Pocono News Section

Salute to Vets in the Poconos

Salute to Vets in the Poconos - Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 10:34PM EST

Reported by: Mark Hiller
Saturday, Nov 7, 2009 @ 10:34pm EST
PARADISE TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY - A 3-day celebration in the Poconos is honoring veterans past and present.
It's paying special tribute to those who served in a war that cost the lives of nearly 60-thousand American troops.
Dozens of Rolling Thunder motorcycles made their way to Mount Airy Casino Resort.
They provide a military escort for disabled vets from area V-A hospitals attending "A Salute To America's Veterans".

"The casino wanted to put on a nice event to support our troops," said Stephen Blank, the Executive Director of Marketing at Mount Airy Casino Resort. "We wanted to welcome home Vietnam veterans."

It's a welcome home many here feel is much deserved and long overdue for troops who fought in an unpopular war.
Michael Thomas served in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970.

"It's just kind of nice to be able to have somebody say thank you for our service," said Thomas.

Among the troops past and present here, Thomas met a fellow vet from the 173rd Airborne.

"We're few and far between," said Thomas. "He lives in Scranton and we got to meet and it's kind of a good thing."

Video screenings and an American war expo are part of this patriotic event.
The special salute also includes a display that includes a Vietnam-era helicopter.
The crowd gets to check out all kinds of military vehicles including jeeps, humvees and tanks.

"All the trucks, the battalion... it's nice to see old memories," said Army veteran Joseph Ventura.

It's a day of reflection for Ventura knowing the sacrifice so many veterans have made and the risks that war brings. He's grateful for this special salute given to him and other vets.

"We need something like this around here all the time. The veterans need to be, you know, shown a little courtesy and I think this is one way of showing it," said Ventura.

The veterans salute at Mount Airy continues all day Sunday starting with a pancake breakfast from 9 until noon.
The resort hopes to raise at least 10-thousand dollars this weekend for veterans' charities.