Korean Last Man’s Club banquet held
Front row, from left: Eugene Mermon, Robert Berger, chaplain, James Wentz; President Arlington Everett, Paul Koch and Dervin Sharbaugh. Back row: Marvin Smith, Vice President Mahlon Shaffer, Secretary-Treasurer Leroy Goldberg, Willard Doll, William Newton and Lamont Ebbert. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Group members placed a wreath on the Korean War Memorial outside the Shoemaker-Haydt American Legion Post 314. From left, Secretary-Treasurer Leroy Goldberg, Vice President Mahlon Shaffer and President Arlington Everett. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
In front of Korean Last Man’s Club Board are, from left: Vice President Mahlon Shaffer; Secretary-Treasurer Leroy Goldberg; Robert Berger, who delivered the toast to the dead; Willard Doll, who delivered the toast to the living; keynote speaker Dr. Keith “Jake” Boyer, and President Arlington Everett. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The American Legion Post 314 in Lehighton recently hosted the annual banquet for the Korean Last Man’s Club. In attendance were 12 of the remaining 28 club members, along with guest speaker Dr. Keith “Jake” Boyer and Kevin “Spike” Long, who stood in for the Legion commander for the evening.
In addition to the agenda of the evening, which includes placing a memorial wreath, toasts to the living, toasts to the dead, singing the club’s songs, and nominations of officers, the members were addressed by the guest speaker and stand-in commander.
Dinner was enjoyed by the members along with prayers by James Wentz, chaplain of the club.
As the years pass, the attending members dwindle. Some, now in their late 80s and 90s, are unable to make it to the banquet, and each year the comrades face the banquet knowing that they will toast a few who have departed this life since the previous year. The remaining then, in turn, toast those who still live to remember.
The annual banquet allows time for the men to share stories, catch up on their lives and remember their fallen comrades.
