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Coming to America: Remembering where and how our stories began

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Powerful month for red-hot Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders outfielder Aaron Judge

<p>EDWARDSVILLE &#8212; Red and blue balloons rose to the sky during a ceremony in memory of Kurt Swan on Saturday.</p><p>The homeless man&#8217;s body was found June 25. He had been stabbed to death.</p><p>Many of the large group gathered in front of the Dollar Tree store, where Swan spent much of his time, were eager to tell a story about the man.</p><p>In spite of his lowly circumstances, he was always willing to help others and he loved his dog, Peanut, they said.</p><p>&#8220;He was a good boy, a good man,&#8221; said Carol Kay, of Hanover Township.</p><p>Judy, who declined to give her last name, said one day during the middle of the winter she drove around and around the parking lot of the store until she had enough courage to approach Swan.</p><p>&#8220;I asked him if he needed anything,&#8221; the Edwardsville woman said. &#8220;I had a trunk filled with blankets. I wanted to give him some, get him anything he needed.&#8221;</p><p>Judy said the only thing he would accept were two blankets, one which he sat on and one that he carefully wrapped around Peanut.</p><p>&#8220;I asked him if he wanted a coffee,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And he said, &#8216;No.&#8217; He was good, people took care of him.&#8221;</p><p>Although Swan didn&#8217;t have much, he was always willing to give the shirt off his back, Asia Williams said.</p><p>Williams, who works in a nursing home, said she left work early because it was important to be at the service.</p><p>&#8220;We need to care about each other as a community,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Jennifer Coolbaugh, of Exeter, came to honor Swan, a man that she had never met.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s easy to start feeling sorry for yourself,&#8221; she said. &#8220;But when you come to something like this, you get a lot of gratitude.&#8221;</p><p>Among the attendees was Peanut. Many on hand said they were very glad to see the dog doing so well.</p><p>Nicole Covage, a rescue worker who brought the dog to the event, said Peanut has been placed in a good home.</p><p>&#8220;She&#8217;s with a good family and has a good home,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Next week, she will be going to the vet.&#8221;</p><p>Many questioned how the homeless man could spend so much time in front of Dollar Tree without being asked to move.</p><p>&#8220;He did nothing but love,&#8221; said store manager Marlena Rejniak, adding employees last saw Swan on June 19.</p><p>Many attendees stopped at a memorial tribute set up in front of the store.</p><p>Church on the Square Pastor Louis Smith assured those gathered that Swan was truly resting in peace, having lived a life that touched others, leaving a legacy of memories for those left behind.</p><p>Kay said she remembered Swan caring for Peanut since he was just a puppy.</p><p>&#8220;It was hard to tell how big the dog was because Kurt always had him in his lap,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Kay said although he was homeless, Swan was always willing to offer a smile and to help others.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Friends of Kurt Swan remember him at a vigil outside of the Dollar Tree store in Edwardsville Saturday afternoon. Swan&#8217;s body was found in the borough on June 25. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL070316Swan-Vigil1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Friends of Kurt Swan remember him at a vigil outside of the Dollar Tree store in Edwardsville Saturday afternoon. Swan&#8217;s body was found in the borough on June 25. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL070316Swan-Vigil2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Friends remembered Kurt Swan as a loving and caring individual at a memorial ceremony Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL070316Swan-Vigil2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Friends remembered Kurt Swan as a loving and caring individual at a memorial ceremony Saturday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL070316Swan-Vigil3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Allison Adcock and Marlena Rejniak embrace while listening to a prayer for Kurt Swan. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL070316Swan-Vigil3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Allison Adcock and Marlena Rejniak embrace while listening to a prayer for Kurt Swan. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL070316Swan-Vigil4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Friends of Kurt Swan release balloons in his memory outside of the Dollar Tree store in Edwardsville. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL070316Swan-Vigil4.jpg</photo3><caption3>Friends of Kurt Swan release balloons in his memory outside of the Dollar Tree store in Edwardsville. </caption3><photoCredit3>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL070316Swan-Vigil5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Asia Miles wipes a tear away as she remembers Kurt Swan. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL070316Swan-Vigil5.jpg</photo4><caption4>Asia Miles wipes a tear away as she remembers Kurt Swan. </caption4><photoCredit4>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL070316Swan-Vigil6.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A vigil was held outside the Dollar Tree store in Edwardsville in memory of Kurt Swan. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL070316Swan-Vigil6.jpg</photo5><caption5>A vigil was held outside the Dollar Tree store in Edwardsville in memory of Kurt Swan. </caption5><photoCredit5>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL070316Swan-Vigil7.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Devan Engels and Tylee Moore sign messages to Kurt Swan before releasing baloons at a vigil for Swan on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_TTL070316Swan-Vigil7.jpg</photo6><caption6>Devan Engels and Tylee Moore sign messages to Kurt Swan before releasing baloons at a vigil for Swan on Saturday. </caption6><photoCredit6>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit6></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Ceremony held in honor of stabbing victim</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Ceremony held in memory of Kurt Swan