Remembering the fallen
Memorial Day marks solemn occasion
Chris Connor kept a stiff upper lip but her eyes betrayed her.
As a bugler played “Taps” during the closing of the annual Bethel Park Memorial Day Ceremony, tears were hard to hold back as the Women’s Army Corps veteran saluted.
“It is very emotional,” Connor admitted. “It’s very heavy to carry this burden of all the people that are gone.”
The onus is on David Campbell too. He remained speechless during the annual commemoration of all of America’s servicemen who were killed in conflicts. A Vietnam veteran, Campbell earned a Purple Heart during Desert Storm, but 13 people, including two women, from his unit were killed by a scud missile attack in Saudi Arabia in 1991.
“This is hard for him because of all the people that he knew that he lost,” said Campbell’s wife, Gail. “It’s a hard day, but it’s not about him. It’s about honoring those people. When you think about what happened in all the years and all the wars, it’s sad. It’s something though you don’t want to ever forget. That’s why Memorial Day is so important. It’s remembering all the people that died for this country.”
From the Fife family that served in the Revolutionary War through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Bethel Park has had its share of casualties. Forty-three made the ultimate sacrifice and their names were read during the Fallen Heroes segment of the memorial program held May 26 at the Bethel Park Veterans Memorial.
In addition to the Placing of the Wreath ceremony and roll call, the Bethel Park Historical Society recognized Jacob and Andrew Urbas. The brothers were killed 210 days apart during World War II. They lived in the Coverdale section of the municipality with their mother, Mary, and two other siblings, Frank and Mary, along with their stepfather, Paul. Frank received a Purple Heart and Mary was a member of the Women’s Army Corps, but their siblings made the ultimate sacrifice. Enlisted in the Army, Jacob died at age 20. Andrew joined the Navy after learning of his brother’s death. He died at 17.
The memorial service opened with the Bethel Park High School Top 21 chorus singing “The Star Spangled Banner.” The Rev. Jack Puskar from the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, and a member of the Sons of the American Legion, delivered the invocation.
Council President John Oakes, Mayor Jack Allen as well as Allegheny County executive Sara Innamorato and Pennsylvania state Rep. Natalie Mihalek delivered remarks before yielding to guest of honor, Richard G. Jewell. The Army veteran has lived in Bethel Park for 69 of his 80 years.
Jewell received the U.S. Army Meritorious Service Medal for doing an outstanding job in the legal work he conducted for the various commanders at the Third Cavalry.
Prior to his service, Jewell graduated from Bethel Park High School, where he was a WPIAL diving champion. A Grove City College graduate, Jewell also won the U.S. Army 1-meter diving title in 1970 at Ft. MacArthur in California. A member of the Bethel Park athletic Hall of Fame as well as the Great Alumni Hall, Jewell is Director of Strategic Marketing for Berkeley Research Group.
While he cited the likes of Abraham Lincoln, General Douglas MacArthur as well as Roman philosopher and emperor Marcus Aurelius, Jewell captured the essence of the day when he noted the occasion was to “contemplate” and “think of those who have passed on in the service to our country.” Because of their sacrifice, Jewell noted that the United States now will be celebrating 250 years as the longest constitutional Republic in the history of this world in 2026.
“We honor our veterans in many ways,” Jewell said, citing Veterans Day in November and Armed Forces Day in May. “Memorial Day is for all those who have gone before us in service of the country. It’s a special day because they died for the welfare of this great country. They showed incredible courage and it’s right to pay homage and respect to them. They gave up so much.”
After the memorial ceremony, the municipality held a parade. The cavalcade of bands, veterans groups, politicians and municipal workers, including firefighters and their equipment, ended in Bethel Cemetery, where a special commemoration was held, complete with a 21-gun salute.
“You can’t put into words what this day truly means,” Connor said. “It’s awesome to live in the best country in the world. There is a sense of pride, but there’s a responsibility too. We need to remember.”