By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Monday will be a day for parades, speeches and picnics.
Sadly, for some it will just be another holiday. For others, Memorial Day is deeply personal.
This week Street Talk looked to the latter for responses to the question: "Who will you be thinking about this Memorial Day?"
Ferry Street Veterans are a fairly new veterans' group, which meet at the Ferry Street School Community Resource Center twice a month. A business meeting is held the second Monday of the month, with a more social eating meeting held strictly for discussion and fellowship, the fourth Monday.
For Al Walker, Memorial Day is a day for the group to get out into the community, not only to remember those vets who fell during wartime, but those who remain.
"As a veteran, I believe in building our community. This group is still in its infancy with some members who are shut-ins, however, we are striving to be a community oriented group of men and women who have a genuine interest in what goes on today," Walker said.
Walker became involved with veterans at an early age at the Dunbar Vocational School. He says in those days a young person in trouble would be told go to jail, or go into the military.
"The veterans I met at Dunbar gave guidelines and were role models as to what a young man should be. Today's young men can feel their manhood is threatened when it isn't. We want to build and pick them up. We want to be guides for them so they help their community," said Walker, a Marine of the Wolverine Detachment and Viet Nam era vet.
This year for their march in the parade, the group has invited friends and family, especially of those who were lost in war, to come and march with them.
"It is open door march, where a member who served can still be represented by a loved one. Others may choose just to represent someone who has no one to remember them. Motorcyclists are also invited to join us. It will help to raise community awareness of just how many lives are affected," Odie Stewart said.
Stewart, who also served during the Viet Nam era, was stationed in Alaska where his Brigadier Commander asked if he would give seminars to those wanting to leave Alaska to go to Viet Nam. He said it was hard because there was no real way to tell what would happen after they left.
"You can say I am one angry Viet Nam vet," Eclipse Briggs said.
Briggs said he lives on $500 a month, $350 of which goes to rent. He helps out at the resource center.
We didn't ask to go over there. I'm proud of my service to God and country, but we didn't have a choice. We were sent to kill, or be killed for our country," Briggs said.
The welcome Briggs and others, who were drafted in that war, received when they got home to America has been well documented. Briggs is torn about participating in the Memorial Day parade.
"If I do, if I do, I will march for those who aren't here and the folks who just can't represent themselves," Briggs said.
The last of the Ferry Street group the Niles Daily Star spoke to was a World War II vet, who served in the Pacific theater. Frank Kalin was a Navy Code Breaker. His brothers Stan and Joe and sister Bernice also served in the United States Navy.
"I was with the Navajo Code Breakers. The natives were the code talkers and we were the code breakers. We just lost one last year. I spent 95 percent of my time at sea. I was 100 miles away when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. If that hadn't stopped them, our orders were to go directing into Tokyo Bay itself," Kalin said.
The men of Ferry Street Veterans have much planned to help vets suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other activities planned in the future. Those interested in joining the group will all be made welcome.
At Post 26 of the American Legion in Niles, we met up with Harry Roberts and some of his friends. Roberts, who takes charge each year of the Memorial Day Parade in Niles, served in the United States Army.
"I think of all veterans who fought for the country, the sick and distressed and wish we could do more for them. I was fortunate in that I didn't have to go to the war zone.
"I was in Anchorage in case of emergency during the Korean conflict. Russia was getting too close," Roberts said.
Newly elected Post Commander, Tim Fenton, remembers all his relatives and brothers-in-arms. He is helping with a care package the Post is preparing to send those in active service.
"We have had some member from each generation in service dating all the way back to the Civil War. Now my oldest boy is getting ready to go to advanced training in California before heading to Afghanistan February next year," he said.
Delores McDonald and daughter Geri Kozak, are remembering John McDonald who served as Post 51's service officer and how much they miss him.
Mrs. McDonald has been active in the Legion Auxiliary for 32 years and is the oldest bartender in Niles.
"I miss my Daddy. He got me in here 26 years ago and was the best service officer ever," Kozak said.
Bob Stewart was in the Navy for four years at the end of the Korean War, but saw no active combat.
"I lost three brothers in war. Harold and Gaylord in WWII and brother Weldon in the Korean War. Of nine boys and four girls I'm the only one left," Stewart said.