American Legion Allen O. Delke Post 16, Slatington, honored its members who had held membership to the 50-, 60- and 70-year point by March 27.

Guests for the celebration were state Rep. Zachary Mako, R-183rd District, and from District 14, American Legion Commander Denise Harner and Deputy Commander Mark Pellicciotti.The opening prayer was "for our comrades … who serve untarnished for our country."Gerald Otter, a 50-year member, said he was drafted in January 1966 and was sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, then to El Paso, Texas, where he worked with the Nike Hercules missiles.He was an engineer in charge of the generators for the missiles.While in El Paso, all but five of the battalion members were sent to Okinawa and eventually Vietnam. Otter was sent to Fort Walters, Texas, near Mineral Wells, where they trained helicopter pilots.His next stop was Hanau, West Germany. There he worked on the 155 mm tracked gun until he came home in December 1967.He said he missed the cutoff for the draft by two months. However, he made friends at each stop during his period of service. In Germany he had good friends and good food. He tried to get to Alaska because friends who came back said there was good fishing and good hunting.He now lives in Germansville and drove his own truck for 25 years, during which time he met friends from the military all over the country.He helped the Legion put flags on veterans' graves until a few years ago.Burke said, "What an accomplishment, 50 years. I can't tell you how grateful we are."Harner presented a plaque from the American Legion, and Mako brought one from the state House of Representatives.Mako said, "Thank you for your service. We owe you a debt of gratitude."Other honorees who were unable to attend were Eldon "Jitter" Roberts, a Navy man who later served with the Slatington police. He was a 70-year member.Sixty-year member Robert Day, an Army man, recently died. Richard Rader was in the Navy.There was a moment of silence and the admonition for the Legion members to remember the military men in their prayers."They serve for the honor of our country, of our organization and of ourselves," Burke said.