LEWISBURG — The United States Armed Forces offer no higher recognition than the Medal of Honor, and local veterans came together Tuesday at the Union County Courthouse to remember the only man in Union, Snyder and Northumberland counties to earn the honor.
March 25 was officially designated as National Medal of Honor Day last year by an act of Congress, and several veterans were on hand at the courthouse to pay homage to the late George H. Ramer, the region’s lone Medal of Honor winner, and all of those whose sacrifice earned the highest praise.
George Steese, a local veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, said he became aware of National Medal of Honor Day while reading an article in a Marine publication.
“We figured since we had a recipient in Union County, we should hold an event in his honor,” Steese said.
Veteran Al Hess said the hope is that this year’s event will turn into a larger event in the future.
Hess added it’s important to honor Medal of Honor recipients because there are a little more than 100 who are still living.
Since World War I, Steese said roughly 56 percent of the Medal of Honor recipients were given the award posthumously.
“It is important to honor that sacrifice,” Steese said.
Ramer, a second lieutenant in the Marines, was a graduate of both Lewisburg High School and Bucknell University. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during a battle Sept. 12, 1951, on Heartbreak Ridge during the Korean War. Ramer was mortally wounded during the fight and received his honor posthumously. He is buried in Lewisburg.
Glenn and Brenda Miller of Mifflinburg said they always try to support veterans both old and new, and were happy to attend yesterday’s event.
“It is just important to know what this man did and how fearlessly he fought, not only for his men, but for his country as well,” Brenda Miller said.

Andrew Zechman: 570-742-9671
andrew@standard-journal.com