Fifty years ago, George Folta was a Wellsville-Middletown High School graduate.

On Saturday, the retired Lieutenant Colonel returned to his hometown of Wellsville as the main speaker of the Veterans Day and 250 Years of Freedom event that was held under chilly conditions at Kiwanis Ballpark.

“It is my distinct honor to be back here in Wellsville, where I grew up the first 18 years of my life,” the 68-year-old Folta said.

The one-hour event was hosted by the Wellsville Historical and Preservation Society, which helped renovate Kiwanis Ballpark with new LED lights and underground wiring and is currently helping on improvements of the Burlington-Northern Railroad train depot in town.

“I think we do a lot for a small group around town,” Society President Dena Saak said.

New Florence resident and former W-M teacher John Slovensky sang three songs during the event, including “Freedom Isn’t Free,” which he wrote. The Fusileers, a drill team from the Mexico Military Academy, did a performance. The event ended with about 150 American sky lanterns flowing in the sky.

Members of VFW Post 3056 and the Wellsville Community Athletic League were also in attendance.

Folta graduated from W-M in 1976. During his senior year, he entered the Marine Corps. After graduation, he reported to boot camp, beginning a 29-year military career.
Folta followed in the footsteps of his father, Albert Folta, Jr., who was a World War II veteran.

“Every single time I would come home year after year after year, the first thing dad would ask was,”How’s the Army treating you, George?’ It was just him,” Folta said.

Folta was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1987. Five years later, he became the inspector/instructor for the 4th Ammunition Company in Greenville, S.C. He served as Lieutenant Colonel for six years before his retirement from the Marine Corps in 2005. After retirement, Folta worked for five years as a civil servant for the Marine Corps at Rock Island, Ill.

For most of his 15-minute speech, Folta talked about the history of the United States, which is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year. He said one of his favorite parts of U.S. history was the founding of the Continental Marine Corps on Nov. 10, 1775 in Philadelphia.

“Our nation was founded only because people were willing to stand up and fight for it,” Folta said. “Our founding fathers united the original 13 colonies, oversaw the War of Independence from Great Britain, established the United States of America and crafted the documents and framework for the Constitution of the United States.”

Folta, who now lives in Columbia, said he believes that the United States is the greatest country in the world because of all of the sacrifices the veterans made.

“I’ve been fortunate to have traveled to 27 different countries,” Folta said. “Many of those places were wonderful, like Norway. There are other places that you didn’t want to be. But we are truly the envy of the world. I don’t care where you go. Everybody wants to be in America.”

The Historical and Preservation Society’s next event will be Wreaths Across America in December. Participating cemeteries include Resurrection Cemetery in Wellsville, the Fair Mount Cemetery in Middletown, Saint Joseph’s Cemetery in Martinsburg as well as the Liberty Cemetery, Martinsburg Community Cemetery and the New Mt. Zion Cemetery, all in the Martinsburg area.