web1_TTL1100517Pickleball1.jpg

Surge in pickleball interest leads to first-ever tournament

web1_Gun-Runner-BCC.jpg

Breeders’ Cup: Gun Runner finally beats Arrogate

<p>DALLAS TWP. &#8212; Hundreds of veterans and their families filled Insalaco Hall at Misericordia University on Saturday as they participated in the 11th annual Veterans Breakfast, Ceremony and Expo hosted by state Rep. Karen Boback.</p><p>As many attendees were enjoying their meals and catching up, nearly 30 groups and organizations lined the hallways outside, offering various veterans services, programs and assistance to those in need. Included in those offerings were some cheerful four-legged friends.</p><p>Drawing smiles to many who walked by, William Torbeck praised 14-month-old Colonel, a black Labrador who is part of the American Vet Dog Program. He and his other furry pal, Frankie, are training to be assistance dogs to veterans and the blind. Torbeck explained the dogs reside with inmates at the Dallas state prison during the week for training, and are then fostered by families during the weekends to practice socialization. When Colonel is fully trained, Torbeck said, he will be given to a disabled veteran as an assistance dog.</p><p>&#8220;We basically reinforce everything he learned during the week. So you have structure in the prison, socialization on the weekends. It&#8217;s the best of both worlds,&#8221; he said. &#8220;These dogs are multi-faceted. He could either be for working with a soldier coming back with PTSD, or (a soldier) limited physically, such as being wheelchair-bound.&#8221;</p><p>Following the breakfast, attendees moved into the auditorium where Boback, R-Harveys Lake, welcomed the group and offered her thanks for their service.</p><p>&#8220;This special day is a yearly reminder of our civic responsibility to never forget and to never take for granted the founding sacrifices that all of our veterans have made on our behalf,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Boback continued by stating that Veterans Day may also act as a lesson for the nation&#8217;s youth, by teaching an appreciation for freedom and respect for soldiers past and present.</p><p>&#8220;These are the finest of citizens. We owe them the life we know today. They demand the respect of the American people, and they have our lasting gratitude,&#8221; she said, beginning to tear up.</p><p>Following Boback, members of the Dallas Boy Scout Troop 281 quietly lit a candle on a table on the stage. They explained that the candle&#8217;s flame, empty chair and single red rose with a ribbon was placed for the veterans who never got to come home. A scout read a poem about remembering those who may be gone, but not forgotten, followed by the playing of taps on a bugle.</p><p>Numerous students were also recognized. For the second year, Boback asked students to participate in a picture drawing and essay contest about veterans. Six students were recognized, earning first, second and third place in each category. Eleven-year-old Northwest student Robert Panko won first place for a drawing of his father, a Marine, standing in front of an American flag. Wycallis Elementary student Kyla O&#8217;Brien, 10, placed first for her essay about her great-grandfather, who was a veteran.</p><p><strong>Pins for Vietnam vets</strong></p><p>Boback and Nicholas &#8220;Chip&#8221; Gilliland presented special lapel pins to veterans who fought in the Vietnam War. Gilliland explained that the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act mandated the Department of Defense to execute the &#8220;50th Commemoration of the Vietnam War&#8221; from 2015 until 2017. Gilliland has traveled throughout the state, participating in ceremonies and providing veterans with lapel pins in an act of gratitude and honor for their service during Vietnam and beyond.</p><p>Veterans who served between 1955 to 1975 are eligible to receive the pin.</p><p>More than six dozen veterans received the pin during the ceremony, including Tunkhannock American Legion Post 457 member and Army veteran Jim Holmes. Holmes said he appreciates everything Boback does for veterans.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re very proud to be veterans, we&#8217;re proud of our service and proud of our country,&#8221; he said. &#8220;(It&#8217;s important) to honor the veterans, to honor the people who have served and who have passed.&#8221;</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL110417vets1-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A lapel pin is placed on a Vietnam veteran during the Veterans Recognition Breakfast at Misericordia University's Insalaco Hall in Dallas on Saturday, November 4.   </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL110417vets1-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>A lapel pin is placed on a Vietnam veteran during the Veterans Recognition Breakfast at Misericordia University's Insalaco Hall in Dallas on Saturday, November 4.   </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL110417vets5-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">An Army veteran sits behind the American flag during the Veterans Recognition Breakfast at Misericordia University's Insalaco Hall in Dallas.