Local Army specialist Tyler Reichert was honored by Northampton Township supervisors before his deployment to Iraq
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
Kaitlyn Reichert admits she has a love/hate relationship with her brother, Tyler. Though they fight like typical siblings, he’s always a shoulder to cry on. In hard times, it’s his encouraging words that keep pushing her forward.
“He’s always been nice to me, helped me,” she said, tears forming.
But for the next several months, this young Ivyland resident’s number one supporter won’t be a simple phone call away. In fact, he won’t even be a car or plane ride away. Recently, Tyler left behind the comforts of home to risk his life for the sake of our country. An Army specialist, he was deployed to Kuwait, where he will receive multiple weeks of training before heading to Iraq.
To make the community aware of Tyler’s bravery, he was recognized during a recent Northampton Township supervisors meeting, during which an Army flag bearing his name was added to a large wooden display in the Richboro-based Administration Building.
On the evening of Sept. 26, Tyler became the 87th Northampton resident honored through the Patriots Flag Program, which began on April 23, 2003, as a way to bring attention to locals serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“Back then, we knew of 24 such residents and as of today, due to the expansion of the program to include Afghanistan and other hostile areas, we know of 87,” explained program coordinator Pete Palestina. “Behind the dais is a flag display holding both military and American flags, 87 of them. At one time, all were military flags, each representing the branch of service and identifying the resident with a yellow streamer with his or her name affixed to it. As each one returns home, and so far 84 have, we return his or her military flag and replace it with an American one.”
According to Palestina, Tyler’s flag was the 88th addition. One local was deployed twice, once while in the Army and once while in the Navy, and therefore has two flags to his name. It also became the third armed services flag in the display awaiting the safe return of its owner.
Board of supervisors chairman Barry Moore invited Tyler’s sister Kaitlyn and mother Sue Reichert up to the dais. They reverently placed his personalized Army flag in the display, where it will remain until he returns from his deployment. At that time, a welcome home ceremony will be held, during which the Army flag will be presented to Tyler and replaced in the display with a personalized U.S. flag.
Sue then shared a few words on her son’s behalf.
“Tyler actually started his service to the community with Hartsville Fire Company and then with Station 83, and also with the Central Bucks Explorers,” said Sue. “So I guess his next logical step was to join the armed forces.”
For Sue, having Tyler leave home for extended periods to receive training is a regular occurance. But this time, things are a little different.
“Distance is not knew to us. Iraq is,” she said.
After Sue expressed her gratitude toward her Northampton community, Moore, who felt extra sentimental since he has a son of his own named Tyler, shared some startling statistics. Currently, there are approximately 170,000 Americans stationed overseas, and 30,000 are in harm’s way.
“It’s a huge sacrifice for yourself, your family, and we certainly appreciate that,” he said, turning to face the display. “What we really want to do is have that whole thing filled again with American flags.”
Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick and state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson were represented at the ceremony by Peter Chong and Kerry Judge, respectively, both of whom thanked Sue for her son’s service.
“From a personal standpoint, my father was in the invasion of Normandy and my brother was a first lieutenant in Vietnam, so I understand it,” Judge said.
A solemn tradition at each ceremony, Palestina brought attention to the two flags displayed front and center, black streamers bearing the names of the two locals who paid the ultimate price — Army PFC Bobby Dembowski Jr. and Army Master Sgt. Ken Elwell.
“As has been documented so often nowadays, those that serve our country in the military are at risk whether they’re on U.S. soil or foreign soil. Their lives are put on the line each and every day,” Palestina said. “Northampton and our country are proud of what our military are doing for the freedoms we enjoy here at home.” ••
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
