Purple Heart

David Paul Russell, 90, of Hagerstown, passed away Thursday, June 14, 2012, at Homewood of Williamsport. Born Jan. 10, 1922, in Hagerstown, he was the son of the late Frank Keifer and Lena Mary (Winters) Russell. Mr. Russell retired from the state of Maryland prison system with 33 years of service as an accountant auditor. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and received many medals, including two Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart and the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with Bronze Arrowhead.

MAY 15, 1925-MARCH 5, 2011 Theodore John "Ted" Siecker Sr. 85, of Hagerstown, Md., died Saturday, March 5, 2011, in the comfort of his home surrounded by his loving family. Born May 15, 1925, in McGrann, Pa., he was the son of the late Joseph A. and Anna Marie Koch Siecker. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific. He served on the USS Langley and was the recipient of the Purple Heart. He retired in 1985 from Mack Trucks Inc. Ted was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church for more than 49 years.

Richard Joseph McEvoy, 87, died peacefully Sunday, April 28, 2013, at his Hagerstown home surrounded by family. Born Aug. 19, 1925, in Plainfield, N.J., he was the son of Joseph A. McEvoy and Ann M. McEvoy. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Dorothy Hallad McEvoy; daughter, Patricia and husband, Charles Bossler, of Richmond, Va.; daughter, Jeanette and husband, Steven MacNamara, of Sicklerville, N.J.; son, Miles McEvoy and wife, Ami Greenberg, of Washington, D.C.; sisters, Jean Mercready of Ashburn, Va., and Nancy Wroten of North Olmstead, Ohio; and seven grandchildren.

Morris Frock American Legion Post 42 and the post's auxiliary will sponsor its annual Veterans Day ceremony honoring all veterans today at 11 a.m. in front of the Washington County Courthouse. This year, veterans of World War II will be specially honored. Speakers will be members of Morris Frock who served in that war. A special musical tribute entitled "Before You Go" will be presented. Military, service and civic groups will be laying wreaths at the courthouse ceremony.

Morris Frock American Legion Post 42 and the post's auxiliary will sponsor its annual Veterans Day ceremony honoring all veterans today at 11 a.m. in front of the Washington County Courthouse. This year, veterans of World War II will be specially honored. Speakers will be members of Morris Frock who served in that war. A special musical tribute entitled "Before You Go" will be presented. Military, service and civic groups will be laying wreaths at the courthouse ceremony.

HALFWAY -- Tony Pruchniewski knows the greatest tribute to fallen troops isn't found in speeches or monuments. Instead, that tribute exists every day across the United States, he said, in something called freedom. That's why Pruchniewski is disappointed when Memorial Day ceremonies are sparsely attended by the public. "If people really thought about it, they would be there," he said. "Some countries have partial freedom, others have no freedom at all. We are blessed with the greatest freedom on earth, thanks to the courage and sacrifices of our veterans.

SOUTH MOUNTAIN, Pa. - Sunday's service at the Preserving Our Heritage Archives & Museum dually memorialized the past and celebrated the future, as the community recognized a World War II veteran and broke ground for an expansion of the museum. The new portion of the museum will be a reconstructed country store less than a mile down the road. The store will be dismantled and rebuilt "piece by piece" to accommodate displays that are overflowing from the original room designated for them, the Rev. Lee Daywalt said.

Eugene Edward Stout, 89, of 18510 Orchard Hills Parkway, Hagerstown, Md., passed away March 26, 2012, at his home. Born Nov. 17, 1922, in Berwick, Pa., he was the son of the late Paul Stout and Pearl Avery Stout. He was a graduate of Berwick High School, Class of '41, in Berwick. He was a Purple Heart veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army, Company I, 262nd Infantry, 66th Division. He was a survivor of the sinking of the S.S. Leopoldville on Dec. 24, 1944, en route to the Battle of the Bulge.

AMVETS to honor Fales April 4 To the editor: AMVETS Department of Maryland will present its annual, highly prestigious "PNC A. Leo Anderson Free State Award of Excellence" to John Fales Jr., president of the Blinded American Veterans Foundation and Washington Times news columnist known as "Sgt. Shaft," at a ceremony on April 4, at the Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, Md. The award honors Fales' 20-plus years of advocating for veterans' benefits and for those of their family members.

APRIL 15, 1925-SEPT. 13, 2009 Wayne E. Alter Sr., 84, of Hagerstown, died Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, at the VA Medical Center in Martinsburg, W.Va. Born April 1, 1925, in Hagerstown, Md., he was the son of the late Ira Doran and Eva May (Bower) Alter. He was the husband of the late Patricia Ann (Glesner) Alter, who died Jan. 23, 1994. Wayne served in the United States Army during World War II, where he was a corpsman in the Battle of the Bulge. He was later honorably discharged and returned to Hagerstown.