From Where I Sit…
May 22, 2024
By Bob Garrett
Your Chamber’s 103rd* Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony is now in the history books. We were thrilled to recognize our valley’s key economic development, job creating and retaining engine of prosperity company North Shore Railroad and Affiliates as 2024 Business of the Year.
Not a company to ‘rest on its laurels,’ just a day after being awarded our valley’s 2024 Business of the Year, North Shore Railroad unveiled the locomotives pictured above in honor of our active-duty armed forces and to our veterans.
North Shore held the unveiling ceremony along their Lycoming Valley rail line, near the Lundy Warehouse siding on the eve of national Armed Forces Day, which was May 18th. The sand colored locomotive, known as LVRR 9050 or the Veterans Unit, features a Camouflage Dark Sandstone (Coyote Tan) background. According to North Shore’s Communications Director, Loni Martz Briner, “When our service members enlist in the armed forces, they pledge to fight for country, knowing the risks.”
She added, “We dedicate LVRR 9052 to all service members past, present, and future. It honors their loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage, as they have chosen to commit themselves to the defense of our nation. The “All Gave Some” written on the side of the unit helps us reflect and remember the brave men and women who gave so much for us to be here today – enjoying the freedoms we have.
Adding contrast to this locomotive is the Battleship Gray, LVRR 9050 which echoes the familiar shadows of two soldiers paying respects to their fallen comrade, remembered by a Battlefield Cross. Briner said, “We’re painfully aware that not all Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines come home. This reminds us there is no greater love than laying down one’s life for one’s friends and country.”
LVRR 9050 is dedicated to all service members who have lost their lives defending this great nation. In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed. Freedom is not free. Many great men and wise women have made the ultimate sacrifice for us to live as free people. The “Some Gave All” reminds us to remove our hat, bow our head, cover our heart, and thank those who sacrificed their lives for us to be free this Memorial Day and every day.
Congratulations, North Shore Railroad for being our 2024 Business of the Year. To our service members and our veterans, a hale and heartfelt: Thank you for your service. Well done!
By working together, our best days lie just ahead.
All the best,
Bob Garrett
