Kenneth Gehringer and Richard Hausman (both Vietnam Era Veterans and Members of Seipstown Grange #1657) present David Keller (a member of the Northwestern Lehigh Veterans Memorial Committee) with a check for $1,000 on Veterans Day, November 11, 2023. Other members of Seipstown Grange #1657 in attendance were Diane Gehringer, Ann Wertman, Gloria Zimmerman (shown on the left). Additional members of the Northwestern Lehigh Veterans Memorial Committee participating were Terry Rehrig, Willard Dellicker, Ronald Jerdon and William Mantz (shown in the back row).
At a ceremony, held on Veterans Day 2023 and in front of the Northwestern Lehigh Veterans Memorial at Ontelaunee Park, members of Seipstown Grange #1657 presented the Northwestern Lehigh Veterans Memorial Committee with a $1,000 donation toward ongoing upkeep and maintenance of the Memorial.
Seipstown Grange members participating in this event included Kenneth Gehringer and Richard Hausman (both Vietnam Era Veterans whose names are inscribed on the Memorial), along with Ann Wertman, Gloria Zimmerman and Diane Gehringer. In presenting their $1,000 donation, they all expressed the Grange’s deep appreciation to the Memorial Committee for its efforts in erecting this Veterans Memorial which is dedicated to all local veterans, past, present and future who have served (or will serve) our country.
Northwestern Lehigh Veterans Memorial Committee members present for this event included David Keller, Willard Dellicker, Ronald Jerdon, Terry Rehrig, and William Mantz. In accepting this wonderful donation, David Keller (on behalf of the Committee) expressed the Committee’s deep appreciation for this very generous donation, and noted that this donation would go a long way toward helping defray annual costs for upkeep and maintenance of the Memorial.
The Seipstown Grange is part of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry with a strong history in grassroots activism, family values and community service. In 2015, due to declining membership and the many responsibilities of maintaining a building and property, the volunteers of the Seipstown Grange voted to continue as an organization but sell their property. The proceeds of this sale are held in trust by the State Grange and 10% of the funds are available annually for expenses, community service, and community support.
In its 8th Year of Annual Sharing of trust proceeds, the Seipstown Grange awarded two $1,000 scholarships to graduating Northwestern Lehigh High School seniors who are furthering their education in the fields of agriculture or environmental science, along with $500 awards to 13 local community organizations, and the one-time $1,000 donation to the Northwestern Lehigh Veterans Memorial.