An annual Veterans Day tradition brought families to the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies on Wednesday, but after the ceremony, one veteran drew a crowd of his own.
He is a 104-year-old World War II veteran.
Between the sights, the sounds, and the stories, Veterans Day at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies brought many people to tears.
The ceremony was a chance to honor the men and women who gave all and those who have served and are still with us.
After the ceremony, as the crowds began to clear, one line started to form.
It was a line to shake the hand of 104-year-old George Herwig, who served in World War II.
Veterans, adults and children were all waiting for a moment with a man who has seen so much history.
When the line finally cleared, Channel 11 had a chance to talk with Herwig, who joked that he still has his hair.
“I was 17 years old when I joined the service,” Herwig said.
He may be legally blind now, but his memory is sharp, and his gratitude is clear.
“Cemetery of the Alleghenies is a beautiful place for those who have served,” Herwig said.
He shared a story about how quickly the military turned him from a boy into a man.
“I was on a pleasure cruise; I thought...one day we shot at... all of a sudden I went from a boy to a man. It no longer was a pleasure cruise. We were at war,” Herwig said.
In the crowd, Channel 11 also met a mother with two children under the age of two.
“Even at a young age, I kinda want to instill those values in them,” Carly Libratore said.
She brought her children to honor their great-grandfather, a veteran they lost in 2020.
“I want to raise my children to honor our veterans and respect the country we live in and the freedom that comes with it. It wasn’t just handed to us,” Libratore said.
After the crowds cleared and the helicopter flew away, there was one final request for the bagpipes.
A moment to remember for a man who says sometimes, it’s easy to feel forgotten.
“Normally you walk down along the street, downtown or in different cities; people, they walk by you. They don’t know you, you don’t know them, and they could care less about you. Even wearing my hat I have on now. I appreciate this day for the members who are here,” Herwig said.
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