WAYNESBORO, Pa. — Local veterans and community members gathered at American Legion Post 15 on Main Street Monday to honor fallen service members during the annual Memorial Day services organized by the Combined Veterans Council of Waynesboro.
The solemn ceremony brought together members of American Legion Post 15 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 695 to pay tribute to the borough’s “Hometown Heroes”—those who gave what organizers called “the last full measure” across more than a century of American military conflicts.
Army retired Col. Joshua M. Semler, the principal speaker, reflected on the deep cost of freedom and the enduring responsibility of the living to maintain national ideals. Semler, who served 27 years across the Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve, detailed a legacy of service that includes deployments to the Pentagon and Kuwait, as well as domestic emergency mobilizations for Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy.
“Today, the United States stands as a beacon of liberty and democratic strength before the community of nations,” Semler said, noting that thousands of Americans have sacrificed their lives to secure ideals of freedom and justice.
The service also celebrated a continuation of that legacy, honoring 11 local high school graduates from the Waynesboro Area Senior High School class of 2026 who have committed to enlisting in the military. The enlistees recognized were Cole McCleary, Zachary Mikhov, Breilyn Davilia, Evan Dirr, Alexander Duuenas, Christopher Lawrence, Austin Willequer, Gaige Dove, Sean Fleagle, Ella Snelbaker and Bryce Harris.
Army retired LTC Christopher M. Siedor served as the grand marshal for the day’s parade and ceremonies. Siedor, a veteran of 22 years of military service, began his career volunteering as an unarmed medical evacuation helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War, where he rescued wounded and deceased personnel. His decorations include the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star. Following his military retirement in 1993, Siedor transitioned to civilian leadership in education, serving as principal of St. Maria Goretti in Hagerstown and St. Thomas Academy in Buckeystown, Maryland.
The program featured traditional patriotic elements, including music by the Wayne Band, an invocation and closing prayer by Pastor John Buhr, and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Pennsylvania State Rep. Chad Reichard.
Ray Harbaugh, past adjutant of American Legion Post 15, led a POW-MIA ceremony and conducted the roll call of the deceased. The final rolls listed the names of service members from Waynesboro killed in action from World War I through the Global War on Terrorism.
The list of honored dead included Joseph Stickell, the borough’s sole recorded World War I fatality, along with dozens of casualties from World War II, five from the Korean War, seven from the Vietnam War, and three from recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The regional post-9/11 losses included Army Pvt. Edward “Buzz” Shaffer, Marine Corps Cpl. Michael Freeman and Army Staff Sgt. Richard J. Tieman.
Helen Thiers, historian for the American Legion Auxiliary Post 15, read the iconic wartime poem “In Flanders Fields.” The ceremony concluded with a traditional rifle salute delivered by the Post 15 Honor Guard, followed by the playing of “Taps” by the Wayne Band.
The event was sponsored by the Combined Veterans Council of Waynesboro, led by President Janeen McChesney, Treasurer CRD Robb Sell and Commander CDR John McRae. Municipal support was provided by the Borough of Waynesboro.
