Sunday, July 13, 2008 THE DALLAS POST PAGE 7 CALL Continued from Page 1 tails.” Although he listens to May's guidance, Kocher is not afraid to go Qe ... really bother me,” he said “You go through so much training it doesn’t bother you. I was worried at first, but I don’t care any- more.” (At this point, a reporter heard gunshots from a nearby gun club, but neither man noticed, having be- come accustomed to such sounds.) Kocher may not think much abaut going into battle, but his fam- ily and friends are worried. His close friend, Coral Stredny, wants him to shoot himself in the foot so he won’t have to go to Iraq. Harris wauldn’t allow her son to join the military when he asked to as a se- nicr in high school. And, while she realizes the Army was his decision, she’s still nervous. “I'm scared for him, but it was his choice,” she said. “He’s a big histo- rybuff and he likes that stuff. I just have to believe he’s coming back.” Kocher’s grandmother, Nancy Grimes, who lost a 22-year-old son REBECCA BRIA/THE DALLAS POST Buddy Kocher, of Dallas, left, and Ryan May, of Lehman, former rivals, became friends when Kocher arrived at Fort Hood Military Reservation in Fort Hood, Texas and saw May. Kocher asked a mutual friend for May's phone number, called him and the two have been friends since. in an accident when he was in the military, is also uneasy about watching her young grandson go off to war. Harris says she feels better when she talks to her son’s recruiter, Ser- geant 1st Class Christopher Mull- ings, a father of seven children, who has answered all of her ques- tions. Kocher and May feel good about having people support them. They have had people salute them and pay for their meals and drinks. Ol- der veterans often approach the men and thank them. “You get a sense of pride,” Koch- er said. In November, Harris is planning to rent a hall for a going-away party for her son. She will decorate for Christmas and have a Christmas dinner, complete with a ham and all the trimmings. PASTOR Continued from Page 1 lewis’ wedding ceremony, spoke at the retirement pro- gram. As departing gifts, Lewis ‘eceived a commissioned paint- ng of the Dallas United Metho- dist Church and a painting of his Q° white Bichon Frise dogs one by local artist Laura Slo- cum. When asked what he plans to do now, Lewis gave off a warm laugh teller and I love to tell religious stories related to American his- tory,” he said. The reverend is known for his storytelling and has spoken at events for many area groups. He will also continue to work part- tine as a representative of the Chapel of the Four Chaplains, a non-profit organization in Phila- celphia that advocates cultural bross/FIRE Over 20,000 Colors Available For All Your Automotive, Fleet or Implement g Needs! pg Dallas Auto Parts 668 Memorial Hwy, Dallas “Tm a history buff and a story- 5, nN 1 ry gr — CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Sharon and Rev. Dr. William Lewis enjoy a retirement party in their honor at the Dallas Methodist Church. harmony and religious toler- ance. Sharon Lewis recently re- tired from her job as a nurse at Community Medical Center in Scranton and the couple hopes to spend more time together. “I probably won't be sitting here,” Lewis said. “Actually, I'm sitting here today on my first day of retirement writing thank you notes.” Reverend Earl Roberts has re- placed Lewis as pastor of the Dallas United Methodist Church. Roberts comes from up- state New York. As Low As ACRYLIC ENAMEL $38.33 99.99 Al Available at 675-2143 im i——— Gal TT yo E rae! 114.00 Acrylic Enamel 124.00 Urethane Enamel 104.00 Basecoat/Clearcoat As Low As ACRYLIC URETHANE $52.77... ye (NAPAD E -— CHANGE Continued from Page 1 liam, District Deputy for the 12th Masonic District, a posi- tion which requires him to over- see nine lodges, including the one in Dallas. Gardner gave Brandt a letter of induction so she could collect money for the program. From there, the Kingston woman sprung into action, placing can- isters in local businesses, in- cluding Pizza Perfect in Trucks- ville and Mark II Family Restau- rant in Dallas. “The first thing I did was call Sherwin-Williams, the paint store in Kingston,” Brandt said. “I asked them if I could buy paint cans and they donated them to me. I went to different stores, anywhere there was a register and I asked permission to put the cans