Remembering
One hundred white doves flew over the Veterans Monument in North Boundary Park on Sunday afternoon.
Most of the birds released during the ceremony will return to their Butler home, unlike the fallen and missing servicemen and women they were meant to honor and represent.
“I was drafted during Vietnam, so I had no choice. But you still have to honor the people who died there,” said Carl Kriebel, 69, of Adams Township, who served from 1969 to 1971. “There were people you were there with. When I joined, there were people protesting and others going to Canada.”
Sunday marked Kriebel's first time participating in the Memorial Day ceremony in Cranberry Township as a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 879 color guard. The ceremony is organized annually by the Cranberry veterans organization.
A large crowd watched as post members paid tribute to fallen and missing soldiers by placing nine wreaths, each representing a different branch of the military.“Our flag is at half-mast to honor all veterans,” said Rex Brown, chairman of the event, during his opening remarks. “It will now be raised by Army veteran Paul Jackson.”With that, a rifle squad from the Marine Corps League of Ohio Valley Detachment 882 from Beaver County marched to the Veterans Monument, where a large rock stood. Brown noted that the focal point of the monument is a 20-ton rock taken near Saxonburg. A chip in the rock represents those who are prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action.Seneca Valley High School student Tressa MacPherson sang the national anthem.“This memorial would not be here without George O'Brien,” Brown said as he paid homage to the late commander of VFW Post 879, who served in the Korean War and later retired as a steelworker. “It is a testament to all that you've done.”
The rifle squad then broke the silence as three volleys filled the air.Jon R. Lasell Jr., director of VA Butler Health Care, reminded the crowd that although Memorial Day is now more about the “three Bs — beaches, barbecues and beer” the purpose of the federal holiday is to remember and honor those who died serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.“Events like this remind us the true reason of the day,” Lasell said. “Contemporary world history has been molded by the countless men and women who have put their lives on hold to serve their country.”For Steve Mihalacki, 40, of Cranberry Township that was his reason for placing the wreath for the Coast Guard.“I think it's important for my kids to see this,” Mihalacki said as his young daughter, Abigail, clung to his uniformed legs. “To know what I did and recognize their freedom, where it came from. None of them ever saw me in my uniform and it still fits, for now, so why not?”Toward the end of the ceremony, the doves, which were brought by Scott and Charyn Caruso, ascended and made their way toward Butler.“Most of them will make their way back. Sometimes hawks will get them but they're generally too fast,” Scott Caruso said. “They're mini-athletes but you never know what will happen out there. You can only train them so much before you have to let them go and they figure out their own way back.”Brown thanked the crowd for participating.“Your presence is a great tribute to all veterans,” he said. “I salute you, God bless you all and God bless America.”
