We Remember and Support Our Troops

County Council Adds Four Services Members to Tribute Board 

In an ongoing effort to recognize Delaware County’s brave men and women serving in the Armed Forces, Delaware County Council honored four men of the Armed Services by placing their photographs on the Armed Services Tribute Board at a ceremony following the June 5 County Council meeting.

Among the men added to the tribute board were Staff Sergeant William J. Barnett, Jr. of the Army National Guard, Lance Corporal Robert James DeLuca of the U.S. Marine Corps, Airman James M. Ketler, Jr. of the U.S. Navy and Captain Long Ngoc Pham of the U.S. Army.

Council welcomed the family and friends of these men to the Government Center to personally post the photo of their service member on the Armed Services Tribute Board displayed in the lobby of the Government Center.

“As we go about our daily lives, it’s easy to get comfortable and forget that brave men and women are risking their lives every day to keep us safe here at home. But we are all here today because we will not forget. And we will continue to support our troops until
the day they are safely home,” said County Council Vice Chairman Mario Civera, Jr.

“I salute our troops, and I salute the families here today who are also making a sacrifice,” Civera said. “May God bless and protect our troops as they do the hard work of freedom.”

• Staff Sergeant William J. Barnett Jr., is from Darby Township and a graduate of Penn Wood High School. He serves as an HVAC mechanic with the Army National Guard. His tours of duty consisted of Homeland Security from 2003 to 2005, Iraq from 2005 to 2006 and he is currently on active duty in Afghanistan. He and his wife, Patricia, have three children, Ashley, John and Jimmy. Staff Sergeant Burnett’s two aunts, Doris Vantine and Tina Adams attended the ceremony and placed his photo on the tribute board. 

• Lance Corporal Robert James DeLuca is a 2008 graduate of Springfield High School and a 2011 graduate of the Delaware County Municipal Police Academy. He is married to Jillian DeLuca and has a 5-year-old daughter, Emily. He is now serving in Afghanistan with the U.S. Marine Corps. He was deployed on Jan. 7, 2013. Among the people who attended the Tribute Board ceremony were his father, Thomas DeLuca, mother Joana DeLuca, Grandfather Robert DeLuca, Grandmother Patricia Scully, wife Jill DeLuca, daughter Emily DeLuca, sister Monique DeLuca, and friend Rick Megaro. 

• Airman James M. Ketler Jr. is a 2009 graduate of Springfield High School. He also attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Delaware County Community College. Airman Ketler is currently stationed at LeMoore Naval Air Base in California and has served in the U.S. Navy since Dec. 4, 2012. He is the son of Jim and Chris Ketler and brother to Kirsten, Patrick and Daniel Ketler, who all reside in Springfield. Among those who attended the Tribute Board ceremony was his father, James, brother Daniel and friend Rick Megaro. 

• Captain Long Ngoc Pham is a 2004 graduate of Upper Darby High School and a 2009 graduate of Temple University where he received a bachelor’s degree in Sport and Recreation Management and was recognized as a distinguished military student. Captain Long has served in the U.S. Army for nine years. In 2004, he graduated from Basic Combat Training in Fort Jackson, S.C. Also in 2004, he graduated from Advanced Individual Training in Fort Lee, Va., as a distinguished honor graduate. In 2007, he graduated from Air Assault School in Fort Campbell, Ky. and in 2011 he graduated from a Basic Airborne Course in Fort Benning, Ga. Captain Long is serving his fifth tour oversees. His previous tours were 416th Civil Affairs Battalion in Norristown, from 2004 to 2006; Fort Sill, Oklahoma, 2009 to 2010; in Camp  Casey in the Republic of Korea, 2010 to 2011; and  with the 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment in Fort Jackson, S.C. He is now deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Those who attend the Tribute Board ceremony included his mother, Ket Le, father Yen Pham, sisters Kim-Lieu Pham and Kim-Lien Maida, and nephews Noah and Jacob Maida. 

The Armed Services Tribute Board recognizes Delaware County’s courageous men and women who are actively serving in the military. It offers an opportunity for residents and County employees to not only recognize members of the military, but to write to them to show support.

The Armed Services Pictorial Tribute is arranged through the County departments of Veterans Affairs and Public Relations.

Delaware County residents who have family members actively serving in the military are invited to submit a 4 x 6 color photograph of the individual, along with the soldier’s name, town of residency and their official military address to Public Relations, Room 226A, Delaware County Government Center, 201 W. Front St., Media, PA 19063. Photos and information can be sent via e-mail to Public Relations Assistant Kelsey Lomas at lomask@co.delaware.pa.us.

Support of our service men and women is crucial to their morale. As part of the tribute initiative, people of the community are invited to support those serving overseas through letters and care packages. Military addresses are available through the Public Relations Department. For information on the Pictorial Tribute or to make a submission, call 610-891-4931.