Local Petty Officer Welcomed Home

Township supervisors and local veterans, led by Pete Palestina, welcomed home Navy Petty Officer Frank Young, Jr., at the Board of Supervisors meeting last night.

Young was still on his ship that was stopped at an East Coast port unloading ammunition, but his father Eric Gremminger was there to accept his Navy flag.

"Our house is starting to fill up with a few of these things," Gremminger said. This was the second time Young has returned home from active service. He first served in the Army in Iraq in 2006 and deployed again as a petty officer in October, 2010.

"I want to thank everybody for the attention that is coming to him and the support he receives," Gremminger said. "He wanted me to thank everybody also."

Since Young left, a Navy flag has stood among the other flags of soldiers gone and returned home and the other few who are still out serving. Chairman George Komelasky replaced it with an American flag, which now stands among the rest of the 69 Northampton Patriots' flags.

Young, through his father, was also presented with a lapel pin with the Navy seal and a certificate from Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks) expressing his gratitude for Young's service. Also, a representative for Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa) brought a certificate stating the American flag was flown over the State Capitol in Young's honor.

During his tour, Young worked on the USS Kearsarge off Pakistan doing flood relief operations and carrying Marines and their helicopters.