Memorial Day is about more than grilling hot dogs and sharing laughs with loved ones.

To capture the true meaning of Memorial Day, one only needs to watch Veteran Kevin “Spike” Long of Lehighton in action.

Long is commander of the Lehighton United Veterans Organization, as well as adjutant of American Legion Post #314 in Lehighton.

Planning for Memorial Day

For Long, planning for Memorial Day begins in March with coordinating to cover the rural, Weissport, and Lehighton Memorial Day Honors/Services for 16 cemeteries and 10 monuments.

Long contacts Lehighton Area High School for student speakers for rural service and speakers for Union Hill and Lehighton Borough’s main Memorial Day service.

He also coordinates with the borough to attain use of the amphitheater, the Lehighton Borough Police Department for procession escort, the fire police for traffic control, and Lehighton Public Works and Power/Light Department for logistic issues.

Long also contacts the UVO personnel on services/honors, where and when to report, check equipment, rifle maintenance, flag inventory, etc., and coordinate with the local media on an events schedule.

There are the Memorial Day rural/town services, school programs to observe military service, the Lehighton 911 Remembrance Service, flag etiquette course with scouting organizations, Color Guard details for community events; Carbon County Veterans Day Parade; Lehighton Veterans Memorial Park programs, monuments; military funeral honors, and Carbon County Veterans Council.

“I believe it’s important to have these services to remember and never forget the price paid to ensure our freedom and way of life,” Long said. “At a time when volunteerism is at a premium, I try to do my part, whatever it takes to make sure that our Lehighton UVO can continue to offer services/honors for our fellow veterans, and our community.”

Military background

Long enlisted in May 1981 with the 723rd MP Co. of the National Guard, and was last assigned as a patrol leader when the unit was disbanded in 1989.

The unit then became HHB 213th ADA PAARNG and Long was assigned as a stinger missile crew chief. He was then reassigned as an S-3 Assistant Operations Sergeant.

Long transferred to HHC 213th Area Support Group PAARNG in May of 1993, serving as a section sergeant in the Combat Service Support Automation Section.

He was deployed in November 1996 for Operation Joint Endeavor/Guard in support of NATO operations in Bosnia. Long served on Taszar Airfield in Hungary from January to October 1997.

Long was initially assigned to the 71st CSB as an operations sergeant in the RSO Cell, and was then assigned as the Terrain Management NCO of Taszar Airfield. He also served a softball manager/player for HHC 213th ASG during down time.

Home life

Long, of Lehighton, is married to Carolyn, and has a son, three stepdaughters and 13 grandchildren.

“Thank you to my wife for her patience and understanding while I continue to volunteer my time in these organizations,” he said.

“Thank you to my ‘veteran family’ for their continued support, (as well as) so many others to thank for their continued support of our veterans.”

He retired from Lehighton Area School District in 2018 after 35 years of service.

“Volunteerism is in my blood,” Long said.

In addition to being active with the Lehighton UVO and American Legion Post #314, Long coached baseball for Franklin Township Athletic Association for 16 years, and was a volunteer coach for Lehighton Area High School for two years.

Members wanted

Long, who has been with the Lehighton UVO for 26 years, said, “If you’re a member in good standing of any recognized veterans organization, you can be a member of Lehighton UVO.

Many members are in their 80s, 70s, and 60s, with a limited number in their 20s to 50s.

“But, I’m concerned for the outlook of our group in five to 10 years if we don’t have anybody taking an interest in joining our UVO,” he said.