Eastern Lebanon County School District held a dedication ceremony for a Veterans Memorial, honoring Cpl. Eric Ream and Pvt. Earl Althouse, at ELCO High School Thursday afternoon.
Ream and Althouse were both ELCO graduates who enlisted in the Army and died while serving in Vietnam.
“Today, we remember Cpl. Eric Ream and Pvt. Earl Althouse, two ELCO graduates whose courage and ultimate sacrifice remind us of the profound cost of the freedoms that we enjoy,” said ELCO superintendent Julia Vicente. “This memorial honors them, and it honors every veteran and service member whose commitment has shaped our nation.
Eric Allan Ream
Sept. 23, 1948 – Sept. 26, 1969
Interact Club member Maddie Stout, who presented Ream’s biography, described his contributions to school athletics including soccer and track and field (such as holding ELCO’s long jump record from 1966 to 1968), as well as other activities including Boy Scouts and the Homecoming Court prior to his being drafted to the Army.
“Mr. Eric Ream is remembered as a devoted son, a loving brother, a talented athlete and a courageous soldier,” said Stout. “His legacy is one of selflessness and honor; a reminder of the sacrifices made by so many for our freedom. We remember him today with gratitude and respect.”
Cpl. Ream died in Vietnam Sept. 26, 1969, three days after his 21st birthday. He received honors including the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and the Truman Badge for his service.
Earl Irvin Althouse
Oct. 15, 1947 – March 1, 1968
Interact Club member Grant Wenger explained Althouse worked at Eagle Chemical Corp. of Womelsdorf before being deployed to the Dinh Tuong province, where he was killed in rocket attacks directed at his base.
“Mr. Althouse is more than a soldier; to his friends and family, he went by Flip,” said Wenger. “Today, remember not only how Mr. Althouse served, but who he was; a young man with a family who loved him and a life that made an impact in many big ways.”
Pvt. Althouse died in Vietnam March 1, 1968, at age 20. He received honors including the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart, and the National Defense Service Medal for his service in Vietnam.
The memorial was prepared by the school’s Interact Club alongside the school’s maintenance team and other staff and 34 community partners who supplied materials or financial support..
“This memorial arose from a shared belief that service matters, that sacrifice should be remembered, and that a community is strongest when it comes together with purpose,” said Vicente. “May this site continue to inspire us all who pass by or who sit and reflect, reminding us that freedom is protected by service, strengthened by community, and carried forward by the legacy of those we honor today.”
Krall, who supplied plaques, first approached the school about the project 10 years ago, ELCO teacher Jonathan Bickel said. The school decided to make a veterans memorial, but plans were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent ELCO renovations.
“I think it was God’s plan, because we had a team in place and we had several people that were able to come together and work,” said Bickel. He described contributions from director of buildings and grounds James Frantz and his assistant Tyler Gruber, Interact Club adviser Jen Martin, and senior Braden Edris, who recently enrolled in the Air National Guard.
Thursday’s ceremony included remarks from Bonnie Loy of the America250 Committee, Lebanon County Commissioners Jo Ellen Litz and Mike Kuhn, and an opening prayer from VFW chaplain Peter Hook. There were also musical performances from ELCO students.
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