×

Ceremonies in Steubenville pay solemn tribute

TAPS — Kim Vaudrain, an alumnae of Catholic Central High School played taps following a Memorial Day Mass and ceremony led by the Knights of Columbus Monday at Mount Calvary Cemetery. -- Paul Giannamore

STEUBENVILLE — Ceremonies were held at Union and Mount Calvary cemeteries Monday to remember those who gave their lives to preserve the freedom of the daily life of citizens of the United States.

At Union Cemetery, Smithfield native Holly Lewis, a Navy veteran who is the commander of American Legion Post 557 and outgoing American Legion District 10 commander, told the personal story of Frank Luke, a 21-year-old pilot who scored 18 victories over German aviators during 18 days of action during World War I. He was shot down and died fighting the enemy on the ground, becoming the first pilot to receive the Medal of Honor.

Lewis also told the story of 25-year-old 1st Lt. Sharon Lane of North Industry, who volunteered for service in Vietnam (women were exempt from the draft) and entered the Army Nurse Corps. She died in a rocket attack in 1969, the only woman killed in combat by enemy fire during the long Vietnam War.

She also recalled four Marines who died in early April in a helicopter crash during a training exercise in Southern California.

She said Gold Star families remember their fallen loved ones every day and hear the voices of those they lost.

“It is up to us to hear the voices of these families and offer our support and express our highest gratitude,” she said.

Lewis served as a specialized electronics technician in anti-submarine warfare, earned a computer science degree from the Franciscan University of Steubenville after the Navy and earned an MBA while working in the software field. She runs a pharmacy optimization business.

Mayor Jerry Barilla quoted President Ronald Reagan speaking about Memorial Day, “No weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries do not have. It is a weapon that we as Americans do have. Peace is the highest aspiration of the American people. We will negotiate for it, we will sacrifice for it, but we will not surrender for it. Now or ever. We are Americans.”

Barilla added, “May we never have to go through the experience of mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters and wives who watch their loved ones go off to war thinking possibly that they may never return home again.”

At Mount Calvary, following a Mass celebrated by Rev. Jack McCoy, retired Air Force Maj. Dan Grose, who flew F-4 Phantom’s as a test pilot and as a flight lead officer before a civilian life that has included work as an airline pilot and software systems engineer, said, “What sets a hero apart? Self-sacrifice and service. Christ said, ‘Do this in memory of me.'”

He said Memorial Day is not a day of celebration.

“It is not Veteran’s Day. It is a solemn day of remembrance of those killed in action, of heroes and Gold Star families, of those who did not come home. Christ said, ‘No greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ Today, we remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for us. Nearly, 700,000 Americans have died in combat since the Revolutionary War,” he said.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today