Cranberry pays solemn tribute to fallen soldiers
CRANBERRY TWP — Doves flew as the color guard and rifle squad made their exits Sunday afternoon from the Veterans Memorial in North Boundary Park.
About 200 people attended the 20th annual Cranberry Township Memorial Day ceremony, and sunlight shone through the clouds over the stone monument for the entirety of the ceremony, despite clouds looming in all directions, according to Rex Brown, quartermaster for the event's host Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 879.
“It was a good turnout, especially with awkward weather forecasts,” Brown said.
Brown, who also served as the master of ceremonies, had introduced the ceremony's guest, John Biedrzycki, an Army Veteran of the Korean War and 46-year-member and past commander-in-chief for the VFW's national organization.
Biedrzycki said the day stood not just as a commemoration but also should be a celebration of the lives of the soldiers lost.
“(Those soldier's lives) were not lost in vain or anguish,” he said. “Each loss contributed to the evolution of the nation that stands today.”
Biedrzycki said another way to honor those lost is through life itself.
“It is our duty to live our lives that would honor those that gave sacrifice,” he said.
Biedzrycki said it is also important to think of the families of the fallen soldiers.
“We must encourage the preservation of their spirit, their hopes and their dreams,” Biedzrycki said.
Some soldiers were never found and have their own symbol at the memorial, said Brown.
“When you look at the memorial rock, the upper hand corner is missing,” he said. “That represents those that were missing in action.”
Brown said the Memorial Day ceremony is always well-received.
“Cranberry being the place that it is, we have so many veterans here,” he said.
One of the best ways to honor soldiers' sacrifice is to remember and preserve that history, Brown said.
