Lansford’s Memorial Day speaker, a retired U.S. Marine Corps major who served as a pilot and flight trainer, shared his poignant experiences of comrades in the military losing their lives.

“Those of us who flew knew every time were strapped in an airplane, we might never come back,” said Dale Giordano. And, he said, many didn’t.

Giordano spoke during the annual service Monday. Usually held in Lansford’s Kennedy Park, the event was moved into the Garland-Manak-Boyle-Zonca-Whitehead American Legion Post 123 because of rain.

About 75 people attended the program.

Giordano said Memorial Day “is a day to thank all American veterans, living and dead.”

He clarified that there is a major difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

He said it isn’t appropriate to tell someone “Happy Memorial Day” because the day is a solemn one to honor deceased veterans. “Happy Veterans Day — that’s appropriate,” he said.

Giordano, a native of Elkland, Tioga County, married a Lansford native, Doreen, whom he met while he was training at Marine Base Quantico, Virginia. She was living in Washington, D.C., and was working for the Air Force at the Pentagon.

The accomplished jet pilot and instructor retired from the Marines in 1991. Then he and his family moved to Lansford, where he worked for 20 years at the Panther Creek Energy facility in Nesquehoning.

Giordano told about the dangers pilots face. He said that during his initial training, he experienced the deaths of five other pilot trainees. The reason the training is so rigorous, he said, is because “we’re trained like we’re going to fight.” During such training, he said, no matter what safety precautions are taken, “people are going to get hurt or killed.”

The speaker mentioned that military members are an elite group. He said because we have an all-volunteer military, fewer than 1% of America’s population serves in the armed forces, and not everyone is accepted.

The main reason individuals join, he said, are family tradition, patriotism and adventure.

Giordano also told about the sacrifices family members of military members make. He said of those who join, “I can tell you, it’s not for the money.”

“If you are married, you are going to struggle (financially) because you don’t make enough money,” he said. “You qualify for public assistance. To me, that is not right.”

To be an officer you must be a college graduate. That means you already have college debt. Giordano said officers purchase some of their own uniforms, with his first one costing about $1,000 a number of years ago.

To reenlist, “you have to enjoy what you’re doing and love the family you work with,” he said.

A major factor in a military career is having a family who will support you, Giordano said. You move about every three years, meaning your children will switch schools and have to make new friends.

When you are deployed, your wife has to do everything, he said, which includes paying the bills, shoveling snow and mowing the lawn, and mostly, serving as a single parent.

“One more thing the spouses have to deal with,” Giordano said. “They know that any time they could have that knock on the door” informing them regarding an injury or death.

Comments were also made by Post Commander Nathan Krajcirik, who said it is OK to enjoy picnics and activities on this special day, but to “always remember why we’re here.”

“Every day is Memorial Day in the American Legion,” he said.

Krajcirik noted that the Lansford Legion Post is named after five individuals. He said the deeds and sacrifices of those individuals is important “not only in the history of our town, but in the history of the United States.”

The master of ceremonies was past commander Richard D. Pogwist.

Carly Green, a freshman at Marian Catholic High School, sang the national anthem and “God Bless America.” Three other Marian students participated: Maiya Vavro recited Gen. John A. Logan’s General Order; Regan LeClair read “In Flanders Field”; and Jack LeClair presented President Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address.”

Legion member Robert Dogosh placed a memorial wreath.

Another Legion member, Dave Padora, gave the roll call of Lansford veterans who have died since last Memorial Day. He read 12 names.

The invocation and benediction were by Deacon Joseph Cannon of St. Joseph’s Parish of the Panther Valley.