MILROY - Senior citizens joined together Tuesday to honor and remember those that fought for the country, during a special Veterans Day program at the Fountain Square Senior Center in Milroy.
Some in attendance had war stories of their own to tell, while others told the stories of fallen relatives.
Beulah O'Donnell, of New Lancaster Valley, told the story of her brother's death during the sinking of the S.S. Leopoldville in 1944.
O'Donnell said there were 2,235 American soldiers on the ship. The soldiers were abandoned by the Belgian crew when the ship began to sink in the middle of the English Channel in the Atlantic Ocean.
According to History.com, almost 800 American soldiers lost their lives when the ship was sunk by a German submarine off the coast of France.
The soldiers were being transported as reinforcements to fight in what would become known as the Battle of the Bulge, according to the site.
Some soldiers jumped into the water and others were crushed, O'Donnell said.
"Many panicked and did nothing," she said.
The troops were assured help was coming, O'Donnell said, but because of the language barrier, help came too late and the ship sank completely.
The sinking of the ship was kept secret for many years, O'Donnell said, but in 1984, a scuba diver came across the remains in the English Channel.
Due to the Freedom of Information Act, the story of Leopoldville was uncovered, O'Donnell said.
In the 1990s, O'Donnell's sister wanted to honor their brother so a monument was made for him. At that point, O'Donnell and her sister were able to make contact with survivors, she said.
"His body was never recovered," O'Donnell said about her brother.
His medals were on display during the event Tuesday, which included one from England and a Purple Heart.
O'Donnell described the tragedy as others have: "Memories, silent tears and a heart that never mends."
David Patterson, of Milroy, told his story about his service in World War II.
His story began in 1942, he said, when he didn't realize what his experiences would be. He received a letter from the Mifflin County draft board, he said, and decided to enlist in the Navy on Dec. 12.
Just 24 days later, on Christmas Eve, Patterson was called into duty, he said.
He first was stationed at a training base in Bainbridge, Md., he said. Eventually he was sent to Virginia Beach, and Norfolk, Va., and then Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Patterson described his experiences island hopping across the Pacific Ocean, as well as with launch planes and the attack on Japan.
