This coming Monday is a holiday in the US, Memorial Day. On Memorial Day, we remember those who have died while in the US military. When I think of Memorial Day, I think of those of my Polish ancestors and relatives who have served in the military. But especially I think of my great-uncle, Andrew Szczech, who was killed in the invasion of Normandy in 1944. He made the supreme sacrifice, giving his life for our country and for freedom. He was 23 years old. He was posthumously awared a Purple Heart for bravery in action.
I also think of my third cousin, Second Lieutenant Tracy Alger, who was killed by a roadside bomb while serving in the army in Iraq. She was only 30 years old.
I also know that I have family members in Poland who have made the same ultimate sacrifice in World War II–killed in the war. There probably were others I do not know about. I hope to learn more about that this summer when I visit my family in Poland.
On Memorial Day, I think of other ancestors and family members who have served in the armed forces, in World War II, the Korean Conflict, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. My Dad served in the Korean War, in Korea and later in Japan. My Uncle Otto was on a battleship in the Pacific in World War II. My uncle Stanley was a skinnny, underweight, underaged young man when World War I started. He joined the only group that would take him, the Marines. He served in Okinawa and was there when the flag was raised. He endured unspeakable hardships that he does not mention to this day. My uncle Joe served in Vietnam. Aunt Agnes was a nurse in World War II. Uncle Frank Szczech was in the army. First cousin once removed Marhall served two tours in Vietnam and his Dad, great uncle Paul, served in the Cavalry at Fort McCoy, WI–and his daugter Sally and her husband and som both work for the Navy at Great Lakes Naval Station . My second cousin Robin’s two boys are currently in the miliary, one Navy, one Marines, and have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The list goes on and on, too many to mention, and some I do not even know about (but write me and I’ll add the info!). And I am very proud of all of them and think of all of them on Memorial Day and am thankful for what they’ve done for our country and for the world and what great blessings it has brought me as well.
But there is more. I am a proud American of Polish descent, and I am proud of what many tens of thousand of Poles have done in defense of freedom as well. Poland was one of the first countries to stand with the US in the war on terrorism. And in World War II, though Poland was the first country taken over, and though Britain and France did not honor their treaties with her, Poland fought back hard and eventually had the fourth largest allied army of World War II, behind only the US, the Soviet Union, and Britain. Amazing. The history of the contribution of Poland in World War II is quite the story. You can get the short version of it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_contribution_to_World_War_II.
So, this Memorial Day, I hope you’ll join me in remembering soldiers, others serving our military, and still others all over the world who have constantly stepped up to defend freedom and liberty. I am here today because of what they’ve done.
