Lansford honors Hometown Heroes

Lansford native Bernard Pavlik was reported missing and presumed dead while serving in the Korean War. But one year later, after the fighting stopped, he was released from a POW camp and returned home to the amazement of his family and neighbors.

“His mother and father thought he was dead. When he came back, there was a big parade for him,” recalled Dave Padora, second vice commander at Post 123 in Lansford.

Pavlik, 86, is one of dozens of veterans from Lansford who are being honored with Hometown Hero banners that have been popping up around town. On Monday, Legion volunteers placed his banner in front of the old AMVETS building, because he was for many years a dedicated member of that organization.

“He’s a very nice person, and die-hard member of the AMVETS, but also the Legion,” Padora recalled.

In all, Legion members hung about a dozen banners on Monday. They are doing it on a volunteer basis, using a bucket truck donated by Jim Thorpe Auto Rentals.

The Legion has been giving the public the chance to purchase a banner to honor a veteran from Lansford for several months.

They have received orders for about 100 banners, which they hope to have hung by the time the Carbon County Veterans Day Parade returns to the borough in November.

Commander Nathan Krajcirik said he and Vice Commander Christine LeClair have put in numerous hours getting information about the ranks and medals attained by the soldiers, so they can be noted on their banners.

Past Commander Richard “Monk” Pogwist said he’s learned about men he’s known for many years, but who never bragged about their accomplishments in wartime. He learned that one neighbor — a former school custodian — had a purple heart and multiple Bronze Stars, but would never mention it in public.

“You don’t know how highly decorated they were,” he said.

There are numerous veterans from Lansford who earned Bronze Stars, Distinguished Flying Crosses, and Purple hearts — a sign of the sacrifices that they made in service to the country.

Many World War II veterans from Lansford served in the 17th Airborne, so their glider and airborne wings are represented on their banners.

Among those hanging banners on Monday were Art Williams, Zeke Lutz, Joey Nichols, Pogwist, Padora and Krajcirik.

Members of the community stopped to thank the Legion for sponsoring the program. Mary DiPierro comes from a military family and literally wears it on her sleeve in the form of a POW-MIA tattoo. She said the banners were a fitting tribute to the town’s veterans.

“It’s such an amazing way of honoring these men and women,” DiPierro said.