5.25.2025 - Polish American Memorial Ceremony

Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5th, 1868, the head of the Organization of Union Veterans, known as the Grand Army of the Republic, established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Major General John A. Logan declared it should be May 30th. In 1971, Memorial Day became a federal holiday where we were called to honor and remember those men and women

who died while serving in the United States military. It is good that we are here this morning to honor those who gave their lives for our freedom in service to our country. If we could have Father Rob Nekovich, please do an opening prayer. Let us pray. Lord God, whose care and guidance brought our ancestors to this great land and led them through faith, courage, and self-sacrifice to build the foundations

of a great democratic nation dedicated to liberty and human rights. Lead us, oh God, in our day as you did lead our forebears and help us to be faithful stewards of the heritage entrusted to us reverently on this day where we honor and remember those who fought and died for freedom, justice, and peace in our world. We pay our tribute of respect to the memory of those who gave their lives

in service of our country. We pray that the souls of these our heroic dead may have found perfect rest and receive the crown of an unfading life. Cherish and bless them we ask you and give unto us the living peace and hope as we think of them on this solemn day. We humbly acknowledge our debt to them and ask for the strength to go on toward the ideals for which they fought and died. As they

gave themselves to advance the ideal of world peace and justice and equality of all, may they inspire our continued efforts towards this same end. Unite the people of our nation to defend freedom, justice, and equality and fight for the peace for which they lived and died.

This we ask through Christ our Lord.

Amen. Amen.

Next, can we have the pledge of allegiance?

I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Oh, say can you see by the dawn early light what so proudly we held at the twilight last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous Right. Or the ramp parts we watched were so gallently streaming and the rockets red glare. The bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that star spangled yet or the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Uh, Jack and Dave, would you like to come forward and please place the a wreath on the monument?

Next we will have some Memorial Day poems from the Blessed Trinity Youth Parish of the Parish Youth. Um Connor and Hannah. First, a time to remember.

Memorial Day is a time to remember, to honor and show our respect for all men and women who gave up their lives for the country they fought to protect. Although we cannot picture their faces, we recognize each person's name. We give thanks today for those brave US soldiers. When called to our country, they came.

Next will be Maya and Gabby.

In solemn silence we gather nearby to honor heroes we hold dear. Their courage and sacrifice we recall. On this Memorial Day we stand. They fought for freedom, gave their all, and for duties we wavering upon. Their memory we cherish, hearts embrace. With gratitude, love and soul and grace. For the fallen our gratitude will never fade. On this day their sacrifice gladly displayed. In their

honor, we solemnly pray remembering them on this Memorial Day.

Finally, we'll have Adriana Dylan and Charlie.

Memorial Day. Memorial Day. One of the most special days in May. Memorial Day keeps us remembering service men and women that unfortunately die.

In order to allow Americans the ongoing right to be free, these brave men and women fought hard for our country.

Whether it be Navy, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, or Marines, they fought on enemy lines in tanks, our carriers in jets and submarines. So when Memorial Day is here, be as thankful as you can be. Memorial Day keeps us remembering the many brave souls that gave us liberty. God built America.

Next, we'll have remarks from Mayor Paul Kugan.

I'm sorry. Sorry. That's okay. Um, again, Memorial Day in Fall River is very special. We come out here today to honor our fallen Polish heroes, but we honor all nationalities and creeds across this great city that fallen to give us the freedom we celebrate today.

So again, take time out of your schedules, even after you leave celebrations like this, to think about what this country is all about and the people that did pay the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you all for being here today. Uh the city and I appreciate it very very much. Thank you.

Next we'll have remarks from state represent representative Alan Sylvia.

Good morning everyone. Uh this weekend we have so many memorial events honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. But this memorial event is for those Polish American war veterans.

And it's important that we remember that. Very happy to see uh our youth, young people here because so many people forget what Memorial Day is all about.

