News from Representative Smucker
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IMPORTANT UPDATES from CONGRESSMAN SMUCKER

Dear Neighbor,

On Memorial Day we honor the lives of the service members who we have lost in the line of duty. Our nation’s service members have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms and they deserve the highest respect.

While Memorial Day was established as the last Monday in May by an Act of Congress passed in 1968, the holiday’s origins go back 100 years before that. Following the Civil War, on May 30, 1868 in Arlington National Cemetery, the public came together to pay tribute to those who died during the Civil War by decorating the graves of those who passed with flowers. It was known as “Decoration Day.”

Pennsylvania’s 11th Congressional District has a distinguished military heritage, and there are so many who have fallen recently and throughout our history. Most notable is John Fulton Reynolds, who was born in Lancaster County and was a career U.S. Army officer. He was an accomplished and trusted commander who served in the Mexican-American War and taught at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point until the Civil War began. Leading a brigade to halt the Confederate advance into Pennsylvania, Reynolds was shot on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg and was the highest-ranking officer on both sides to perish during that battle. 

In 2019, I had the pleasure of meeting Cher Kondor who worked to establish the Veterans Memorial Gold Star Healing & Peace Garden in York, in memory of her son SPC Martin Kondor, who was killed in action in 2004 while serving in Iraq. Cher raised nearly $1 million to design and build the garden serves as a memorial to those who lost their lives in service to our nation, particularly those who served during the War on Terror.

At every point in our nation’s history, the men and women of our communities have answered the call to serve in the United States Armed Forces. Those who serve in the Armed Forces selflessly put their lives on the line every day, and tragically, some never return to their families. With gratitude and with awe we remember these heroes, to whom we owe the freedoms we have as Americans. 

On Saturday, I was honored to join Lancaster AmVets Post 19 in placing flags on the headstones of service members we lost in honor of Memorial Day.

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Today, I joined Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1008 at their Memorial Day weekend ceremony and offered a flag to fly at their memorial at Greenwood Cemetery.

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While we gather this weekend, let us give thanks and keep the memories alive of those who gave it all in service to our nation, preserving the freedoms and opportunities that we are blessed to enjoy. We must never forget.

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Please know that if you have any questions or issues with a federal agency, my office is here to assist you. You can call our district or Washington, DC offices for assistance or visit my website for any issue with a federal agency or department. To stay up-to-date on my work in the district and Washington, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Sincerely,


Lloyd Smucker
Member of Congress

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