LETTERS AND STORIES
My father served in the Navy in World War II. He was on the landing craft that brought the soldiers to Omaha beach. Ironically he died on Dec. 7th, 2006 and is buried at Western Reserve. It was an honor to volunteer my time and place those wreaths on Saturday, to say "thank you to my dad and all those brave souls who gave the ultimate sacrifice."
Sincerely,
Darlene Telmanik-Donkin
I recently read with interest the article in the Medina Gazette, "Wreaths
Across America...and all the way to Medina County." I think it is a
wonderful idea and project. How thoughtful of the Worchester Wreath Co. to
do such a thing.
My dad, Art E. Riedel (landscape designer & horticulturalist extraordinaire)
passed away this year on May 27th, one day before Memorial Day. He was 82
years old. He is buried at the Western Reserve National Cemetery in
Rittman. He was a WWII Veteran, served from 1943-1946 in the European
Theatre in the 556th Anti-air-craft Automatic Weapons Battalion attached to
the 9th Army. He used to love to tell stories of those days. He attended
his units Army reunion faithfully every year. It almost seemed like
providence that he attended his last WWII Reunion of his unit last fall
(2006) in Cincinnati. It was the "final reunion" for all, with only 16 of
once 800 veterans.
The Veterans remind us that the prosperity we enjoy today grew out of
heartache --- heartache tempered by a stubborn tenacity to endure. Warriors
still, men of valor and values. It would remind me that the weight of our
heritage leans on those canes..... a grave that awaits another hero taken,
before we truly understood what they gave us, or the legacy they left
behind. Those men fought and died in the war with the hope in their hearts
that courage could make a difference in the land they also loved dearly.
My dad was battling Lymphoma Cancer for over a year until the cancer finally
won. His doctor said to him that he was "one tough soldier." He certainly
did put up a fight. He was the rock of our age, hardworking, dignified, and
fiercely in love with the concept of individual freedom -- a hero!
We are definitely sowers of seed. Everything casts seeds into the swirling
winds of human community. I believe this "Wreaths Across America" is one
way of sowing seeds and in giving back in one small way.
Phyllis Jividen
I read the article in the paper a while ago that you were coordinating an effort to put wreaths on the graves of the vets at WRC.
Thanks for coordinating this effort. My Dad is a WWII vet, as is my uncle, and my uncle served in the Korean War as well. He was in the Marines and Dad was in what was then called the Army Air Corps. Served on Guam during the war in radar and after the war in Germany as part of the occupation and rebuilding effort. My uncle was throughout the Pacific theater with time spent on Okinawa and in Japan post WWII.
Elaine and Bob Mravetz
