Memorial Day commemorates fallen soldiers around region
Until May 25, Susan Rushing had never been to the Bethel Park Veterans Memorial on West Library Road between the municipal building and library. She had just recently moved to the area from Ohio.
Yet, she shed genuine tears on this Memorial Day as well as during the community’s annual ceremony recognizing its fallen heroes.
“I had to come,” Rushing said. “Just to honor all the people who served.”
Rushing’s own brother served in the military. Because Richard Ritzier had a low draft number, he enlisted in the Army right out of high school. He was killed in Vietnam in 1969.
“He just turned 19 in January and died in February,” said Rushing, who was 17 herself and in high school at the time.
“So (Memorial Day) is very meaningful,” she continued, “because my brother lost his life.”
Combat veteran Russ Beeson of Bethel Park and Marine Col. Michelle Prokopchak understand Rushing’s anguish.
Beeson attended the remembrances on May 25 with Jeff Pritchard as representatives of the Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Department. Before becoming fire chief, he served in the organization for 13 years, as did his father, Jim.
Prior to that, Beeson served in the Air Force. He transported the first troops into Afghanistan during that Middle East conflict. His name appears on one of the columns at the Veterans Memorial.
“I’ve had friends that didn’t come home with me,” Beeson said. “A lot of people don’t understand the real meaning behind this day.”
Prokopchak agreed that Memorial Day is more than a day of parades and going swimming. She participated in the Vietnam and Gulf wars.
“I remember a lot of people that didn’t come back,” she said. “A lot of people that I share time with didn’t come home. I’ve been over at the cemetery and have put the flags (on graves) of people there,” she added.
Bethel Cemetery, located next door to the historic Bethel Presbyterian Church, contains the remains of many soldiers, including those dating back to the Revolutionary War. It was here that the municipality’s solemn remembrance of Memorial Day concluded with Pennsylvania state Sen. Devlin Robinson delivering remarks and a rendition of “Taps.”
Many attended the Memorial Day ceremony held at the Veterans Memorial, however, because it preceded the municipality’s annual parade, filled with marching units, antique cars, community organization representation and plenty of handouts as American flags and candy treats.
“Unfortunately, Memorial Day is just an unofficial first day of summer,” said Mayor Jack Allen. “People should get out and enjoy themselves but they should also remember why we’re doing this. For the people that didn’t come back from any war just to let us have a day like this.”
Allen also noted that Memorial Day is a time that Bethel Park comes together as a community and honors its veterans. In its 27th year at the Veterans Memorial, the day’s activities commenced with breakfast in council chambers and proceeded to the outdoor ceremony.
After opening remarks by Allen, the Bethel Park High School Top 21 Chorus sang “The Stars Spangled Banner” and later performed a medley of patriotic anthems, including “America The Beautiful.” The Rev. Jack Puskar from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and Sons of the American Legion delivered a prayer reading while council President Joe Janosik provided a “Message To America” and state Rep. Natalie Mihalek spoke.
Retired Lt. Colonel Shannon Crowley served as the guest of honor.
After graduating with a finance degree from West Virginia University, Crowley was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force. An aircraft maintenance officer initially, she worked on B-52 Bombers, KC-135 Tankers, A-10 Warthogs, F-16 Falcons, F-15 Eagles and the F-15E Strike Eagles. Eventually, she earned a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas in 1989.
Crowley noted in her remarks the accomplishments and contributions of the many women who served before her. From the Revolutionary War to the current conflicts, females have participated in America’s battles, sometimes incognito to disguise their gender.
Crowley noted how those memorialized on the holiday gave up their today so that citizens could have their tomorrow.
“Think about that and let that sink in,” she said.
“That is the nucleus of every veteran. It is not documented on one piece of paper in the Pentagon. It is not in any oath of enlisted men or officers that we all take when we join, but that is what we do. We are willing to give up our today. So our country can have their tomorrow.
“And lastly, for all the men and women, they put on this uniform to stand tall for the cause of freedom. Remember, it’s not that we hate that adversary in front of us. It is that we love what is behind us.”
Around the South Hills, Memorial Day commemorations were held in Mt. Lebanon, Bridgeville, South Park and Peters Township. Each included a parade, with the 92nd annual South Hills Memorial Day cavalcade being the longest and biggest, snaking through Brookline along West Library and Washington Roads and concluding at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery.
The South Hills Memorial Day parade was preceded by Mt. Lebanon’s annual service at the Veterans Memorial off Cedar Boulevard.
Blaise Larotonda served as the Master of Ceremonies while Rabbi Aaron Meyer from Temple Emanuel of the South Hills delivered the invocation and benediction.
Todd DePastino, who is the founding director of the Veterans Breakfast Club, was the featured speaker. He is the author and editor of seven books, including the award-winning “Bill Mauldin: A Life Up Front (W.W. Norton)”, a biography of the famed WWII cartoonist.
The Mt. Lebanon High School Marching Band performed “Taps” as well as “Main Street America” an arrangement by director Gary Gilroy.