Residents, former students and teachers from Franklin Elementary School, and families gathered recently at Phifer’s Ice Dam in Franklin Township for the 37th annual K.I.A. Memorial Service.

Each year, they come together to honor and pay tribute to the 29 men listed on the bronze plaque on the memorial that stands next to the pavilion. Those on the plaque served in the Civil War, World War I and World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

Former Franklin student and teacher Sydney Zarelli gave the opening remarks. Jennifer Eckhart, a former Franklin student and pastor at Blue Mountain community Church, emceed the service.

Army veteran Larry Ahner was introduced by former Franklin teacher Martha Cox.

Ahner spoke about patriotism.

“A healthy, patriotic heart loves its country enough to tell it the truth,” he said. “Truth, true love for a nation, does not mean closing our eyes to its faults or pretending mistakes were never made. Blind obedience is not patriotism. True patriotism requires the courage to look at our flaws, acknowledge our history, and strive every single day to do better.

“Think of those who have worn the uniform to defend our freedoms, the active service members, the veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much so that we can speak our minds, vote our conscience and gather in peace.

“We honor them not with just words of thanks, but for protecting the very freedoms they defended. We honor them by ensuring that our democracy remains strong, inclusive and fair for every single person who calls this land home.”

Carbon County commissioner and former Franklin Elementary student Rocky Ahner related that about two weeks ago, he was gifted with a stack of letters from the 1940s from service members. As part of his speech, Ahner read from one letter about training that an unnamed soldier was experiencing.

“We got to crawl on our bellies for 200 yards; and, at the same time, they have machine gun fire shooting over our heads, and we dare not get higher than 30 inches, or we’ll get shot, and I don’t like that.

“On the ninth of July, we must dig a trench foxhole, four feet deep. When we have them dug, we will get in them, and they will run over us with tanks, so we cannot stick our heads up.”

During the Honor Roll of the War Dead, each of the names of the men listed on the monument was read by a family member or Franklin Elementary alumnus along with the war in which he died, and then a flower was placed on the monument in his honor.

The monument idea was started by former Franklin teacher Larry Hill, who came up with the idea in 1988. Funds were raised and the monument was built at the Franklin Elementary School.

“Many members of our community were committed to continuing this tradition after Franklin Elementary School closed in 2018, including Tim Seltzer, the Franklin Township Lions Club and many members of the Franklin School family,” explained former Franklin teacher and student Sydney Zarelli.

Hill, now in his 90s, attended the service as he has done for most every year since it began. He hopes that the service will continue to be held after he is gone.

Members of the Lehighton United Veterans Organization provided the color guard and rifle salute, and presented flags during the honors of the various branches of the military.

Pastor Keith House gave the opening prayer; Jennifer Eckhart sang the national anthem and “God Bless America.” Josiah Klotz read the story of taps. Angela Harris, former Franklin librarian and teacher, gave the closing remarks.

The Franklin K.I.A. service is held the second Saturday in September. The committee for this service is Brenda Eckley, Erica Mesaros, Jen Eckhart, Martha Cox, Sydney Zarelli and Emma Sawyer.