In Memory

My uncle Private First Class Leonard W. Sral and Family.

Along with a letter from the White House my Grandparents received one from the General of the U.S Army, W. C. Westmoreland, The Governor, William W. Scranton, Department of PA Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., Charles J. Vizzini and Prime Minister, Air Vice Marshal NGUYEN CAO KY of Saigon. Private First Class Lenonard W. Sral's parents were also presented with a Purple Heart & Bronze Star for the fact he fought and died for his country. 

November 2011, the Hastings, Pennsylvania Library received the book “We Were Soldiers Once and Young” and paid tribute to my Uncle Leonard W. Sral and all the others that were in the 7th Calvary that died on November 1965, in the Ia Drang Valley of Vietnam.

I do so much appreciate this Holiday for we are thinking of our American Heroes. I also think about my Grandma Veronica Sral (Bubba), so much more on this day for the fact that she did lose two boys within months apart, Leonard W. Sral and John J. Sral. Grandma came from Poland (The Old Country…as they called it) as a proud strong woman and so very old school. It took 10 years for her husband to save enough money to bring her and her daughter Antoinette, my Aunt (Tonie) to the States just before World War II...otherwise, I may not even exist.

Years back I found out that she had lost a daughter 6 months of age before leaving Poland due to pneumonia and years later a newborn son, Adam. I think about how different our family could have been with Grandpa, another Aunt and three Uncle’s. I cannot even imagine how my Grandma felt having to deal with the pain. As young kids we were not so close even though she was there to help Dad (a single parent of three children). We truly did not know her all that well due to the fact, she mostly spoke Polish and was a very stern and religious lady that keep to herself. As an adult, I can sympathize and somewhat understand why she was the way she was? You truly never know what is in a person’s mind, what they have gone through and how it has affected them.  

We observe Memorial Day by dedicating the memory, remembering the fallen and unfortunately sometimes the forgotten. This tribute is to my Grandmother and her children on this Memorial Day. 

Thank you and have a Blessed Day.