Remembering North Penn's Five Casualties of the Iraq War

This week marks 10 years since the start of the Iraq war. Montgomeryville-Lansdale Patch recognizes fallen soldiers from our surrounding communities.

This week marks 10 years since the start of the Iraq war. Montgomeryville-Lansdale Patch here recognizes the fallen heroes from the surrounding North Penn community. By one count, the war is directly responsible for 189,000 deaths, not including those who died from hardship caused by the fighting. CNN has a stunning map of all casualties in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars here. In all, 4,802 Americans and allies have died in the war, according to the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count, including 197 Pennsylvanians. Among them, five people from the North Penn and Indian Valley areas. From the CNN war casualties website: Please leave your tribute to our local fallen heroes in the comments below.

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X-T.R.E.M.E. Donations

The nonprofit group Team X-T.R.E.M.E. gathered at LaSalle College High School to fill backpacks to be given to wounded vets and those serving in Afghanistan

It was like an assembly line Saturday morning at LaSalle College High School. People entered the school’s cafeteria, were handed a backpack, and walked down the line, filling the bags up with items to be given to wounded veterans and those serving in Afghanistan. Three hundred service members are going to be happier, following the event, which was sponsored by Team X-T.R.E.M.E., a nonprofit organization based out of Richmond, VA. The organization works with wounded soldiers and also participates in athletic events to raise awareness for veterans. (The X-Athletes wear gas masks during athletic events to honor the sacrifices of veterans). See the YouTube video here. The bags, donated by 5.11 Tactical, a military law-enforcement equipment …

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St. Stans Honors Our 'Dedicated Servants' (video)

For four years, the Catholic parish school has held a recognition and wreath-laying ceremony every Veterans Day

Mike Rieg and Tom Borneman served our country proud during the era of the Vietnam War: Rieg in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970, and Borneman in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1972. "Through the grace of God, I didn't get to go to Vietnam. I was supposed to. I'm thankful, and thankful for two good years of service," Rieg said. While neither one ever saw battle in that war, they don't regret their decisions to fight for their country. "The only thing I regret," said Rieg, "is not being able to do more for the veterans." Leave that up to the seventh graders at St. Stanislaus Elementary Parish School, who organized the fourth-annual Veterans Day recognition and wreath laying ceremony Friday morning. "This has been a great ceremony today," said …

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Photo Gallery: Lansdale's 2011 Memorial Day Parade

Main Street was packed from start to finish, with residents showing their support for troops past and present.

The 2011 Memorial Day Parade was an amazing success, as residents lined Main Street from Valley Forge Road all the way through Church Road. The parade was organized and sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 32, The Virgilio-Schembri-Battavio Post No. 23 and the American Legion William Hare Post No. 206. Veterans of varying generations marched proudly through the borough, with music from North Penn High School's Marching Knights and appearances from borough council members, local police and fire departments, and the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts. If you didn't make it out for the parade, Patch has you covered!  We have a large photo gallery wrap-up, so you can view all that you missed. Stay tuned to Lansdale Patch throughout the …

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Gail's Corner

Skeets Mariano, Jason St. James and a Zora 1

Actor, race car driver, stuntman, bartender, used car dealer, screenwriter, veteran—Skeets Mariano has done it all

High school football and basketball star, Vietnam vet, race car driver, recording artist, movie star, restaurateur, bartender, writer, sports car aficionado—these descriptions could represent many separate people.  But, in fact, one local, lifelong resident can lay claim to all of the aforementioned. Frank "Skeets" Mariano has become somewhat of a local legend, and he has a long and storied history centered in and around the greater Lansdale area. He is a hometown boy, born and raised in Lansdale, who went on to pursue a number of interesting and fulfilling careers.  West Fifth Street was home to Mariano in his younger years, and his family later moved to Broad Street where his parents would later open a restaurant—Mariano’s Tavern.  His …

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Semper Fidelis!

Recently discharged, Sgt. Dennis Knesz (Ret.) of the U.S.M.C. talks about his service abroad, as well as his future as a civilian

At the age of 22, Sgt. Dennis Knesz (Ret.) made the decision to honor his country by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps.  Five years and two deployments later, he was honorably discharged, and he's now planning on applying the lessons he's learned in the civilian sector. Knesz served as an airframe mechanic (MOS 6154) with HMLA-469, based out of Camp Pendleton, CA.  He specialized in working on the AH-1W SuperCobra Attack Helicopter, as well as the infamous UH-1 Huey Utility Helicopter. Though stationed 3,000 miles away in beautiful southern California, Knesz still missed the tastes of home. "I loved the weather at Camp Pendleton, especially coming from Pennsylvania, but I really missed the food," said Knesz. "Cheese steaks and …

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