Latest news with #BillWelch
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Remembering and honoring the heroics of soldiers on D-Day
Eighty-one years after Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, the heroics and sacrifices of those soldiers are remembered and honored. The D-Day invasion, the largest seaborne invasion in history, led to the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II. Many of those who fought have since passed away, leaving their legacy to new generations. 'It's important to remember that day and because it's sort of the focus point… it's also the many lives that were lost on the day and in the days to follow to free Europe,' said Bill Welch, Vice President of Erie County Memorial Park. Bill Welch spoke in front of the Erie County World War II Memorial, dedicated to the 727 Erie County soldiers who died during the war. Welch expressed concern about whether the memory of these sacrifices is fading, noting that it is up to current generations to educate those who follow about the importance of these sacrifices. Vietnam veteran Mike Rohan emphasized the importance of remembering those who fought for the country long before he was born, highlighting the enduring significance of their actions. As the years pass, the responsibility to remember and honor the sacrifices made on D-Day falls to future generations, ensuring that the lessons and legacy of those who fought continue to be recognized. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WJET/WFXP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WJET/WFXP staff before being published. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Major changes ahead for Salvation Army in Goshen
GOSHEN — Exciting changes are coming to The Salvation Army of Goshen as Lt. Aurelia Pettit and Maj. Bill Welch will be married on June 13 before Welch officially joins the Goshen Corps team on June 25. Welch brings with him 29 years of ministry experience as a Salvation Army officer. His previous appointments include Pontiac, Michigan; St. Louis Harbor Light; Marinette, Wisconsin; Ottawa, Illinois; Galesburg, Illinois; Warsaw, Indiana; Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Richmond, Indiana. Throughout his years of service, Welch has learned the importance of relying on God's strength to meet the needs of the communities he has been privileged to serve, the organization said in announcing the developments. 'The appointment that has stood out to me the most has been St. Louis Harbor Light – watching families come together during Sunday services while their loved ones received life-saving drug and alcohol rehabilitation was truly beautiful,' Welch said. 'Even when it was hard, God was working.' Pettit and Welch said they are looking forward to this next chapter in Goshen. 'In Goshen, I look forward to getting to know the people of the community,' Welch said. 'I am excited to see how I can become part of the ministry and help grow the work of The Salvation Army. I hope to learn what the community is needing, where we can fill in the gaps, and where we can build relationships and meet needs in His name – without discrimination.' Pettit said the addition of a second officer would be a tremendous blessing for the church. 'Having a second officer, after serving as a single person in this ministry, will open not only myself but Major Bill up to being more relational with the community, our donors, and those who are clients,' she said. 'This partnership will allow us to better serve the spiritual and physical needs of those around us.' When asked about the most rewarding moment of her time so far in Goshen, Pettis recalled her first Christmas season. 'We were short on adopters for our Christmas assistance program, and I remember sitting in my office, almost in tears, as the community stepped up,' she said. 'We ended up overflowing with the number of adopters we needed for Christmas 2024. So many children and parents were assisted – families forever impacted because of the beautiful community we get to serve.' Pettit and Welch are eager to bring their families together as they begin this new chapter. Welch has two daughters, Sam and Mykayla, a son-in-law, Nick, and two grandchildren, Michael and Haley. Pettit has one daughter, BreAyna. 'Family is important to us,' they said. 'We enjoy eating Mexican food, spending time near water, and being with our kids and grandkids.' They plan to celebrate their honeymoon with a cruise to Mexico in early August. They describe their shared vision for ministry as 'relational.' 'We believe that ministry is all about relationships – with Christ and with the neighbors around us,' they said in the release. 'In order to see what the needs of the community are, we have to first build relationships with those in the community – both donors and clients alike. Relationships are number one.' As Pettit enters her second year in ministry and Welch enters his 29th, they are excited to discover how their strengths will complement one another in serving the Goshen community. With a shared heart for ministry and a deep love for people, they look forward to continuing The Salvation Army's mission of meeting human needs in Jesus' name without discrimination. And they offer a warm invitation to the community they serve: 'Our door is always open – whether you need a listening ear, a partner in prayer, or a place to connect. Let's build something meaningful together.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Erie Co. Veteran Memorial Park construction will soon be complete
Construction is moving along at Erie County Veteran Memorial Park and could be completed within the next few months. The park is currently going through an improvement project to make the walkways more ADA accessible. PennDOT planning to demolish Girard bridge over I-90 Right now, construction workers are extending the sidewalks near the World War II memorial and doing landscaping. The vice president of the park, Bill Welch, said the contractor is waiting for nice weather to continue the work. New Shriners tech will help young athletes safely return to sports following injuries 'We have high hopes of getting this and having it look the way, match our vision, and to make it sort of user-friendly for people coming here, and in the long run, we may be going more,' said Welch. Welch said that they plan to put in surveillance cameras after experiencing vandalism over the years as well. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
