Coping with Corona: Remember our fallen heroes every day

PLAINS TWP. — Memorial Day 2020 will be observed Monday, May 25 — one week from now.

However, in these pandemic days, the usual and much deserved celebrations of our fallen patriots will not happen.

And that is sad.

Memorial Day is a time to honor and recognize the sacrifices made by those who have died to protect our freedom.

It’s a day that should see our expressions of gratitude, sorrow and pride for all those brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedom.

In my old neighborhood, there is a Ward Memorial standing in the yard of Charles and June Steinhauer. And thanks to Son Ae Filchak, who lived for a few years on Second Street, the 12th Ward Memorial has been preserved for future generations.

Filchak saw to its preservation by donating $25,000 not to repair the old Ward Memorial, but to create a new one made of bronze.

This is so much a part of my growing up. Every voting ward in town had a memorial like the one on Second Street. All are gone, except the one.

The 12th Ward Memorial is smack dab in the middle of my childhood neighborhood. Ecky and Mary Kraynack lived there when I was growing up, and we played in the shadow of this Honor Roll.

We learned early on to respect the Honor Roll and all the people whose names were listed. Out of that grew a respect for all veterans. Those on the 12th Ward Honor Roll in Plymouth were special, but only as special as all veterans who fought for us to assure we lived in a free country.

My dad’s name is on that Honor Roll — William O’Boyle — as is the name of his brother, James, and those of my mother’s brothers, John and Leo Kraszewski. And every WWII veteran from our neighborhood is listed there.

And now their names are in bronze, as resilient as each veteran’s determination to fight for their country — our country.

There aren’t enough words to properly thank Son Ae and Charles and June for all they have done and continue to do to ensure the Honor Roll is preserved. When the old, original Honor Roll deteriorated to the point that it couldn’t be saved, these three people stepped to the plate.

The Honor Roll represents families — families that made this country strong.

My dad was a great man. He served his country. He lived a good life.

He is just one story — just one name on this Honor Roll.

But his story has been repeated time and again. By fellow veterans, who served their country and community — who collectively made our country strong.

That’s why it was so important to keep that Honor Roll standing. To show all who pass by, all who stop and look, that these are just some of the men and women who represent all who fought for our freedom and who built our communities.

And this week we need to show our respect for all of those fallen heroes. We need to pause, pray, remember what each and every one did for each and every one of us.

Sadly, there won’t be a parade this year because of the pandemic. We won’t be able to stand along the parade route, waving flags and cheering every military contingent as they proudly walk by.

Instead, we must do all we can to remember our heroes.

We must do that on Memorial Day and every other day of the year.