Abington remembers those who gave all

Abington’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday featured, as it does every year, the reading of the Roll Call of the War Dead.

This year, the names of the 43 Abington residents considered killed in action were joined by four others who died while serving during war time.

The names were uncovered by Acadia Manley while working on her Eagle Scout project involving researching Abington servicemembers killed in action and buried in Mt. Vernon Cemetery.

Killed in action is an official Department of Defense classification referring to a U.S. service member who was killed by enemy or hostile forces. Members of the military who die from illnesses, training accidents, or other incidents may not be considered killed in action.

Memorial Day honors those servicemembers killed in action serving this country. Officially, more than 1.3 million Americans have given their lives dating back to the Revolutionary War.

“Today is an important day for us. What we do here in these few moments is sacred,” said the Rev. Dr. Kristy Coburn, the commander and chaplain of the Abington American Legion Post #112.

“And to the families of those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom your presence here with us as we remember and honor their lives and deaths alongside you means more than you can ever know. So thank you for being here.”

The ceremony, set in the veterans section of the Mt. Vernon Cemetery, featured music from the Abington High School Marching Band and a volley from an honor guard.