Northampton Township honors two military residents with flag ceremonies
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
Fifteen years ago, the Northampton Township board of supervisors introduced what would eventually become a rite of passage for local residents in the armed forces. This was the Northampton Patriots Flag Program, which was created with the purpose of honoring those serving abroad in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“Back then, we knew of 24 such residents,” said program administrator Peter Palestina. “As of today, due to the expansion of our program to include Afghanistan and other hostile areas, we know of 85.”
During a board of supervisors meeting on Feb. 28, the public was invited to recognize two of these brave individuals — Army Maj. Kevin Loughnane, who returned from his third deployment last month, and Air Force 1st Lt. Kelsey Glover, who was recently deployed overseas.
At 7:30 p.m. in the meeting room at 55 Township Road in Richboro, Palestina took the floor to welcome those in attendance, though most eyes wandered to the large, wooden display situated behind him. In neat rows were dozens of American flags — 84 to be exact — bearing the names on yellow streamers of every Northampton resident who has returned safely from deployment.
As its name suggests, this display is the heart of the Northampton Patriots Flag Program. When a member of the armed forces leaves the safety of his or her community to travel to a hostile environment overseas, a military flag decorated with their name and branch of service is added to the display. Once they’re back home, the servicemember is given their respective military flag, which is then replaced in the display with an American flag.
That evening, Loughnane’s Army flag became the 85th to be exchanged for an American one. On Feb. 5, the Army major safely returned to the states from Afghanistan, his third deployment to a combat area. The first was to Iraq in 2009 and the second was also to Afghanistan in 2012.
At the time of the meeting, Loughnane was stationed at Fort Wainwright in Alaska and couldn’t be there personally to retrieve his Army flag. His parents, longtime Northampton residents Bill and Pat Loughnane, did so on his behalf.
“It’s always a great honor to give a flag back,” said board of supervisors chairman Barry Moore as he handed the Loughnanes Kevin’s Army flag.
Once Bill and Pat made sure their son’s American flag was nestled securely among the others in the display, Palestina introduced two special guests. The first was Peter Chong, one of Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick’s veterans advocates. On Fitzpatrick’s behalf, Chong presented the Loughnanes a commendation and a flag that was flown over the Capitol. State Sen. Tommy Tomlinson’s policy director, Ryan Skoczylas, then did the same from the PA Senate.
“We will continue to fight for Maj. Loughnane, and anything he needs, we’ll make sure to help,” Skoczylas said.
After Loughnane’s welcome home flag exchange, a flag placement ceremony honored Glover, who was recently deployed to Qatar from the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. Her parents, Kevin and Kay, along with her brother Paul and sister Katelynn, placed an Air Force flag for Glover in the display, where it will stay until she returns from deployment.
Kay explained that although her daughter may fall into harm’s way, she’s doing what she loves and is thankful to Northampton for recognizing her.
“All the residents of the township can’t thank you enough,” Moore told Glover’s parents. “I know it’s a huge hardship having family members away and all the stress associated with that.”
Palestina understands Moore’s sentiment all too well as someone who has been involved with the Northampton Patriots Flag Program from the start. At the end of the meeting, he brought attendees’ attention to two flags that sat front and center on the display, each adorned with a black streamer instead of yellow.
These were the flags of Army PFC Bobby Dembowski Jr. and Army Master Sgt. Ken Elwell, the two local soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice, never making it home to retrieve their flags.
“As has been documented so often nowadays, those that serve in our country in the military are at risk whether they’re on U.S. soil or foreign soil,” Palestina said. “Their lives are put on the line each and every day.” ••
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
