A few who served

Memorial Day is set aside in the Unites States to remember deceased men and women who served in our nation’s armed forces. We are grateful to those who gave years of their lives, and sometimes life itself, to serve our nation in time of need, putting public interest ahead of personal gain.

After our belated military involvement in World War I, the United States withdrew from international efforts to prevent or win war. The attack on Pearl Harbor made it clear that we could not safely or responsibly remain uninvolved in threats to peace. World War II marked the beginning of a continuing series of conflicts that have called upon our service.

Service in our family

The ranks of those who served in World War II are rapidly thinning. Several close relatives served in that conflict, and many others have served since then. I wish to recognize here a few members of our local family who heeded the call and either died in their service or have since passed on.

I risk overlooking someone in my effort to recall, but these are a few of our close family members who have served and are no longer with us:

• Donovan E. Springsteen, 1921-2009, Army
• James Donovan Springsteen, 1967-1997, Navy
• Alexander Ronald Raczkowski, 1921-2010, Army
• Edwin Frank Springsteen Sr, 1924-2016, Navy
• Edwin Frank Springsteen Jr, 1949-1997, Army
• Durward Mark Pontius, 1925-2010, Navy
• Mark Durward Pontius, 1949-1970, Army
• Erin Lee Springsteen, 1980-2004, Army
• Richard Thomas Pilkinton Sr, 1917-1997, Army Air Force