History, Train Rides, Tours, COACH USA BUS TICKETS and More

ed mattice

A veteran of the US Marine Corps. Ed served during the Persian Gulf and Desert Storm. He was a Food Service Specialist and attained the rank of Sergeant. While on active duty Ed earned and received several awards. Those awards were the Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal. He was in the 3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion, 2nd Marine Air Wing out of Cherry Point, North Carolina. While overseas during Desert Storm Ed saw a USO show starring Delta Burke and her husband Gerald McRaney. After his discharge Ed worked in a county jail in North Carolina for 8 years before returning to Wayne County. He is still working as a corrections officer.

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Corner of Rt. 6 East and Tryon St at A&A Auto Parts

maurice f. meagher jr.

A veteran of the US Navy. Moe, as he is called, served his country in the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and in Peacetime. He attended college on a Naval scholarship and attained the rank of Captain. He received the Gunnery Excellence award. While in the service Moe was a Gunnery Officer, Anti Submarine Warfare Officer, Commander Naval Reserve Unit Avoca and later President of the NEPA Naval Reserve Officers. He was stationed aboard the USS Wisconsin BB 64, USS McCaffrey DD 848, and the USS Leonard F. Mason DD 852. While stationed on the USS Leonard F. Mason they recovered three downed pilots. Moe learned to speak Spanish while in South America and Japanese while in Yokuska, Japan. He was fortunate to see a USO show, while over seas starring Bob Hope. After his military service he worked as a manager for a cinder block company, and a shipping supervisor for Katz’s underwear factory. He has been a Nationwide Insurance Agent for 25 years for the Meagher Insurance Agency in Honesdale.

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On Central Park at the corner of 9th St. and Court St.

frederick j. meckle

A veteran of the US Army. He had the nicknames of Freddy or Buddy. Freddy served his country during WWII as a Corporal. He was a truck driver while stationed in Africa and Venice, Italy. Freddy received several medals, which are the WWII Victory Medal, American Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal. While he was stationed in Venice, Italy he bought a cameo necklace and bracelet with five cameos in it. As he got older his wife Ilene Shuman decided to take the necklace and bracelet and make five necklaces out of it for a special keepsake for each of his five daughters and a special granddaughter. At Christmas time he would tell the story of hearing the song White Christmas over, and over again through the speakers on base, but it reminded him of home and his loved ones. He enjoyed the song "Oakie from Muskogee" because that was where he was stationed before going overseas. Freddy was a talented guitar player and country singer. After returning home he worked as a quarry worker and stonemason.

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In front of Dave's Super Duper

elwood p. merring

A veteran of the US Army. Elwood served his country during the Vietnam War. He was a Squad Leader in Vietnam and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. Elwood earned and received several medals. Those medals include three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, a Silver Star, Combat Infantry Badge, National Defense Service Medal, two Overseas Bars, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w/ Palm as well as a Sharpshooter Rifle. Elwood worked for Pennsylvania Power and Light before going into the service and resumed working for PP&L after discharge. He worked for PP&L for forty-six and a half years.

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804 Church St

harold l. myers

A veteran of the US Army. Harold worked as a truck driver in the Service Supply Company 377th Infantry during WWII and attained the rank of Technician 5th Grade. He was stationed in Northern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe. Harold earned and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the European-African Middle Eastern Service, Medal. After returning to civilian life Harold worked for Gamble and Kimble’s Milk Processing Creamery.

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In front of Good Cheer Dog Grooming on Rt. 6 East of Honesdale

thomas h. olver

A veteran of the US Marine Corps. Tommy, as he was called, began his military career at the age of 17 when he enlisted in January of 1945. He served during WWII in the Pacific Campaign and the Korean Conflict at the Chosen Reserve. He attained the rank of Sergeant. His job was as a forward observer. He went ahead of the platoon and called in the fire on the enemy. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Korean Service Medal, and Presidential Unit Citation as well as Expert Marksman. While in Korea it has been said, by all the teachers of the military tactics and maneuvers, that what was accomplished at the Chosen Reservoir was militarily impossible. They were surrounded; the North Koreans had blown up the bridges and they needed to get back out to the coast. They were not only fighting the North Koreans but just at that time the Red Chinese crossed the border into North Korea and were coming at our Marines and our other armed forces by the hundreds of thousands. Our forces destroyed 85% of their troops. Then by air they dropped two bridges over a ravine, one bridge failed but they got back out over the remaining bridge with all the wounded, the dead, and 100,000 North Korean refugees. Navy ships were waiting at the coast to pick them up and take them to Seoul, South Korea. On Christmas Day 1950 Tommy got to call home to let his family know he was OK. The family had not known for weeks if he was even alive. It was the greatest Christmas present a family could ever have. After the service Tommy worked as a carpenter. At the age of 40 he became a ski instructor at many of the local ski resorts. Most notable he became the Director of the Ski School at Mast Hope Ski Resort and stayed at that position until the age of 80. Tommy passed away in 2015, at the age of 87.

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In front of Bold's Garden Center on Rt. 6 East of Honesdale

wayne olver jr.