You know, Fall River in particular, people who immigrated here moved to certain areas of the city. the Portuguese down below the hill and French out near Northeastern Avenue, Eastern Avenue, but many of the Polish war veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice came from this area. Within about a half a mile was where most of the Polish immigrants came and they served and many of them died. They didn't want to die. They

didn't volunteer to die. They died for the values that we all cherish, freedom, and the life that we have. So this weekend in particular, we remember them. We keep them in our prayers, their families, and thank you all so much for being here today.

Next, we'll have remarks from Far River Veteran Service Officer Talos Doc Ferris. Good morning, everyone. I want to uh thank Father Rob, his congregation, uh but especially the youth for continuing on what is a duty.

Uh the price of freedom is paid in blood and with the souls of those who used to be with us. We have monuments throughout the city that mark those lives that were lost serving this country and protecting our way of life. And for that we have one simple duty this weekend and on Memorial Day to always remember what the cost of freedom is. I want to say thank you to every

single one of them, but just as much thank you to those who always remember and to the job that this city does at recognizing those who are no longer with us. Thank you.

Next, we'll have remarks from City Councelor Linda Pereira.

I don't really think I have a lot to add because I think that it was eloquently spoken about the values of Memorial Day by the mayor, by the VSO, and certainly by our youth. But I do want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who got up today to be here because you remember. And from the bottom of my heart and for the veterans that are no

longer here who have passed, I thank you on their behalf. We'll now have remarks from city councelor Andrew Raposa. Good morning. Thank you for having me here this morning and again for a beautiful day here. We honor our veterans. Thank you to our young people for the beautiful poems and as Vice President Pereira said, thank you for all being here this morning to not forget those who have served and given

the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you very much.

We'll now have Fall River flag officer Victor Ferius raise the flag.

I now have a closing prayer from Father Robich.

Before I offer the benediction and the closing prayer, I do want to just say some thank yous. First of all, thank you to all for coming out and being here this morning, I want to thank our Vietnam veterans of Fall River for being here this morning. And we're honored to have the grand marshall for our parade tomorrow, uh, Al Given with us today.

Congratulations. God bless you. Thank you for your service. And as we conclude, he and his wife sitting here will release the white doves. I want to thank uh our mayor Paul Kugan, state representative Alan Sylvia, our counselors, Linda Pereira, Andrew Raposa, for uh Talos, Doc Ferris, our VSO for being here, for Vic Ferris, our flag officer, for the kids doing a great job. You know, you you were the heart of

the program today and those words are so meaningful. Thank you for Lori for singing the national anthem for two of the veterans of our parish, Jack and Dave, for placing the wreath this morning. Just a reminder, we have mass at 8:30 and then a breakfast complimentary to every anyone who would like to attend at 9:30. Now, let us bow our heads in prayer. Lord God, reverently on this Memorial Day, we ask your grace and

blessing on our gold star families whose sacrifice is never forgotten by a grateful nation. We ask you to bless those who are serving, those who have served in the armed forces of our nation and especially to receive the souls of those heroic men and women who gave their lives in service of our country.

On this day, we remember, honor, and cherish those who gave their lives for their sacrifice. They have taught us the true meaning of patriotism and that devotion to country which rises above creed, color, and class. On this day, we bring to mind the love and self-sacrifice was which with was in the hearts of those who now rest in peace and who gave their lives that we might live in a free and unchained

nation. We give thanks for the lessons of this day and rededicate ourselves to the freedom, justice, equality, and peace for which they fought and died. To all the heroic dead we honor this day, we grant the light of your presence. May the good done in them be continued by us. This we ask through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Next we'll have Tavs played by Larry Biero of the Vietnam Veterans of Fall River.

Finally, we'll have the releasing of the doves.

The Vietnam veterans of the Fall River released white doves instead of firing rounds because white does represent the peace that our veterans fought and died for. You may release the Daughter. The Doug will fly home. God bless you all. Also, thank you to our Fall River Police Department here keeping us safe this morning. God bless you all.