County Honors Military Members, Families

The honored 18 military men and women and their families at a tribute Tuesday.

Photos of the active duty service members were added to the county Armed Services Tribute Board in the Government Center with about 50 people in attendance.

The is to recognize those who are actively serving in the military and to also give county residents the opportunity to show their support by writing or sending care packages to the service members.

The Tribute Board is in the lobby of the Government Center and will soon be directly outside the new Delaware County Veteran’s Affairs Office that is undergoing renovations but will open in coming weeks.

Delaware County Council Chairman John Whelan said the photos posted on the board are there to be a daily reminder of the bravery and sacrifice the military men and women give the country.

"It’s easy to forget the troops on the ground...," he said. "The Tribute Board is one way to say we remember and we support our troops."

Along with friends and family of those actively serving in the military, two service members, Army Lt. Col. Kenneth Marx and Airman First Class John Spencer, who were both on leave, attended the ceremony.

Marx, of Broomall, has served in the Army since 2001 and recently completed his second tour of Afghanistan where he handled primary care and triage duties.

Spencer, of Springfield, serves in the Air Force and recently finished basic training as well as technical school at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for vehicle operations.

Spencer said the tribute board is good way to get the community involved.

"Letters mean a lot to us," he said. "And care packages are awesome."

Richard and Dolores Cotter, of Upper Chichester, attended the ceremony in support of their son, Seaman Aaron Cotter, who has served in the Navy since November 2009 and is assigned to the United States Nuclear Submarine USS Helena stationed in Norfolk, Va.

Dolores Cotter said the Tribute Board is a good thing for the military families.

"Some people are facing real dangers out there," she said.

The Cotter’s spoke proudly of their son who is in the process of getting his qualifications completed in order to earn his "dolphins," which is a submarine warfare insignia that qualifies them in submarines. It’s considered one of the Navy’s three major warfare pins.

"He basically has to know every job on the boat, then he’ll get his dolphins," Richard Cotter said.

Following the ceremony where each family member placed their service member’s photo on the board, the group raised the Blue Star flag outside in the courtyard.

The Blue Star flag is flown to represent a military member who is currently serving and in harms way.

Along with Marx and Spencer, the following military men and women were added to the Tribute Board.

• Cpl. Bryan Adams, of Drexel Hill, serving in the Army since June 2009 and currently stationed in Afghanistan.
• Lt. Carly Berner, of Media, who was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the Army and is currently serving in Afghanistan and assigned to the Army’s 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
• Seaman Aaron Cotter, of Upper Chicester, serving in the Navy since November 2009 and assigned to the U.S. Nuclear Submarine USS Helena stationed in Norfolk, Va.
• Capt. Bryan Dougherty, of Springfield, serving in the Army since 2004 and is stationed in Afghanistan.
• Pfc. A.J. Euganeo, of Sharon Hill, serving in the Army since February 2009 and currently stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
• Pfc. Kurt Gravina, of Edgmont, serving in the Army and currently serving with the 173rd Airborne Combat Team stationed in Vicenza, Italy.
• Capt. Christopher Guarente, of Media, has served in the Air Force for the past eight years and is due home October 2011.
• Capt. Cameron Hosmer, of Newtown Square, serving in the Army since October 2007 and currently stationed in Afghanistan.
• Sgt. David Kostyk, of Milmont Park, serving in the Army since 2006 and currently stationed in Iraq on his second deployment.
• Capt. Christopher O’Brien, of Media, serving in the Army and currently stationed in Afghanistan.
• Specialist Brian Piasecki, of Media, has served in the Army for the past five years and is assigned to the 101st Airborne Infantry Charlie Company.
• Lance Cpl. John Patrick Quinn IV, of Ridley Township, serving in the Marine Corps for less than one year and was deployed to Afghanistan on March 1.
• Pfc. Christopher Showman, of Secane, serving in the Marine Corps for less than one year and was deployed to Afghanistan on March 1.
• Pfc. James Starr, of Newtown Square, serving in Army since August 2010 and is stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado Springs.
• Airman 1st Class Josef Paul Sudhop, of Springfield, serving in the Air Force since January and recently completed basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
• Specialist Steve Young, of Brookhaven, serving in the Army since September 2007 and is stationed in Fort Bragg, N.C.

Community members interested in supporting these military men and women by sending letters and care packages are asked to contact the county Public Relations Department for their military addresses.

For information on the Tribute Board or to submit a military member please contact Lauren Contino at 610-891-4567.