darel Handley both have an extensive background, serving aboard various Naval ships and at several bases during their time in the military.

The Handleys retired to Carbon County five years ago, settling down on a road near Beltzville State Park that is fittingly named for a Vietnam veteran who gave his life in 1968 at the age of 20.

“Being in the military requires many sacrifices,” Linda Handley said. “We miss birthdays, anniversaries, family time. ... Today is Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor our military brothers and sisters who never came home.”

Darel Handley echoed his wife’s thoughts.

“As I look out at the people here, I sincerely doubt there is a single person who doesn’t have a personal story or have someone in their families who have made the sacrifice,” he said.

He said that he always wondered about what these veterans who never made it home would have become had they not died in the line of duty.

“I wonder what their chosen profession would have been,” Darel said. “Would they have been a congressman, maybe. Would they have been a local representative in Pennsylvania? Would they have continued their military careers. Or maybe they would have been generals or admirals. I wonder who they would have married or what their children would have done. Maybe they would have changed the world.

“I am always amazed at the courage of our military and I have seen first hand incredible acts of bravery,” he said. “As I read accounts of their action or watch news clips and hear their stories, I wonder what kind of courage it takes to do what they have done. What kind of courage does it take to march in formation and stand tall while the enemy takes aim at you like it happened during the Revolutionary War.

“Who charges up the hill to go against enemy fire? Who volunteers to go in a submarine to make a war patrol during a second World War knowing the chance of returning is very, very slim. Who gets on a landing craft and hits the beaches at Normandy. ... I know the answer and so do you. They are our true heroes. They are our assets. They are true Americans. Their sacrifices ensure that we can live our lives freely.”

In addition to the Handleys, remarks were made by Congressman Dan Meuser; state Rep. Doyle Heffley; Brad Hurley, representing Sen. John Yudichak; and Carbon County Commissioner Rocky Ahner.

The Carbon County UVO and American Legion Post 304 also provided color guard and a gun salute, while Army veteran Eric Flowers performed on the bagpipes and Bill Diehm of American Legion Post 304 performed taps.