</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL110417vets5-2.jpg</photo1><caption1>An Army veteran sits behind the American flag during the Veterans Recognition Breakfast at Misericordia University's Insalaco Hall in Dallas.</caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL110417vets6-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Members of the Dallas American Legion Post 672 perform in the Honor Guard during the veterans ceremony at Misericorida University.</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL110417vets6-2.jpg</photo2><caption2>Members of the Dallas American Legion Post 672 perform in the Honor Guard during the veterans ceremony at Misericorida University.</caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL110417vets7-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Nicholas 'Chip' Gilliland, of the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, gets a lapel pin to place on the shirts of the Vietnam veterans during the Veterans Recognition Breakfast at Misericorida Universtiy's Insalaco Hall. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL110417vets7-2.jpg</photo3><caption3>Nicholas 'Chip' Gilliland, of the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, gets a lapel pin to place on the shirts of the Vietnam veterans during the Veterans Recognition Breakfast at Misericorida Universtiy's Insalaco Hall. </caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL110417vets8-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Vietnam veterans of the Tunkhannock Post 457 Dennis Strong American Legion Spencer Jonas, Ralph McCormick and Frank Gaus sit in the front row waiting to be recognized for their service during the Veterans Recognition Breakfast at Misericordia University.   </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL110417vets8-2.jpg</photo4><caption4>Vietnam veterans of the Tunkhannock Post 457 Dennis Strong American Legion Spencer Jonas, Ralph McCormick and Frank Gaus sit in the front row waiting to be recognized for their service during the Veterans Recognition Breakfast at Misericordia University.   </caption4><photoCredit4></photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL110417vets9-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Veterans of the Dallas American Legion Post 672 Honor Guard Joe Kelley, Charlie Kisbaugh, Art Parks and Charlie Fleming salute during the Veterans Recognition Breakfast ceremony at Misericorida University's Insalaco Hall in Dallas. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL110417vets9-2.jpg</photo5><caption5>Veterans of the Dallas American Legion Post 672 Honor Guard Joe Kelley, Charlie Kisbaugh, Art Parks and Charlie Fleming salute during the Veterans Recognition Breakfast ceremony at Misericorida University's Insalaco Hall in Dallas. </caption5><photoCredit5></photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL110417vets3-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Army veteran Paul Kristunas, 80, of the Tunkhannock American Legion Post 457 pours himself orange juice before the start of the veterans recogntion breakfast Saturday at Misericordia University. Kristunas, of Tunkhannock, served from 1961 to 1963. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL110417vets3-3.jpg</photo6><caption6>Army veteran Paul Kristunas, 80, of the Tunkhannock American Legion Post 457 pours himself orange juice before the start of the veterans recogntion breakfast Saturday at Misericordia University. Kristunas, of Tunkhannock, served from 1961 to 1963. </caption6><photoCredit6>Sean McKeag | Times Leader  </photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL110417vets4-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Robert Panko, 11, Hunlock Creek, holds up an image he created of father Jim, who served in the Marine Corps during 1991&#8217;s Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf. Panko won a first-place award for his drawing at Saturday&#8217;s veterans event at Misericordia University. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL110417vets4-3.jpg</photo7><caption7>Robert Panko, 11, Hunlock Creek, holds up an image he created of father Jim, who served in the Marine Corps during 1991&#8217;s Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf. Panko won a first-place award for his drawing at Saturday&#8217;s veterans event at Misericordia University. </caption7><photoCredit7>Sean McKeag | Times Leader  </photoCredit7></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL110417vets2-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Vietnam veteran Ralph McCormick salutes the Honor Guard with other members of the Tunkhannock American Legion Post 457 during a veterans recognition breakfast at Misericordia University&#8217;s Insalaco Hall in Dallas Township on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo8>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_TTL110417vets2-3.jpg</photo8><caption8>Vietnam veteran Ralph McCormick salutes the Honor Guard with other members of the Tunkhannock American Legion Post 457 during a veterans recognition breakfast at Misericordia University&#8217;s Insalaco Hall in Dallas Township on Saturday. </caption8><photoCredit8>Sean McKeag | Times Leader  </photoCredit8></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Marcella Kester</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

‘Never forget’: Area veterans honored at breakfast