Beyond the Byline: On Memorial Day, we pause to remember

WILKES-BARRE — On Memorial Day, we pause to honor our fallen heroes.

These are the bravest of the brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice — their lives — for us. They died so we could live free.

Please don’t say “Happy Memorial Day.” This is a solemn day of remembrance for fallen service members — not a celebration. Focus on respecting the sacrifice; avoid political debates—just pause and remember.

On Memorial Day, try to think about what it must have felt like for all those soldiers who fought in all those battles in all those wars — knowing they may never return to their country, to their hometown, to their loved ones.

Think about dealing with the reality that you may never marry, have children, hold a job, buy a new car, or have a beer with your pals at the local bar.

Think about going to battle, realizing that this day — this moment — might be your last day alive. That your next breath may be your last. That you may give your life for your country and all Americans back home.

This is what these soldiers did — and they did it without question.

They are who we remember on Memorial Day. We remember them for what they did for us and we thank them — we pray for them.

Heroes all.

Mr. Barna, patriot

My friend, Joseph Barna of Freeland, served with the U.S. Marines in Korea from 1952 to 1953. Mr. Barna experienced war at its worst. He saw death happen often.

Mr. Barna again took time this year to place American flags on the graves of fallen heroes at St. John Nepomecene RCC Cemetery in Freeland.

Mr. Barna has done this every year for decades. He genuinely cares, and he holds the highest respect for all veterans, especially those who died in service to our country.

Mr. Barna once again has offered his thoughts on Memorial Day.

“Memorial Day is not a holiday to celebrate, but a day to remember and give honor to every son, daughter, brother, father, or grandfather who fought and died for their country,” Mr. Barna said. “They believed that there can be no greater love than to lay down their life for a friend. This is a vow a veteran makes going into combat.”

Mr. Barna said Memorial Day is all about memories.

“It’s about young boys who never would become old men,” he said. “It’s about love of a brother. It’s about courage and sacrifice. To a living veteran, it’s his day to reflect over the years when he wore combat boots and carried a weapon. And to remember when a bullet or shell killed a brother, but somehow, he survived. A day he will never forget and on it, will honor his brothers once more.”

Mr. Barna said he will walk among the graves of the veterans no longer with us.

“Their new American Flags mark each spot,” Mr. Barna said. “They have given our country everything. I feel so lucky because I have known so many veterans and, indeed, honored to have stood with them.”

Mr. Barna said no one expects to die or to become a hero.

“No one wants to die,” he said. “But it can happen suddenly — at any time, in a place thousands of miles away from your family and home. The veteran remembers how he may have walked through a battlefield. It is like walking through a cemetery — but it’s a battlefield cemetery where all of the bodies will be on top of the ground.”

Mr. Barna says war leaves everyone scarred — some more than others.

“It takes courage to open up old wounds by sharing your memories.

Mr. Barna said. “For some courageous veterans, this is never possible, no matter how brave they are. Those of us who are able to share truly believe we were spared, so we can tell the story of those who can’t talk or tell the story in their own words.”

Mr. Barna said those souls will become a memory to those who were left behind.

“The veteran will never forget his comrade’s face,” he said. “He may forget the name, but never the face.”

Mr. Barna said his life was saved in a battle long ago by a Navy Corpsman.

“I will never forget him — his name was Jackie Kilmer,” Mr. Barna said. “I met him in war, and that war took him away.”

Mr. Barna said 70 years had passed when he was invited to attend an annual military service held in Kilmer’s honor in San Antonio, Texas, where Jackie is buried.

“Kneeling at Jackie’s grave, I spoke to him after 70 years,” Mr. Barna said. “I truly believe he answered me. He will never be forgotten.”

Mr. Barna said he was able to make the same trip to San Antonio a second time last August.

“Our friendship goes on,” he said. “We are not always right, but we are always real. It’s who we are, what we did, and how much we love each other.”

The Purple Heart

I was just a kid living on Reynolds Street in Plymouth when I first saw my dad’s Purple Heart medals.

They were beautiful, but at the time, I had no idea what they meant or why my father received not one, but two Purple Heart medals.

Mr.Barna also has two Purple Hearts.

We have talked about the Purple Heart medal, and Mr. Barna quoted the Bible:

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend.”

That’s why all Americans should turn out on Memorial Day to pay tribute to our fallen heroes.

We should stand on the sidewalks, wave our flags, and cheer as the parade marchers and vehicles pass by.

And as we honor those fallen heroes this week, we can also thank our living veterans who returned from the battlefields — many with scars visible and invisible.

These veterans are heroes, too.

We should always thank them all for their service as we, like them, remember those who never returned.