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  • The flag flies at half-mast.

    The flag flies at half-mast. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • The start of the parade on Spring Street.

    The start of the parade on Spring Street. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Local veterans march by the Newton Theatre.

    Local veterans march by the Newton Theatre. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Lt. Colonel Henry Supchak, one of the parade Grand Marshalls, salutes the crowd.

    Lt. Colonel Henry Supchak, one of the parade Grand Marshalls, salutes the crowd. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Carl Luthman, one of the parade Grand Marshalls.

    Carl Luthman, one of the parade Grand Marshalls. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • The crowd on Spring Street approvingly watches the parade pass by.

    The crowd on Spring Street approvingly watches the parade pass by. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Poppy Queens Kathryn and Madelyn Le Frois.

    Poppy Queens Kathryn and Madelyn Le Frois. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Vietnam Veterans march in the parade.

    Vietnam Veterans march in the parade. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • One of the Vietnam veterans marching in the parade.

    One of the Vietnam veterans marching in the parade. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Military vehicles proceed down Spring Street.

    Military vehicles proceed down Spring Street. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • A bevy of beauty queens waves from atop one of the military vehicles.

    A bevy of beauty queens waves from atop one of the military vehicles. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Incoming Councilman Daniel Flynn, Mayor Helen Le Frois, Councilwoman Kristen Becker, and Sussex County Freeholder Rich Vohden.

    Incoming Councilman Daniel Flynn, Mayor Helen Le Frois, Councilwoman Kristen Becker, and Sussex County Freeholder Rich Vohden. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Newton High School Marching Band.

    Newton High School Marching Band. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Locals sit and wave flags while watching the parade.

    Locals sit and wave flags while watching the parade. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Revolutionary War Soldiers fire rifles into the air.

    Revolutionary War Soldiers fire rifles into the air. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Boy Scouts wave from their float.

    Boy Scouts wave from their float. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Northwest Christian School students wave their flags.

    Northwest Christian School students wave their flags. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • The Newton Fire Department marches down Spring Street.

    The Newton Fire Department marches down Spring Street. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Mark Hontz emcees the parade.

    Mark Hontz emcees the parade. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Newton First Aid Squad drives along Spring Street.

    Newton First Aid Squad drives along Spring Street. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Virgil Rome of the Fredon Fire Department.

    Virgil Rome of the Fredon Fire Department. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Fredon Mayor and Captain of the Fredon First Aid Squad, Carl Lazzaro, drives one of the vehicles.

    Fredon Mayor and Captain of the Fredon First Aid Squad, Carl Lazzaro, drives one of the vehicles. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Andover Borough Fire Department marches in front of the Spring Board Shoppes.

    Andover Borough Fire Department marches in front of the Spring Board Shoppes. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • The Andover Township Fire Department.

    The Andover Township Fire Department. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Andover Fire Department trucks.

    Andover Fire Department trucks. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • The crowd applauds the parade.

    The crowd applauds the parade. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • The New Sussex Symphony and the Newton High School Band play the "Armed Forces Salute".

    The New Sussex Symphony and the Newton High School Band play the "Armed Forces Salute".  Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Mark Hontz addresses the crowd at the ceremony.

    Mark Hontz addresses the crowd at the ceremony. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • World War I veterans plaque in Memory Park.

    World War I veterans plaque in Memory Park. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • A panoramic view of Hontz and the crowd.

    A panoramic view of Hontz and the crowd. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • The crowd applauds the musicians.

    The crowd applauds the musicians. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Franklin Smith of VFW Post 5360.

    Franklin Smith of VFW Post 5360. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Franklin Smith of VFW Post 5360 with Harry Kaplan of the American Legion Post 86.

    Franklin Smith of VFW Post 5360 with Harry Kaplan of the American Legion Post 86. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Performance of "The Star Spangled Banner"..

    Performance of "The Star Spangled Banner".. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • The crowd at attention during "The Star Spangled Banner", including Town of Newton Mayor Helen Le Frois.

    The crowd at attention during "The Star Spangled Banner", including Town of Newton Mayor Helen Le Frois. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Pastor Tom Litteer of Living Waters Fellowship.

    Pastor Tom Litteer of Living Waters Fellowship. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Madelyn Le Frois reads "General Logan's Order of the Day".

    Madelyn Le Frois reads "General Logan's Order of the Day". Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Jordan Le Frois reads the Gettysburg Address.

