MINERSVILLE - The 10th annual Festival of Lights was held Sunday at St. Matthew the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church to honor loved ones and veterans on Memorial Day.
"Today, we're here to remember," the Rev. Leo J. Maletz said.
More than 400 candles were lit as part of the observance and the flames from several of the candles will shine brightly for about two months.
The Festival of Lights was started to commemorate the 100th anniversary of St. Stanislaus Kostka Roman Catholic Church, the church's former name.
Frank Angelo, 68, from Jonestown, a retired Air Force master sergeant and civil servant with more than 20 years of active duty, was the guest speaker.
Angelo spoke of his time in the Air Force. He was assigned to the administrative field and served in Italy and Vietnam, among other locations.
He served seven years in the Air Force and 20 years as a government civilian. He worked in the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon.
Recalling one of his most memorable trips, Angelo said he visited Normandy on the 50th anniversary of the invasion.
"It is hard to communicate the feeling of standing in a cemetery in a foreign land looking over so many white crosses and trying to understand that the people lying beneath that green grass were the sons and the daughters, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters of someone in America.
"They left their lives here in America to go fight a war which was none of their making, nor did it have anything personally to do with them, except their love of this country. Today, this same tradition - love of country - is being answered by our relatives, friends and associates. So, we take this day once every year to recall those who have made the supreme sacrifice of life so that we can meet like we are today without fear of reprisal or retribution. We thank them silently in our hearts and we ask that God bless them and hold them in the palm of his hand. God bless America and all of you people here tonight," Angelo said.
Rose Turnowchyk, 84, of Lancaster, came to the service out of respect. She has family members who live in the area and visited them.
Turnowchyk said the service was appropriate because too often people do not remember the sacrifices made by others they do not even know.
"Some people will never forget," she said about those who lost loved ones who died, fought or were injured fighting for their country.
Maletz said the service will most likely be held next year "God willing."