‘A bit different’: Venue moved for Bethel Park observance
A veteran salutes the American flag during the observance at Bethel Church Cemetery.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Bethel Park Mayor Jack Allen speaks during the observance.
State Rep. Natalie Mihalek, R-Upper St. Clair, is a U.S. Navy veteran whose grandfather served with distinction in World War II.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Members of the Keystone Young Marines participate in a ceremony honoring Prisoners of War and Missing in Action service members.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Bethel Park Councilman Mark O’Brien sings “The Star-Spangled Banner,” as members of the Keystone Young Marines salute.
Daniel Herbertson performs "God Bless America."
Don Weis Jr., commander of Sons of the American Legion Squadron 760, singls Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA."
Scott Barber, senior vice commander of American Legion Post 760, reads the names of Bethel Park's fallen heroes.
Members of the Keystone Young Marines prepare to participate in a ceremony honoring Prisoners of War and Missing in Action service members.
The Rev. Jack Puskar gives the invocation.
Members of the Amerian Legion Post 760 Honor Guard participate in a rifle salute.
John Normile, American Legion Post 760 judge advocate, welcomes participants in the observance.
Joe Spinnenweber of the Marine Corps League South Hills Detachment 726 reads a roll call of deceased.
Just as the proverbial show must go on, so must the annual Memorial Day observance in Bethel Park.
“They’ve been having this ceremony for close to a hundred years,” Mayor Jack Allen said, “and it was going to take something more than a pandemic not to have it today.”
His words were greeted by hearty applause from those who gathered at Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery to honor fallen service members while maintaining proper social distancing.
“This year, Memorial Day looks a bit different than it has in the past years. We’re not taking part in our ceremony at the Veterans Memorial,” Allen said, referencing the expansive walls of tribute in front of the Bethel Park Municipal Building. “There is no parade this year, and there will be no luncheon afterward.
“I enjoy those things as much as the next person, but they often make it easy to lose sight of what this day is really about,” he continued. “I think we are fortunate in some ways to have a single year where our heads are not turned in another direction, having distractions instead of remembering the significance to what this day means to those who sacrificed, and those who served alongside of them and those families who survived them.”
Allen also serves as commander of American Legion Post 760 in Bethel Park, members of which figured prominently in the observance. They included the post’s judge advocate, John Normile, who provided opening remarks and provided a history of Gen. John Logan’s 1868 orders establishing what became Memorial Day, and Scott Barber, senior vice commander, who read a roll call of post members who have passed away since last May.
Providing a memorial address was state Rep. Natalie Mihalek, R-Upper St. Clair, a U.S. Navy veteran who acknowledged this year as the 75th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II, one that cost more than 405,000 American lives.
She spoke about her maternal grandfather, U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. William Mihalek, who joined the service at age 19 and shipped out to prepare for the invasion of the Pacific island of Saipan in June 1944.
“While scouting the beach, he was hit by a Japanese mortar shell, with shrapnel in his chest and back, close to his heart,” his granddaughter said. “His fellow Marines, under sniper fire, carried him back to his boat, saving his life.”
Cpl. Mihalek recovered and, in February 1945, was part of the first wave of another invasion, of Iwo Jima, “where his division fought their way across the entire island during some of the bloodiest days of the war,” Natalie said.
“During these weeks, he was again wounded but continued to fight,” she continued. “As second in command of his platoon, his superior was killed in action, leaving him to lead his fellow Marines to finish the battle and emerge victorious.”
She quoted from a letter he wrote:
“You can only describe this operation as a living hell. Thank the Lord and a lot of luck that I was able to survive the whole operation.”
Rep. Mihalek acknowledged those who were unable to make the same claim.
“They have fought and died so that we can continue to live in freedom,” she said. “That is the essence of patriotism, and it makes me proud to be an American.”
For his part, Allen acknowledged the fine turnout of people showing their patriotism at the observance.
“I encourage all of you to find ways to involve yourself in caring for who bear physical, emotional and psychological scars of war,” he said. “And as this Memorial Day is different than past years, I thank you for thinking of the veterans today and for helping to honor the fallen. I also challenge you to keep our fighting men and women in front of your minds today and tomorrow and every day.”