MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area Joint Veterans Committee and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2110 held their annual Pearl Harbor remembrance service Dec. 4 at the monuments at the Susquehanna Bank on Second and Oak streets.
Three local men, all serving in the U.S. Navy, died during the attack and were remembered during the service. Mount Carmel native Albert C. Berkanski died on the USS Arizona, where he is still entombed. Kulpmont natives Bernard J. Miriello and John C. Wydila both served aboard the USS California. As their names were read, a bell was tolled by Anthony Candelora.
Also remembered was Joseph Shamansky, 92, the last Pearl Harbor survivor of the Mount Carmel area. A master sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Shamansky was stationed at Hickam Field on that day. Shamansky resides in Mount Carmel with his daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Larry Stankiewicz.
Charles Noskoviak carried the American flag with a rifle escort consisting of William Begis and Andrew Bubnis. Candelora tolled the bell 13 times in honor and memory of those members of the VFW who died during the past year. Walter Summers said the Pearl Harbor prayer and Begis gave the Pearl Harbor speech. Also participating were Ann Ray Begis, David Berezovske and John Hirsch.