Memorial Day 2006: Honoring those who served and their families

Patrick Fisher, Staff Writer

Memorial Day is a day to honor not only those who lost their lives in service for the United States, but to also honor their families.

That was the message from Senior Master Sgt. Linda Dvorak (retired) of the Minnesota Air National Guard, main speaker at New Prague’s annual observance of the national holiday on Monday at the Veterans Memorial in Memorial Park. Her speech came near the end of a morning of events where families and area veterans honored comrades.

The day began at 9 a.m. with the New Prague Veterans Honor Guard visiting area cemeteries to honor deceased veterans. New Prague American Legion Commander George Tupy and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Commander Mike LaDuke read the names of deceased veterans at the cemeteries at St. Patrick, St. Benedict, Lanesburgh, Union Hill, the Czech National and St. Wenceslaus. There were 395 names read at the cemeteries.

The day of remembering those who served continued with the annual parade. Participating were the New Prague Veterans Honor Guard, New Prague Veterans, Legion and VFW Auxiliaries, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, Girl Scouts and Brownies, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts and the New Prague High School Band. For the second year Blue Star servicemen, women and their families participated. Blue Star families carried names of family members who are currently serving.

The service at the Veterans Memorial began with master of ceremonies Lloyd Svoboda welcoming those attending. Commanders Tupy and LaDuke also remembered veterans buried at Fort Snelling and other locations at the program in Memorial Park. A total of 541 names were read at the cemeteries and at the Veteran’s Memorial

Deacon Bob Raleigh of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church said in preparing for the program he was reminded, There is no greater love than this