Generations of soldiers honor Veterans Day
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Members of George F. Lamm Post No. 622, American Legion, march past the entrance of ElderWood Health Care at Heathwood on Hopkins Road Monday morning as part of a Veterans Day observance. The post is named in honor of an Amherst man killed in action in World War I. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

When Ed Szymanski thinks of Veterans Day he remembers being a mile from Pearl Harbor when it was attacked. Chester Wawrzynek remembers his comrades that were killed in battle while serving in the U.S. Navy during the 1940s. And James Waters, 24, reflects on his 11 months and 18 days treating patients at Abu Ghraib prison.

For the generations who have served in the U.S. military the meaning of Veterans Day may vary in the details but is strong in one message - honor.

ElderWood Health Care at Heathwood honored all veterans on Monday, especially the 17 residents and four staff members who are veterans.

The George F. Lamm American Legion Post No. 622's color guard dedicated a new American flag outside the facility, followed by the singing of the national anthem.

Szymanski watched as the stars and stripes were raised. Following the ceremony he commented on the importance of the day.

"Mostly I think about the men in the companies, brigades and regiments that were in Hawaii," he said about the attack on Pearl Harbor. "Veterans Day reminds me of being in the barracks before Japan attacked."

Stationed a mile from the main attacks, Szymanski, who served in the Army, said they were ordered to stay in the barracks and wait for further instruction as Americans tried to respond.

After the bombings ended, he remembers the dark clouds from burning ships and equipment where crews had been.

Shortly after the attack he was assigned to a task force that was sent to Canton Island to reinforce the Army's presence.

Joining in 1940, Szymanski said he served about four years. During that time he parachuted onto Guam, a memory still prominent more than 60 years later.

He said that honoring Veterans Day is about remembering, and he said he is happy to be alive.

Some 65 years later another member of the Army was sent overseas for another war. Army Reservist James Waters, a member of the 865th Combats Support Hospital, has been serving for five years.

From June 2005 to May 2006 he was assigned to a tour of duty with the 344th Combat Support Hospital, providing health care at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

He treated prisoners of war, U.S. soldiers and civilians injured in conflict.

"I was there 11 months and 18 days," he said.

With that experience now part of his history, Waters said he believes the country honors Veterans Day more now than in the recent past because of the conflict in Iraq.

"The nature of war has changed ... I am lucky to be a veteran now as opposed to the past," he said, adding that as a veteran he understands more what the generations of soldiers have gone through.

Waters, who is originally from Syracuse, lives in Depew and is a respiratory therapist with Heathwood.

Chester Wawrzynek, a resident at Heathwood, has a different take on Veterans Day.

"It's not honored as it used to," the Navy veteran said.

Having served from 1942 to 1946, Wawrzynek said he was assigned to the South Pacific, and unfortunately, came to know the darkest side of war.

"I remember my buddies that died," he said, looking into the distance as he spoke. "There were a lot of people that died."

Heathwood honored the following residents who are veterans: Earl Lewis, Arnold Kuhn, Jemina Davidson, Walter Cisek, Laverne Phillips, Paul Stewart, Tom Voight, Joe Wiley, Doug West, Kermit O'Brien, Donald Gregory, Francis Getman, Robert Pfohl, Johnnie Saffold, Richard Naslund, James Clark, Edward Miller, Alexander Hrusa, David Bohm, Jerome Majewicz, John Manzella and James Wolf.

Current employees, who are also veterans, Heather Tighe, John Mendofik and Paul May, were recognized.

Veterans Day is celebrated on Nov. 11 because that is the date in 1918 that the armistice was signed, ending World War I. In 1954, the United States designated Nov. 11 as Veterans Day to honor veterans of all U.S. wars.