Beyond the Byline: Of bravery, selflessness, patriotism

WILKES-BARRE — Every Veterans Day and every Memorial Day, there are images that come into my mind that are just too difficult to process.

Look, we all know — or should know — that veterans are a social breed. Veterans, more than any other segment of our population, are responsible for preserving our freedom.

So on this Veterans Day and on all days, we offer our sincerest gratitude and we say “Thank you!”

Veterans are special people, indeed. Patriotism is in their blood. Loyalty to country is part of their DNA. Call it courage, bravery, commitment — they all have it and they accepted the task at hand.

Back to that image in my mind.

Let’s talk about bravery. Of selflessness. Of patriotism.

How else can you explain all those GIs on those landing boats on D-Day in World War II? Standing there, weapons in hand, waiting for the gate to open to charge the beach — to run to meet a waiting enemy.

My dad was one of those GIs.

They all knew that many of them would never return to their homes and families and friends and communities.

Yet they ran to meet the enemy.

It’s chilling to try to put yourself in their shoes. Young soldiers — 18, 19, 20 years old — charged with the responsibility of fighting for our freedom. They must win, they must fight — and many, sadly, must give their lives on those battlefields.

It was the same in every war America has fought — the stakes were always high. History reads of bloody battles, thousands of lives lost, freedoms preserved.

Never a doubt. Never a question. Never a disobeyed order. Soldiers fought. Soldiers died. Victories were won. Freedoms preserved.

And those that came home, well, they were faced with processing what they experienced in battle and they began to rebuild their lives and move forward. Many had scars we cold see — others carried scars inside.

It is not understated when we say we can never thank them enough. Those that died in defense of their country hold a special place in our hearts. They gave it all for us.

And those who returned, wounded, scarred — we owe them too. We will never know or understand what they went through. We will never feel what they felt on those battlefields. We will never know what it was like to meet the enemy in battle — to face the enemy with the realization that they must kill or be killed.

So to honor veterans with a parade or a handshake and a thank you is the least we can do. To stand along the parade route, holding an American flag is a symbol — a message — to all veterans that we love them, we respect them and we thank them for all they have done for us.

Veterans are proud of their service, as they should be.

We should be even more proud that they served in the military for us.

They defended their country — our country.

They fought for it.

They fought for us.

And they would do it again and again — for us.

Where would we all be if it weren’t for veterans?

We sure wouldn’t be living in a free country where we can speak freely, worship freely and always feel safe.

That’s why we should always shake the hand of a veteran and thank them for their service. It’s a big deal, really.

For as long as I can remember, I wondered what happened to my father in World War II. Why he lost his right leg and why he had to go through life wearing a wooden leg that was both difficult to move with and drew attention to him.

Dad never wore his courage on his sleeve. Like all veterans, he was called to serve his country and went into battle willingly. Veterans knew what was at stake. They knew what could lie ahead. They were filled with fear and uncertainty, but they went forward — they met the enemy and they won.

In battle after bloody battle, our guys won. Our freedoms were preserved. So many lives were lost, yet more came to battle.

My dad kept his story inside for most of his life. It was near the end of his life that he decided to tell me what happened on that day. How he ran onto the beach, up a hill, firing his weapon as the enemy fired back. And then he woke up in a MASH unit. He was told his right leg was gone. Dad’s response was, “I guess I’m going home.”

He came home, got fitted for his wooden prosthesis, and got a job. He served his community. He joined every veterans organization he could find. He attended every veterans ceremony held every year.

My dad never forgot. He knew, despite the loss of his right leg, that he was one of the lucky ones to come home alive. He knew thousands never made it back. Dad never forgot that and he always honored veterans.

The stories about veterans never end and they all carry the same theme — service above self.

The saddest part of this story is that we are losing our World War II heroes daily, leaving us with memories of their lives that were lived with the greatest of love for family, friends, community and country.

This year I wrote about Joe Barna of Freeland, the 94-year-old Korean War veteran who detailed the story of a heroic corpsman who saved his life.

And the late Jim Walsh, who before he passed away in June, wrote the story of his life in the military and his love for the USA.

And my dear friend Richie Pries, past Commander at the Kingston American Legion Black Diamond Post 395, who organized the first-ever West Side Veterans Day Parade because he felt so strongly that all veterans should be honored and paid the respect they so richly deserve and earned.

And my dad, who set an example for me and all who knew him.

What is so special about these guys and all veterans is that they are all exceptional people. Through all generations, veterans have been there to protect us and fight for us and we should never lose sight of that.

We are because they were.

God bless all veterans and God bless America.