World War II hero addresses Bethel Park Memorial Day ceremony
Peter Edwards Jr. speaks during Bethel Park’s Memorial Day ceremony.
William Knaus listens to the story of his childhood friend Joseph Chmelynski.
Sofia Riley Gaussa sings “God Bless America” as part of a duet with Councilman Mark O’Brien.
Gail Matus, center, of the Bethel Fife and Drum Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution presents an honor to Jill and Roger Kurtz on behalf of their son, who was killed while serving in Iraq.
Peter Edwards Jr., left, with fellow veteran and former Bethel Park mayor Cliff Morton
Peter Edwards Jr. salutes during the playing of the national anthem.
The new paver at the Bethel Park Veterans’ Memorial tells the story of Joseph Chmelynski.
Bethel Park Mayor Jack Allen salutes during the playing of the national anthem.
Sue Means, member of Allegheny County Council representing District 5, is a Bethel Park resident and daughter of Peter Edwards Jr.
Sofia Riley Gaussa sings “God Bless America” as part of a duet with Councilman Mark O’Brien.
State Rep. John Maher, R-Upper St. Clair, represents part of Bethel Park and was on hand to speak at the Memorial Day ceremony.
World War II heroes have tended to take an attitude similar to that of Peter Edwards Jr.
“I’m not a hero, believe me, just one of the millions who fought,” the U.S. Army Air Corps veteran said Monday.
Those in attendance at Bethel Park’s Memorial Day ceremony would beg to differ with the guest of honor’s assessment of himself, especially given his military record: He flew 49 missions as a bomber escort in a single-seat P-51 Mustang over Europe.
Yet the nine-decade Bethel Park resident made sure to give plenty of credit where it was due elsewhere.
“In World War II, it was not just the veterans who fought for our liberty. It was virtually everybody in the country,” Edwards told the crowd gathered at the Bethel Park Veterans’ Memorial.
“Women, heretofore not much seen in the work force, went to factories, helped build airplanes, ships. They did work, some of it, better than the men did,” he said. “Even the kids went out and collected tin foil, metal scraps and so forth to contribute to the war effort.”
Prior to his talk, he was introduced by Tim Moury, Bethel Park Council president, who told of how Peter Edwards Sr. founded local institution Brookside Lumber Co. in the 1920s, and how Junior, “at 95 years young,” still is active in the business.
A 1938 graduate of Bethel Park High School – he was among a class of just 47 – Peter Edwards Jr. went on to major in economics at Colgate University.
“On Dec. 7, 1941, while walking back from a class at Colgate, Pete was met by students telling him about the bombing at Pearl Harbor that had just occurred,” Moury said. “Emotionally struck, Pete decided that he wanted to join the war effort and was able to graduate one semester early. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps.”
Edwards spoke about his subsequent experiences.
“The camaraderie in the service was great,” he said. “We came from all over the States and all walks of life. We were united, all working toward the same goal of defeating Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo, with their massive war machines, and then to return home to our loved ones.”
On that note:
“I don’t believe there was any doubt in our minds about the outcome. It was not if. It was only when,” Edwards recalled. “It truly was a war that had to be won, to preserve our country and many other countries from living under the dictatorships that we fought.”
Also during the Memorial Day ceremony, Bethel Park honored the memory of Joseph Chmelynski (1922-48), a World War II Army veteran who become a local police officer and was killed in the line of duty.
Councilman Mark O’Brien, who spoke on Chmelynski’s behalf, had led efforts to have a paver in his honor placed at the veterans’ memorial. William Knaus, a childhood friend of Chmelynski who originally told O’Brien about the slain officer, was in attendance at Monday’s event.
Also attending were Roger and Jill Kurtz, parents of Army Sgt. Russell A. Kurtz, who died Feb. 11, 2007, at age 22 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. They were presented with an honor on behalf of their son by the Bethel Fife and Drum Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.