Military Monday: Memorial Day

Memorial Day has come to celebrate and honor all veterans who have passed however it is really a time to remember and honor those who gave their lives during military service. It was originally called Dedication Day and was created after the Civil War to remember all those who died during that war. Over time, it was expanded to all those who lost their lives in service.

Every year the local (Coatesville) American Legion goes around and visits the various cemeteries and does a service at each for all who have fallen in the line of duty, as well as all veterans. There are so many cemeteries in the Coatesville area that they literally have to do this a couple days to get everyone done. Our cemetery - Holy Ghost Ukrainian Cemetery - is always visited the third Sunday of May. The service rotates among our veterans, although all are honored. This year the service was done at my Uncle Paul's gravesite.

We have many veterans in our cemetery. One of whom is Andrew Buckle. Andrew was born 27 September 1923 in Coatesville to Bessie Kosyck and Thomas Buckle.

Andrew was a Sergeant in the Army Air Force. He enlisted on 2 January 1943 and entered service on 9 January 1943. He was, according to military paperwork, Killed In Action (KIA) on 17 March 1944 in Vienna, Austria.

At the time of his enlistment, Andrew was a "Machinist apprentice." He had finished four years of high school and was not married.

He was survived by his parents, two brothers and a sister. Andrew was the baby of the family. His sister Anne (b. 1917) was the oldest. His brother John was born 1919 and Mike was born 1921.

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Genealogical Gems

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