    Jordan Le Frois reads the Gettysburg Address. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Kathryn Le Frois reads, "In Flanders Field".

    Kathryn Le Frois reads, "In Flanders Field". Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • John Harrigan of Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1102.

    John Harrigan of Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1102. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Mary Adams sings "God Bless America".

    Mary Adams sings "God Bless America". Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • The Newton Madrigals sing "God Bless the USA".

    The Newton Madrigals sing "God Bless the USA". Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Members of the Newton Fire Department stand at attention.

    Members of the Newton Fire Department stand at attention. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Local Boy Scouts hold the flags during the ceremony.

    Members of the Newton Fire Department stand at attention. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • Past and present members of the military stand at attention.

    Past and present members of the military stand at attention. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • A gun salute to remember those who were lost.

    A gun salute to remember those who were lost. Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

  • A salute to the flag during "Taps".

    A salute to the flag during "Taps". Credits: Jennifer Jean Miller

Newton Honors The Fallen

Jennifer Jean Miller

Monday, May 28, 2012 • 11:09pm

 

NEWTON, NJ – Area residents gathered today to honor and remember men and women of the armed forces who have perished.

The day kicked off with a parade at 10am on Spring Street, which was followed by a solemn ceremony immediately following in Memory Park.

“So many parades happening in Sussex County this weekend, and, of course the Newton parade is the flagship of them all,” said local attorney Mark Hontz who was emcee for both the parade, and the ceremony.

Local dignitaries, veterans, boy and girl scout troops, fire departments, schools, bands, and organizations marched along, as the crowds on the sidelines waved.

During the ceremony, the three parade Grand Marshalls were recognized.

The first was Lt. Colonel Henry Supchak, now 96 years old, who penned and released on May 24 the book, “The Final Mission: A Boy, a Pilot, and a World at War”, with his daughter, Elizabeth Hoban. Supchak signed copies of his book on site, which is also available on amazon.com.

In July 1944, Supchak’s plane was on a collision course with an Austrian Village, and, prior to it exploding when it crashed into a mountain, he parachuted to safety, landing in a pasture. He was whisked away and taken to a prison camp by German troops.

General Patton’s Third Army helped to liberate Supchak in April 1945. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart, Prisoner of War Medal, Victory Medan, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Service Stars, and American Campaign Medal.

When Twelve O’Clock High was filmed, Supchak advised Gregory Peck.

An Austrian Entrepreneur, who was a boy that witnessed Supchak’s fall into the pasture, searched for Supchak to dedicate a memorial for saving the village. The boy snuck food and water to Supchak after he was captured and placed in solitary confinement.

Carl “Bud” Luthman was the second to be honored. Luthman, who grew up in Lafayette, was a graduate of Newton High School, and participated in the ROTC program at Rutgers University. In 1965, he was a 2nd Lt, and attended Armor Officer Basic School, and attended basic helicopter training in Ft. Wolters, TX, with advanced training at Ft. Rucker, AL, as an Army aviator. In 1967, he was deployed to Vietnam, where his helicopter crashed into the jungle. Due to the crash, his left foot was amputated and left forearm fractured. In June 1968, he was one of the first amputees to return to flight status at Ft. Rucker.

Luthman received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal with 17 Oak Leafs, a “V” Device for Valor, Purple Heart, and Army Commendation Medal.

He is retired from Selective Insurance, has been Lafayette Township’s Mayor, was on the Capital Campaign Committee for the Sussex County YMCA, is president-elect of the Newton Rotary, and received the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce Humanitarian Award in 2000.

Leonard Peck was the oldest of today’s Grand Marshalls, at 102 years old. His Army service started in 1943, and he was shipped off to the Philippines, and became part of the Alamo Scouts, a top secret unit in search of the Japanese during World War II.

Peck received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star during his service.

Locally, he has been involved with the Walpack Historical Society, and has been a volunteer with the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area.

At the ceremony, the New Sussex Symphony and Newton High School Band played patriotic songs together. The Newton High School Madrigals, and soloist Mary Adams sang, “God Bless the USA”, and “God Bless America”.

Pastor Tom Litteer of Living Waters did the invocation and the benediction, reading the names of the Sussex County residents who perished while in the line of duty.

Hontz read a proclamation from President Barack Obama, entitled “Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day 2012”.

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