One veteran's group in Lackawanna County celebrated National Wreath Laying day by honoring a fallen hero, a Dunmore native who was the first woman and the first nurse to be killed in Vietnam more than 40 years ago.

An honor guard led a procession to the final resting place of Army Second Lieutenant Carol Ann Drazba at Sacred Hearts Cemetery in Scranton.

More than 40 years after her death, dozens of fellow veterans, family and friends paid tribute to her on National Wreath Laying day, a day after what would have been her 66th birthday.

"It's wonderful. It's a wonderful privilege that they're doing this to remember her after all these years," said Drazba's sister, Joanne Katula.

Every year the Friends of the Forgotten join groups across the country laying wreathes and honoring the fallen.

This year, they chose to salute 2LT Carol Ann Drazba, a Dunmore native who was killed on February 18, 1966 in a helicopter crash in Vietnam.

"She gave her last measure of devotion so that we could be free. She was the first nurse, the first woman killed in Vietnam," said Kim Atkinson, with Friends of the Forgotten.

Family members said Carol Ann was fun-loving and was proud to serve her country as a nurse.

"She was just a wonderful, outgoing individual. Really enjoyed life. Lived it to the fullest," said Katula.

"She wrote about the boys she took care of and how they were really giving so much more than she gave," added Drazba's aunt, Helen Warner.

Dressed in the cape and hat they wore the day they became nurses, with a nightengale lamp burning, Ann Domin paid tribute to her friend Carol Ann and all she sacrificed.

"Carol wrote me letters about the war and her calling to go there. I still have them all. I hope you remember her as one who was faithful, one who was dedicated and had integrity," said Domin.

The Friends of the Forgotten and officials in Dunmore are working together to create a permanent memorial to 2LT Carol Ann Drazba.