Lansdowne, PA – “Two hundred – twenty names were read off at the Memorial Day service in Fernwood Cemetary,” said Curtis Cummings (Konstatinos Kamamis), the Quartermaster of VFW Post 6633 “Eleftheria.” The names were from WWI, WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam, Gulf War I, Gulf War II, and the War on Terrorism.
The commemoration marked the 75th time this VFW Post, the oldest Greek-American Post in America, hosted this service. Family members, veterans, and the Greek-American community came to observe and remember those who died while serving in the United States armed forces.
The ceremony started with a religious service conducted by Father Gregory Gilbert of St. Demetrios, Greek Orthodox Church in Upper Darby. It was anchored by two boy scouts who carried the flags of the United States and Greece. Yiannis Onasis and Elias Kostans of Boyscout Troop 22, Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, raised the flags next to the historical monument donated by the AHEPA that bore many Greek American names from the Post.
Approximately 45 people attended the event, and five veterans paid tribute. Water bottles and Federal Street Pretzels were shared in traditional form following the service.