in. We would ro- tate them every once in a while. Then I got the idea of approach- ing grocery stores.” Brandt, 64, and her grand- daughter, Kristen Cirilo, 14, also of Kingston, have been selling patriotic items at local grocery stores for the charity. The two sell ink pens, flashlights with batteries, refrigerator magnets and pins with yellow ribbons. They also just acquired car mag- nets and rubber ducks dressed in military uniforms. Brandt and Cirilo had embroi- dered USA hats that went over well at Thomas’ Family Market in Shavertown on July 5. On that day alone, the duo raised nearly $250 at the Shavertown store. “People want to do something and if they get something for their money, it makes it even better,” Brandt said. Cirilo jumped on board of her grandmother’s project from the moment she began. Although selling items at supermarkets may not be the most exciting thing a teenager can do, Cirilo enjoys helping the cause. “Just being able to do some- thing for the troops is well worth it,” the youngster said. “Even though it takes up every weekend, I just think they de- serve it because they're fighting for our freedom. Hearing the stories of people dying in the war and everything makes it worth it.” While at grocery stores, Cirilo has heard many stories and seen those affected by war. She vivid- ly remembers meeting a Viet- nam veteran who became deaf from the noise of a bomb and a woman who had a picture of her son tattooed on her back after ; JONATHAN J. JUKA/FOR THE DALLAS POST Susan Brandt, left, and her granddaughter, Kristen Cirilo, sell items to make money for Change for the Troops on Saturday, July 5 at Thomas’ Family Market in Shavertown. Change for the Troops raises money to purchase phone cards so American soldiers overseas can call home. he died while serving his coun- “I don’t think I'll ever forget these stories,” Cirilo said. Cirilo, who will enter the ninth-grade this fall at Wyoming Valley West High School, also volunteers at the Al Beech Food Pantry at the Church of Christ Uniting in Kingston and was a member of the Junior Red Cross Club at the Wyoming Valley West Middle School. Brandt received $2,500 for the organization on June 25 af- ter placing second in an essay contest that required her to write about her cause in 500 words or less. She is spending the money to purchase more items to sell for Change for the Troops, something she spent her own money on before win- ning the money. She also plans to make the donation canisters look more attractive. Brandt will remove the canis- ters from stores in December and stop her personal fundrais- ing efforts because she wants other charitable organizations to benefit from the generosity of people in the area. Anyone wising to make dona- tions may send them to: Change for the Troops, 115 N. Gates St., Kingston, PA 18704. Checks should be made payable to Change for the Troops. GEISINGER REDEFINING BOUNDARIES” CONVENIENT EVENING AND SAME-DAY APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE. NOW WELCOMING NEW PATIENTS We understand families and their busy schedules. That's why we offer same- day and evening appointments. At Geisinger, your local community doctor belongs to one of the nation’s most exceptional healthcare networks, where the shared knowledge and experience of more than 600 physicians means better ideas for treating chronic conditions like diabetes and coronary artery disease. Where making sure patients receive the best preventive care is a top priority. Better care. Convenient appointments. Now that's peace of mind. Appointments can be made at the following locations: Geisinger—Dallas 40 Dallas Shopping Center, Rt. 309 Dallas, PA 18612 675.2000 Geisinger—Kistler Clinic 175 S.Wilkes-Barre Blvd. Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 829.2621 Geisinger—South Wilkes-Barre 166 Hanover Street, Suite 203 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 825.8780 Geisinger—Kingston 499 Wyoming Avenue Kingston, PA 18704 283.2161 Geisinger—Mountain Top 12 Kirby Avenue Mountain Top, PA 18707 474.5978 Geisinger—Wyoming 389 Wyoming Avenue Wyoming, PA 18644 693.3600 Visit Geisinger online at www.geisinger.org. Aliasgar Chittalia, MD, MHA Internal Medicine South Wilkes-Barre Sandy Debias, CRNP Family Medicine Mountain Top David Hutz, MD Internal Medicine Dallas
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers