Pocono News Section

Remembering A Veteran

Remembering A Veteran - Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 5:02PM EST

MILFORD, PIKE COUNTY - A school in Pike County honored a soldier Wednesday. Delaware Valley Elementary School adopted a Missing in Action soldier in the 1980s. Through the years students did research about him and pushed the government to find his remains.
Students began the program by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. They recite the words every morning but on this morning they learned "liberty and justice for all," come with a price.

They honored a man who paid the highest price to protect freedom. Edwin "Jack" Pearce. His mother Rosemary said, "He would have enjoyed that every much. He was very patriotic."

In 1965 Jack stood in the exact same gym where the program took place. Wearing his cap and gown he marched across the graduation stage and into war. "It was hell for all of us," said Mary.

She and Jack's brother Kim said for a while they thought Jack would come home. "The first ten years or so there's hope," said Kim.

His parents spent their days and their retirement savings encouraging the government to search for soldiers missing in action. "Americans don't give up," said Rosemary.

The government eventually found Jack's remains in Laos. "They gave us one bone and two teeth back," said Kim.

Last year, 13,325 days after Jack went missing, his family buried him near his home in Milford.

Sixth grader Scott Brown said, "I actually have a lot of respect, a lot more than I had before, for soldiers that they actually give their lives to help our country."

Rosemary hopes none of the children will ever have to feel the pain she feels. Her voice cracked as she said, "There's nothing left for me. I want my son, not a hero."

Jack's father Edwin spent much of his life hoping for his son to return. He died before Jack's remains were found. The two are now buried together in Milford.