Remembering those who answered a higher calling

By Patrick Fisher

Memorial Day, as one speaker at the New Prague observance said, is the most solemn of our national holidays. Monday was a day when families and others across the United States of America honored veterans at ceremonies and remembered those who sacrificed all.

New Prague was no exception. The morning of events began with the New Prague Veterans Honor Guard visiting area cemeteries to honor deceased veterans. The visits included the cemeteries at St. Patrick, St. Benedict, Lanesburgh, Union Hill and the Czech National Cemetery and St. Wenceslaus, both in New Prague.

The day of remembrance continued with the annual parade, where veterans, service personnel and community organizations gathered to march down Main Street to Lincoln Avenue, then down Lincoln to the Veterans Memorial in Memorial Park.

This year, Blue Star families, those who have family members serving in the armed forces, were involved in the festivities, thanks to the efforts of a local group, Operation Home Town Spirit. Ann Slavik, who helped with the event, said 125 family members participated, with at least 35 of the 70 service personnel from the New Prague area represented.

The families carried signs with the names of their family members who are currently serving. The Girl Scouts and Brownies also volunteered to carry some of the signs of service personnel.

During the parade, the Boy Scouts also carried flags of the different branches of the Armed Forces, as well as a flag honoring Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action.

The program at Memorial Park began with emcee Lloyd Svoboda greeting people and Deacon Leonard Shambour of St. Wenceslaus Church offering an invocation.

I’m very proud of New Prague having this ongoing tradition