I want to thank two fantastic groups of Carbon County residents who came out for the two biggest events of the year: the more than 700 seniors who joined me for my annual Senior Fair at Memorial Hall, and the more than 300 Vietnam Veterans who, along with more than 500 supporters, I was privileged to honor right before Veteran's Day at Jim Thorpe Area High School

This year's Senior Fair was bigger than ever, and I want to thank everyone involved. I'd like to thank the amazing staff at Memorial Hall for their hard work setting up and tearing down as well as their cooking skills. Jim Thorpe borough officials and police were a huge help with traffic control, and the bus drivers helped ensure that seniors got there without having to brave the snow.

Of course, this event would never happen without the more than 70 vendors who came early, stayed late and did everything they could to make sure our seniors got the information they needed—as well as a few items to take home!

For the first time this year, we encouraged people to bring a nonperishable food item for the Good Shepherd Food Bank to help them help others during these trying times. We brought two food barrels and hoped we'd fill at least one. We overflowed them both and then some! I can't say enough about the generosity of those who donated.

Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank each and every one of the seniors who came out on an unseasonably cold and snowy day to take part in the event. The Senior Fair is one of my favorite days of the year, and I'm already looking forward to breaking the record next year.

But, the Senior Fair wasn't all that brought together the community this fall. On Nov. 7 it was my great personal honor to bring the community together to say, "Thank You" to some Carbon County heroes—our Vietnam Veterans.

We can never truly repay the debt we owe to these brave men and women who put their lives on the line for us. To those of us who did not serve, we cannot understand or truly appreciate the sacrifice, the danger and the courage of those who did.

What we can do, and what we did do that day was rightly honor and celebrate the sacrifices of our fighting men and women, no matter where their service takes them.

The soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who served -- men and women alike -- love their country as much today as they did when they served. These men and women bring honor to our community, and they are an inspiration to our young people. This day was a small token of our thanks and our deep appreciation for what they did for us then, and what they still do for us every day.

I simply cannot thank the people who came out on Nov. 7 to celebrate our Vietnam Veterans enough. I also have to thank the administration, faculty and staff of Jim Thorpe Area High School for providing their outstanding facility to help us honor the veterans, as well as everyone who worked so hard to make the event happen.

When people say, "Why do you think Carbon County is the best place to live in the whole United States?" the answer is simple: because of people like the ones who came out to help and honor others.

Keith McCall