A veteran of the US Navy. Wayne served during WWII in the Pacific Theater. He was primarily in the Philippines. Wayne was a member of the construction unit known as the Naval Seabees. He told stories of the war such as building runways for our planes to land. When they heard the air raid sirens the Seabees ran for cover as the Japanese would bomb the runways. As soon as the “all-clear” came through, Wayne and the other men were back out there repairing the runways. He said this happened sometimes multiple times in a day. As an infant he was left on a church doorstep in New York City and was adopted by his loving parents who lived in Cochecton, NY. He then moved to Wayne County and lived in Damascus. After the war he returned to Wayne County where he owned and operated Wayne's Ice Cream Parlor. He also worked in sales for Winpower Generators.

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On Rt. 6 East of Honesdale between Brown and Tryon Sts.

daniel j. o'neill

A veteran of the US Army and the Pennsylvania National Guard. Dan served his country from 1960 to 1997 for a total of 37 years. His service included the Persian Gulf War, Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, the Cold War, and Peacetime. While on active duty Dan was with the Military Police. In his years in the Pennsylvania National Guard he held every command position from Lieutenant to Lieutenant General commanding the 28th Infantry Div. His duty stations included Fort Gordon, Fort Dix, Fort Indiantown Gap, and Harrisburg Military Post. General O'Neill's awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Army Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, The Army Reserve Components Medal, The Army Service Ribbon. He was also an instrument-rated pilot. After his distinguished military service Dan, having a BS and Master’s degrees in Education Administration, and a Guidance degree from Penn State University under his belt he began a teaching career at Susquehanna High School. In 1969 he became assistant principal at the Honesdale High School and in 1972 became the principal. He served in this position until he was appointed Superintendent of Schools in 1989. During this time, he also held the National Guard Command and Educational Administrative position at the Wayne Highlands School District. He was appointed Adjutant General of PA., a state department office, by then-Governor Tom Ridge. He declined to accept that office to remain at the WHSD and further its building program and goals. He retired in 1999.

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On Central Park at the corner of 10th St. and Court St. just across from the Walk of Honor.

daniel j. parliament

A veteran of the US Marine Corps. He served in Vietnam and was part of the Fleet Marines on Sea Duty in Southeast Asia. Daniel attained the rank of Sergeant. He was with the 0311 (infantry) Force Recon. He guarded nuclear missiles on the ship. He was also a Marine Corps Raider MP. Daniel earned and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Action Medal, Rifleman Sharpshooter, and Pistol Marksman. He had Secret Clearance and he also received a Letter of Appreciation. During his time in the Philippines he managed to take in a USO show starring Bob Hope. After the service Daniel returned to Wayne County. He worked as a police officer part-time and also worked in a pharmaceutical company.

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In front of Salvation Army on Rt. 6 East of Honesdale

gerard e. pepper

A veteran of the US Army. Gerard served during WW ll and attained the rank of Corporal. He saw action in Tunisia, Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Southern France, Rhineland, and Central Europe first as a Cannoneer then as a Survey and Instrument Man. The latter position required him to set up and operate surveying and fire control instruments to locate gun positions, observation posts, and to conduct survey operations relative to the erection of military installations. He earned and received the Purple Heart Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with seven Bronze Stars and a Bronze arrowhead. He worked for Dean Phipps Auto Stores in Honesdale where he was the assistant store manager. Gerard passed away in 2013.

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In front of Kellam's Garage and Gulf Sation on Rt. 6 East of Honesdale

otis robbins

A veteran of the US Army Air Corps and US Air Force. Otis served as a cargo plane pilot, flight instructor, and as a fighter pilot during WWII. He attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Otis entered the army in January 1941 "with an assist from the draft board." He was initially assigned to the Ninth Infantry Division at Fort Bragg, NC. Eleven months later he transferred to the Air Corps as an aviation cadet. He graduated in July of 1942 and became a flight instructor and spent the next two years as an instructor in an advanced flying school. In the latter part of 1944, he started processing for an overseas assignment. He arrived in France in January of 1945 and began flying combat missions one month later. Otis did mainly divebombing and strafing work and on April 16, while divebombing, his plane was hit by enemy ground fire and he had to bail out. He was near Nuremberg, Germany. He was captured by the Germans and was a POW for only four days as the American Army forced the small city he was held in to surrender. He returned to the United States in August 1945. Over the next seven years he was stationed from Iwo Jima, to Langley AFB Virginia and Wilmington, Delaware, and on to Japan. His final year was spent at Stewart AFB in Newburgh, NY. He resigned from active duty in August 1952 and was assigned to the reserves. During his time in the service he earned and was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation, Euro-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Army Occupation Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, Air Force Reserve Medal and the UN Service Medal. After his military service, Otis was a commuter service pilot and a corporate pilot for the New York State Electric and Gas Corp.

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512 Church St. in front of Spin Cycle Laundromat

carl l. roberts

Carl had a nickname of "Orangie", he was a corporal in the US Army during WWII. Carl received the Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal. While he was in the service, he was a truck driver – 3564 Quartermaster Truck Company. While in the service he was stationed in New Caledonia. Carl had three brothers that all served during WWII and they all come home. Living in Honesdale all his life, when he came home, he was a masonry contractor and a U.S. Mail Carrier.

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Across from Workforce Alliance on West Park St.

Historic Honesdale