UPPER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — Being handed a folded flag was harder than any sales situation Dave Pollock ever had to face in his business career, he said in commemorating his late father, Edward N. Pollock.
Edward Pollock died in the World War II, and his son brought to a Veterans Day ceremony Monday his framed dollar bill hand signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
It was among many artifacts on display to illustrate the lives of past military members in the university community who died while serving.
"He went right up to Dwight Eisenhower in front of his peers, who thought he was nuts at the time," Dave Pollock said.
"But sure enough, [Eisenhower] said, 'Sure, I'll sign that for you.' And then one by one, the rest of the fellows went up and got autographs, too."
During his speech, Pollock said he was impressed by the dedication of the veterans in the room, and grateful to be the son of one.
"These [veterans] that I know of through history books, I'm just amazed the things that they've done, the things that they've seen, the places that they've been," he said.
"One of those guys was just my dad. He was just my dad."
Acts of honoring veterans
Pollack's small act of leadership was just one of many that was recognized at DeSales University on Monday.
"These [veterans] that I know of through history books, I'm just amazed the things that they've done, the things that they've seen, the places that they've been. One of those guys was just my dad. He was just my dad."Dave Pollock, WWII Air Force member Edward N. Pollock
The ceremony included ceremonial military music, a trumpet performance of taps and the U.S. National Anthem.
Three scholarships also were awarded to active-duty military members studying at DeSales, each valued at more than $100,000 and including room & board.
The scholarships went to ROTC cadets Christopher Gomez, Karter Kromko and James Stelacio.
At the ceremony, one former scholarship recipient, Reynald Salazar, was honored, especially for being the only recipient to play on an NCAA team (tennis) while studying — on top of being a husband and father.
'The Light of Battle'
Also Monday, author and Human Rights lawyer Michael Paradis gave a guest speech.
Paradis is author of several historical books about the military, including his most recent, "The Light of Battle."
Paradis was born in Allentown, but now lives in New York, where he teaches at Columbia Law School.
"Veteran's Day is about that shared choice that so many of you in this audience have made, to do something that was greater than yourself, to serve your country, to make peace in the world peace for this country possible, and so for that, I just want to salute you."Michael Paradis, author and human rights lawyer
Paradis did not serve, which he emphasized during his speech, but extended gratitude toward those who did.
"Veteran's Day is about that shared choice that so many of you in this audience have made," Paradis said.
"To do something that was greater than yourself, to serve your country, to make peace in the world peace for this country possible.
"And so for that, I just want to salute you."
POW/MIA table
To the right of the stage, a small, round dining table was on display. It was set with a fork and knife, a wine glass and a black cloth napkin.
Later on in the ceremony, it was revealed it was meant to symbolize prisoners of war and those missing in action from the U.S. military.
Introducing the display, Maj. General Jerry Still, president of the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council, gave a speech:
"The table is our way of symbolizing the fact that our members of our profession of arms are missing from our midst.
"They are commonly called POW and MIAs. We call them brothers and sisters. They are unable to be with us today because of their incarceration, and so we remember them."Maj. General Jerry Still, president of the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council
"They are commonly called POW and MIAs. We call them brothers and sisters. They are unable to be with us today because of their incarceration, and so we remember them."
From the ROTC, a member of each six wing of the U.S. military then did a symbolic march around the table.
Imprinted on the black chair at the table were the words "you are not forgotten."
