Welcome! I had the privilege of attending the Rocky Glen Cemetery and Jamestown Memorial Day services.
Gerry Osborn was the keynote speaker at Rocky Glen’s service in her brother, Jack Molke’s, stead. He recently had eye surgery and was unable to attend.
Jack Molke is a Vietnam War veteran who grew up in Espyville. He comes from a military family. Jack and Gerry’s father served in Europe and Japan in World War II between 1942 and 1946. Her grandfather served in World War I, and her husband, Tim Osborn’s, great-great grandfather, S.A. Osborn, served in the Civil War.
S.A. Osborn wrote a series of articles for the Shenango Valley News in the early 1900s describing his service in the Civil War, including incarceration in Georgia’s Andersonville Prison. Andersonville was one of the worst war prisons in American history. Almost 13,000 Union soldiers died of starvation or exposure. Its commandant, Captain Henry Wirz, was the only person executed for military crimes after the Civil War. It’s a miracle S.A. Osborn survived Andersonville.
Jack Molke wrote a letter to Gerry describing his Vietnam War experiences, which she read aloud. Jack was drafted in 1970. He had been attending Penn State but had to withdraw and go to Fort Dix, New Jersey, for basic training.
Jack arrived on a commercial jet in Vietnam on August 24, 1971. When they landed the runway was under mortar fire. They were handed M-16 rifles and pushed out of the jet.
They had a two-week crash course on how to survive in Vietnam. The men in his unit drew playing cards for positions. Jack drew the point man card. This meant he walked in front of his patrol and was the most exposed to enemy fire. He was trained by the current point man, who was ready to be shipped home in two weeks. Point man was a difficult position, but he’d grown up hunting, trapping, and shooting, so he was more prepared than others in his unit. He served in the First Air Cavalry Brigade, B Company (Air Mobile). Air Cavalry flew helicopters.
They averaged 15-day tours and had rest and relaxation (R & R) in Vung Tao every 45 days. Vung Tao is on the ocean.
Jack wrote that his faith was shaken there. He was raised a Christian, but he struggled in Vietnam. He shared an experience he considers a miracle.
One day his unit took their food rations to a set location with another group. As that group set up for the night, they realized they were too close to a North Vietnamese (NVA) bunker complex. The NVA waited for them to get set up, then opened fire. The other unit called for support. Jack’s group was closest and they went to aid them. It was nearly dark. He was point man and had to lead his unit in the dark. They had a little bit of light from air support, but that was all.
The next morning he went in to look for dead and wounded comrades. He came face-to-face with a claymore mine. This was an American mine. Soldiers would set up hammocks and keep the clacker (detonator) in their hands overnight. They could set off mine from their hammocks.
But as Jack approached the claymore, the soldier who set it up was gone, so he hit the ground. Nothing happened. It didn’t detonate. He disconnected the clacker that would’ve ignited the explosion. If it had exploded, approximately 700 steel balls would’ve hurled in all directions. Anything within 100 yards would’ve been hit, and it was lethal at up to 50 yards. He received a bronze star for his actions that day. Jack believes God had him in His hands in Vietnam.
Gerry then shared another of Jack’s more memorable experiences. Jack’s M-16 rifle wasn’t the greatest weapon in the world, as anyone who served in or has read about Vietnam would attest. He wrote to his mother, requesting she ship him a shotgun, which would be far more efficient in the jungle. His dad sawed off a 12-gauge shotgun and his mom mailed it in a Christmas box packed with cookies and popcorn. Jack later applied for a permit and was able to take the shotgun home with him after his eight-month tour of duty ended. He trained another point man and flew home. He went from the jungle to home in a week’s time.
He concluded his letter by thanking God for His protection and praying God will continue shining His light on us. He admonished us all to put God first in our lives.
After Gerry’s speech, Dale Shearer, an Air Force veteran, carried an American Flag around the cemetery while audience members laid fresh flowers on veterans’ graves. Fuzzy Shields explained there are veterans from every American war, beginning with the Revolutionary War, buried in Rocky Glen Cemetery. There is a Persian Gulf War memorial at Rocky Glen Cemetery for a veteran buried overseas.
Adam Owry, for whom Adamsville is named, is a Revolutionary War veteran buried at Rocky Glen. His gravestone is in the eastern most part of the cemetery.
The Odd Fellows placed flags in Frame, Mushrush, McMunigal, Hartstown, Rocky Glen, and Jackson Cemeteries. A total of 333 veterans from American wars, beginning with the Revolutionary War, are buried in these cemeteries. I closed the ceremony by playing “Taps.”
Jamestown’s Memorial Day parade began at the VFW Post #5424 and ended at Park Lawn Cemetery. Jamestown Post #5424’s honor guard led the parade, with Jamestown High School’s Marching Band, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Boy Scouts following.
The parade stopped at Staff Sergeant David Veverka Memorial Bridge. A Girl Scout and Cub Scout dropped wreathes in honor of veterans into the Shenango River. Hank Fisher played “Taps,” and the honor guard offered a 15-gun salute.
At Park Lawn Cemetery, VFW Post Commander Larry Onderko welcomed the audience and introduced guest speaker John Libonati, Mercer County Coroner. His short speech emphasized honoring service members who performed selfless acts for people they never met. Girl Scouts laid red, white, and blue flowers in honor of all veterans of all American wars. Each girl laid one flower for each war, beginning with the French and Indian War and ending with Operation Iraqi Freedom. Red flowers signified devotion, white stood for purity, and blue flowers denoted bravery.
Onderko placed a wreath and an American Flag in honor of veterans and the honor guard offered another 15-gun salute. “Taps,” with the echo, was played, and the Jamestown High School band ended the service with a medley of songs honoring veterans of all branches of service. It was well attended and very respectful to veterans.
I’m so blessed to live in an area that honors its veterans. This is one of many things I love about living in the Atlantic community.
If you’re a quilter, plan on attending Jim Saulsbery’s sewing and quilting sale on June 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and June 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Adamsville United Presbyterian Church. The church is located at 3879 Main Street in Adamsville. It’s on Route 18.
Quilting fabric and batting, quilting kits, books, magazines and patterns, clothing patterns, zippers, thread, and wall hanging panels will be available for purchase. This is a cash only sale. All these fabrics and notions belonged to the late Barb Saulsbery. Barb was a gifted, passionate quilter and seamstress. I’m sure these fabrics and notions will be top of the line.
Have a wonderful week. Blessings!