On October 24, 2007, the Silver Spring Township Board of Supervisors established the Veterans Memorial Committee to explore the idea of constructing a memorial to recognize Township veterans who have served in any of the five branches of the military. The following township residents were appointed to serve on this committee:

Supervisor Vincent T. DiFilippo is a current member of the Silver Spring Township Board of Supervisors and originator of the idea for a township memorial. Vince volunteered to serve as the liaison to the Veteran’s Memorial Committee. He and his wife Elizabeth and daughter Rebekah have been residents of the Township since 1998. Members of the DiFilippo family have served in WWI, WWII and Vietnam. Due to a congenital heart condition, Vince was unable to continue the family tradition. He and his family share a special closeness to those who serve and protect our country.

Clarence Bouchat spent 26 years in the US Air Force flying RF-4s and F-111s, and is currently a resident of New Kingstown. He is a graduate of the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. He was stationed for fourteen years overseas in Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, Korea (twice), and Malaysia. He served as a squadron commander for a command-and-control unit in Korea, and as deputy commander for another during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. His decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medals, and Air Medal. He taught at the US Air Force Academy, the Army War College in Carlisle, and presently with Harrisburg Area Community College. He is the Veterans Committee Education Working Group Chair, and serves on several other community committees.

Keith Marston - Unites States Army, August 1967 - April 1970; Fort Benning, Georgia - Basic Training, August - November 1967; Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, US Army Signal School, November 1967 - June 1968; Fort Hood, Texas, 501st S&T Bn, 1st Armored Division, June 1968 - February 1969; Republic of South Vietnam, 263 Maint. CO., 58th Trans. Bn., March 1969 - April 1970.

Kurt Minnich is the chairman of the Silver Spring Veterans Memorial Committee and is currently a Master Sergeant in the US Army Reserves. Kurt spent 20 combined years in the Active Army, Pennsylvania Army National Guard and US Army Reserves. He was stationed for 2 ½ years overseas in Germany then served in Operation Desert Shield/Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. MSG Minnich served as a financial program manager for the Multinational Security Transition Command in Iraq during OIF. MSG Minnich’s decorations include the Bronze Star and 3 Army Commendation Medals. He is employed by the Defense Logistics Agency in Mechanicsburg, PA as a financial analyst and is a senior logistician in the US Army Reserves.

Jennifer E. Printy joined the Silver Spring Township Veterans Memorial Committee to honor the memory of her father who served with the 159th Engineer Combat Battalion in Europe during World War II. He was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge and was missing in action. She also honors the service of friends who served in the Vietnam Conflict, and friends and relatives who currently serve in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army. She serves as Chair of the Resources and Fund Raising Committee.

Dennis Sheppard is a Veteran of the Vietnam Conflict. He served with the Military Assistance Command Vietnam from December 1969 to December 1970. His duty station was the U.S. Army airfield near the town of Vinh Long, South Vietnam located in the Mekong Delta. He served with the US Army Reserves, Pennsylvania National Guard and the Air National Guard for a total of 13 years. Dennis was awarded the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 3 bronze Stars, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and the Vietnam Wound Medal as well as the Non-Commissioned Officer Development Ribbon, Overseas Training Ribbon, and Army Service Ribbon. Dennis graduated from Central Pennsylvania College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Corporate Communications in March 2005. Retired he is now the Public Relations Committee Chair for the Silver Spring Township Veterans Memorial Committee.

Deborah Snyder is a veteran of the United States Army. She enlisted during the cold war era, and was attached to the Task Force Refugee Cuban Resettlement Program as part of its security force. Snyder served with the 984th Military Police Company where she was awarded a Good Conduct Medal, the FORSCOM Eagle Award and the BG Jeremiah P. Holland Award. She is currently a police officer with Silver Spring Township, and co-chair of the Veteran’s Memorial Design and Build Committee.

Byrd Troutman – United States Marine Corps, July 1951 to July 1954 Parris Island; Camp Lejeune, NC; Pusan, Korea 1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery in administration; Pohang, Korea 1st Marine Air Wing (MAW) in administration and security; Cherry Point, NC 2nd MAW in administration; Itami Naval Air Station, Japan 1st MAW in operations and security. His medals include normal Korean awards, 3 campaign stars, and the Good Conduct medal. He is co-chair of the Veteran’s Memorial Design and Build Committee.