AT HOPE & MAIN: SALUTE TO FAMILY VETERANS

Gilbert A. Pagano, my father in law, who served in WWII.

A friend of mine bakes a cake for her brother every Memorial Day to thank him for serving in Vietnam. She feels it's the least she can do. He came home, and she is grateful for that.

During the Vietnam War, and being only in the single digits age wise, I remember being influenced by the war as early as kindergarten. We set up cardboard blocks to make a fort and play Army.

Later on when with the threat of my brother being drafted, I decided to begin work on a blanket for his foxhole. My "Knitting Jenny," a Christmas present I received, now had a real purpose. If my memory serves me well, the yarn it came with was neon orange or something. Not very appropriate for a foxhole. The news was always on, and we all had to be quiet as my parents hung on every word.

Years have passed since Vietnam, and although there's been no major war, our troops have had incidents that placed them in harm's way. There was Grenada, Panama, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo and probably some I'm not even aware of.

The following account of my immediate family is given in appreciation of the sacrifices they made for their families and our country. To all the Veterans who served dutifully and nobly; well deserved honor to you, on this Memorial Day.

My nephew, corpsmen Robert James Burns, is presently serving on a tour of duty as a medic. He has seen places like Sarajevo, Spain, Italy and Kosovo. Thanks, Rob.

My cousin, Thomas Jorgensen, also in the Navy, was lost in a reconnaissance flight somewhere over Russia in 1982. A Memorial Service was held for him after much searching. In my naivet I thought they were jumping the gun, but it's been 19 years since that flight. Thanks, Tom.

My Mom always told us the story about my Grandpa, (my Dad's Dad) Robert Byron Burns, who served in World War I for the British Army and escaped a prison camp, surviving on merely turnips. When we have turnips at Thanksgiving, I retell the story to my children and husband. I don't make them eat the turnips, but I do point out just how hard they are, raw. I also explain that he had to eat them raw so as not to blow his cover. He received several medals of honor from the British government. Thanks, Grandpa.

Then there was my Dad, Robert E. Burns, seaman second class in World War II, who served as a supply chief for soldiers being discharged. He arranged for lodging and distributed supplies as the soldiers returned home. He waived his poor eyesight in order to serve in World War II. Thanks, Dad.

My father-in-law, Gilbert A. Pagano, served on a destroyer: the USS Laffey DD-724 during WWII.

The first USS Laffey was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for her gallant action.

The second USS Laffey was commissioned at Boston Navy Yard, Feb. 8, 1944. This is the ship my father-in-law served on. It departed from New York to escort a large convoy to the United Kingdom. Her first combat mission was on June 6, 1944, off the beaches of Normandy, delivering pre-invasion gunfire support. She served only briefly in the European Theater. The USS Laffey received her first hit while taking part in the bombardment of Cherbourg. She returned to the Boston Navy Yard for minor repairs, then pointed westward to the Pacific and a new theater of battle. In the remaining months of 1944, she proved invaluable as a screening ship for carrier strikes and assisting in shore bombardment for landings at San Pedro Bay, Mindaro, Lingayeu Gulf and Iwo Jima. In 1945, the USS Laffey, as part of a Task Group 54, got underway for the Okinawa Campaign, which was to be the high point of her career. On March 11, 1945, while acting as a radar picket ship about 30 miles from Okinawa, Laffey encountered more than 50 enemy planes in a grueling battle that lasted 80 minutes. When the action was over, she had downed nine planes, but in 22 separate attacks had been hit by eight suicide planes. Her crew was awarded another Presidential Unit Citation.

Thanks, Chippy. (Gilbert Pagano's nickname)

My Uncle, Cmdr. Charles Jorgensen, trained to be a Navy jet pilot in Pensacola, Fla. He served in the Korean and Vietnam wars where he experienced the atrocities of war. He spent 30 years in the Navy and is now a retired commander. Thanks, Uncle Charlie.

And last, but not least, my mom, Margaret Burns, who has served the American Legion Auxiliary for 14 years; six years as president of the Deltona Unit 255 and one year as secretary, membership chairman and education chairman. The auxiliary's function is to help veterans and their families and to organize and carry out memorial services. Until about a year ago, the post was unable to get a slate of officers. The auxiliary persevered and just this year the post was able to return and obtain its charter. Thanks, Ma.

It's important that Memorial Day is recognized because all too often we forget just why it is that we're able to enjoy the freedom we do, day in and day out. It's important to let you know that although the above commentary may not be interesting to all that read it, some of those soldiers didn't get the chance to tell their stories. I find it necessary to share it personally with you so their efforts are not forgotten.