Bucks County going green to honor military service on Veterans Day

Veterans Day will be a green light special this year in Bucks County as officials urge everyone to join in Operation Green Light, a collaborative initiative of the National Association of Counties to support military veterans and to raise awareness about the challenges and resources available to help them and their families.

“By shining a green light, we let our veterans know that they are seen, appreciated, and supported,” the county’s Office of Military Affairs announced.

The county is lighting its buildings in a green glow and urges residents to put a green light in a window, doorway or inside their home. Residents can share their participation on social media using #OperationGreenLight.

Timothy Wynn, director of the Office of Military Affairs, also announced the county has a “VA01” van to transport any veteran that needs a ride to appointments at the Veterans hospitals in Philadelphia and Coatesville and to the Victor Saracini Clinic in Horsham every third week.

Wynn said there are 46,000 veterans in Bucks.

He said that veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals while serving and may have medical conditions related to the exposure should contact his office about new initiatives established through the Pact Act. The new federal law expands Veterans Administration health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange or other toxic substance.

Other ceremonies in honor of the day in Bucks County include:

Vows and Veterans wedding ceremony

The Bucks County Vows and Veterans 2022 wedding takes place at noon Thursday at the Bucks County Administration Building in Doylestown. The ceremony will be officiated by former Congressman and Under Secretary of the Army Patrick J. Murphy and is hosted by Clerk of the Orphans’ Court Linda Bobrin.

The ceremony will feature three vow renewal couples including one couple married over 50 years in which the husband is a Vietnam Veteran. Two couples will be married in a wedding ceremony as well.

The wedding and renewal ceremonies are entirely free to couples and put on thanks to the generous donations of the community.

Bensalem School District honors vets

Bensalem School District is having ceremonies at both its Robert K. Shafer and Cecilia Snyder middle schools Thursday. Guest speakers at Shafer will be veterans Harold Piper, former Shafer personal care assistant, (US Army); Col. John Church USMCR (Ret.), Leadership Studies Department - senior Marine instructor; Sergeant Patrick M. Keaveney, who served as a sergeant in the Marines; and Butch Oberlander, uncle to Shafer secretary, Tina Kondratiuk, who served in the Army.

At Snyder, the Student Council will provide a breakfast for invited veterans, with an assembly for eighth grade students immediately following the breakfast to begin around 9:30 AM.

Bensalem High School’s Marine Corps Junior ROTC will present the colors, with opening remarks by Snyder staff and Bensalem High School Head Marine Instructor Col. John Church, USMCR and distrist Superintendent Samuel Lee will introduce the keynote speaker, LTC Jonathan (Jon) Pfender.

LTC Jonathan (Jon) Pfender grew up in Bristol and graduated from Harry S Truman High School in 2000, subsequently graduated from The Pennsylvania State University, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer in 2004. He has been in the military for 17 years and has two combat tours (1 to Iraq and 1 to Afghanistan).He currently works as a military police officer at the Pentagon in Washington D. C.

After the assembly, the students that attended the breakfast will escort the veterans back to the library for a more intimate question/answer session.

Maple Point Middle School holds ceremony

In the Neshaminy School District, Maple Point Middle School eighth grade students announced the return of their annual in-person Veterans Day ceremony. This tribute to our nation's active and retired service members has included over 100 honored guests in past years. So far, 55 veterans have registered to join in this year's ceremony. The 2020 ceremony was cancelled due to the pandemic, and last year it was replaced with an outdoor car parade.

The school is bringing it back into the auditorium where students will deliver a tribute to their guests with speeches, music, and a reading of each of their names, military branch and years served. During the pre-ceremony reception, the veterans will have the opportunity to mingle with the students in the auditorium lobby and enjoy a light breakfast. The event will end with the students and veterans posting for a photo around a large American flag that has been painted on a grass field outside the school.

Goodnoe School hosts assembly

Approximately 80 veterans are invited to an assembly Thursday morning at the Goodnoe Elementary School in the Council Rock School District, along with members of the Newtown Fire Association and Newtown Police. The Council Rock High School North Marching Band will also participate in the ceremony to honor the veterans and first responders.

Jefferson Health at Home-Bayada celebrates veteran volunteers

Jefferson Health at Home by BAYADA is celebrating its military veteran volunteers who help to provide end-of-life Hospice support to their fellow veterans. The veteran volunteers become a valuable resource for veteran hospice patients at the end of their lives, as they share a similar experience, a common language terminology, cultural bond and codes of conduct and honor. Together, the veteran volunteers and veteran patients develop a bond that helps patients to feel more at ease.

Action Tank partners with Rolling Harvest for produce giveaway

Action Tank, a group of veterans serving other vets, that has partnered with Rolling Harvest food rescue will serve vets with fresh produce and eggs the Croydon VFW, 901 Bellevue Ave., Croydon, on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants are asked to bring their own bags.

Jesse Soby American Legion Post holds ceremony

The Jesse Soby American Legion Post 148 will have a ceremony on the Post lawn,(115 South Richardson Ave., Langhorne, at 10 a.m. Friday, Veterans Day. The ceremony will be preceded by a meet and greet at 9 a.m. with coffee and donuts.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County lights up green in honor of veterans; schools hold events