Clarion County vets met, reminisced and ate Saturday at the annual Clarion County veterans picnic at Clarion County Park.
“This picnic is a way for us to express our gratitude to Clarion County veterans,” said Rodney Sherman, the Director of Veterans Relations for Clarion County. “This is my first rodeo and we have 229 vets and guests registered.”
Sherman said the Liberty House in Clarion provided the food and Swartfager Welding provided the charcoal. “We had lost of volunteer helpers. It is all paid for with donations,” said Sherman.
Two men from northern Clarion County served in Korea a decade apart.
“They say you should never volunteer for anything in the Army but I did,” said 90-year-old Korean War veteran Donald McCauley of Fryburg. “They asked for truck drivers and I volunteered. We were having an inspection and I had a jeep. I cleaned her all up and the next thing you knew I was driving a jeep for the colonel in the 45th division.”
He was stationed east of Seoul and near the 38th Parallel where the shooting war was still going on. “We had a .30 cal. machine gun mounted on the jeep for protection and a radio operator,” he said.
He had time left on his enlistment when the 45th returned home and he was transferred into the 24th Division. “I went out with the 35th and back with the 24th,” he said.
He said it took 21 days on a ship to get to Korea. “I flew back and that took two days,” he said.
“There are things in your lifetime that you just have to do,” said McCauley. ”This was one of them. I volunteered and it was the best thing I ever did.”
“We did our bit,” said Strickenberger.
“Today is a wonderful day,” said Rep. Donna Oberlander whose husband, Derrick, is a Marine Corps veteran. “I am glad they continue to have this every year and I hope it continues to grow.”
“I come out here every year just to talk to the vets,” said Clarion County Commissioner Wayne Brosius. “I help wherever I can.”
On site was staff from the Veteran’s Affairs and other organizations.