Long-awaited memorial ceremony held for American Legion members who died during covid pandemic

After being delayed twice, the Plum American Legion Post 980 was finally able to hold its Memorial Dedication Service to honor the member veterans who died within the past two years.

It was a chance to recognize the veterans who died during the pandemic but might not have received a proper ceremony at the time.

Ja Stoddart, club manager at Post 980, understands the importance of honoring these veterans. In fact, for her, it’s personal.

“My father was a WWII veteran,” Stoddart said. “He died when I was a teenager. I feel like when I’m honoring the veterans, I’m honoring him also.”

The service took place Aug. 29 at Plum’s Post 980, which has members from Plum, Penn Hills, Monroeville and Murrysville. Typically, the service is held around Memorial Day, but construction caused this year’s ceremony to be delayed until August. That was after they had already been forced to cancel the ceremony in 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic.

“Being in the dining room during the luncheon … there was a lot of emotions,” said Debbie Fox, second vice of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 980. “There were many tears that whole entire day. At the end of the day, I think a lot of family members felt some closure and felt some peace.”

The ceremony consisted of the luncheon for the families and a wreath laying at the memorial.

A total of 58 names were added to the memorial, which now includes 674 total names.

The new additions are: William Ackerman; Joseph Amsler, Sr.; Michael Artim; Russell Barkley, Jr.; Harry Bauer; Edward Berth; James Binkley; Frederick Bongartz; Norman Boyer; Robert Bozurich; Harry Buterbaugh; Thomas Canon; Nicholas Carlisano; Thomas Cassidy; Ronald W. Clark; Richard Dankmeyer; William Easler; Elliot Edelstein; William Felock; James Ferguson; Angelo Ferraco, Jr.; Kenneth Fields; Daniel Gazzo; John Gibbon; Daniel Gilmore; Thomas Hailey; Terry Haines; Roy Haywood; Melvin Holmes; Robert Huegli; Thomas Jaworski; John Jordan; Thomas Keller; Thomas Knight; Donald C. Knopfel; John Kyle; Louis Labriola; James M. Lupinacci, Sr.; Harold Master; Paul McAleer; Donald McCauley; Richard McCloskey; George Mesher; Anthony Morrell; John Nee; William O’Block; Robert Phillips; James Rectanus; Charles Righi; Joseph Schmerbeck; James Snyder; Edward Soxman; Theodore Szajna; Robert Taylor; Michael Traficante; Donald Williams; Howard Wilson; and Edward Young, Jr.