Local singer Candace Campana, right, performs the national anthem at the 91st Poland Memorial Day observance at the Sons of the American Legion Mahoning Squadron 15, while members of the American Legion, parade grand marshall Bob Wilkeson, Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti and Scout Aaron Whitinger, 15, of Troop 44 look on. Staff photo / Allie Vugrincic

POLAND — Though COVID-19 put a damper on many Memorial Day traditions this year, Poland — like several other Mahoning County communities — still found a way to honor the fallen.

This year’s event sponsored by the Sons of the American Legion was parsed down from typical Memorial Day ceremonies to one ceremony at the American Legion.

“We had to tie all of them together this year and try and just make it work,” said Jeff Vrabel, district commander of Sons of American Legion and first vice commander for Squadron 15, which hosts the event.

Poland’s Memorial Day Ceremony usually consists of an early ceremony at the American Legion, followed by a parade and a larger ceremony at the historic Poland Riverside Cemetery.

This year, the observance maintained the traditional 21-gun salute honoring four World War II chaplains who perished saving civilian and military personnel when the SS Dorchester ship sank in 1943; a remembrance for those lost at sea; and reading the names of 24 Poland men who died for their country. This year’s parade grand master, former Poland history teacher Bob Wilkeson, also was honored — though there was no parade, due to social distancing guidelines created by the COVID-19 health pandemic.

Instead, about 30 people spread out on the lawn at the American Legion on Cortland Road. Some guests, like American Legion of Ohio Auxiliary President Kristen Little, traveled a distance to attend the ceremony, with observances in their own communities canceled.

“It’s kind of been exciting, it’s also been a little bit nerve wracking because this is something new,” Vrabel said.

Due to the pandemic, Mahoning County was unable to order flags for veterans’ graves, but through a community effort and help from a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Akron and the Austintown American Legion, flags still were placed on graves in Poland’s three cemeteries, Vrabel said.

This year, the 91st annual Poland Memorial Day, was also notable for reasons beyond the pandemic. For the first time ever, the Chaplain of the Day was a Catholic priest. Father Martin Celuch of Christ Our Savior parish in Struthers led the opening prayer.

“No love is greater than that which gives itself for another,” Celuch said. “These honored dead gave the most precious gift they had — life itself.”

A chair was also left open, holding just a baseball cap, in honor of the day’s would-be speaker, State Rep. Don Manning of New Middletown, who died unexpectedly March 20 at age 54 of an apparent heart attack. Manning, a U.S. Navy veteran, had committed nearly a year ago to serve as this year’s speaker.

“He was ecstatic and couldn’t wait to talk,” said Vrabel. “You see, he was one of us.”

Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti stepped up and took Manning’s place as speaker.

“It’s fair to say that we are gathered in very difficult and trying times. We don’t know where to turn to when situations like this start happening. And yet, those of you who are listening to my words could answer that question quite easily. Because every veteran and their family knows what it is to face challenges,” Traficanti said.

He said veterans’ determination and their character are what make them strong.

“If people want to know how to face this virus — this ugly demon, this plague — that has taken hold of our nation, ask a veteran,” Traficanti said.

Of the fallen heroes, Traficanti said that in the dash between the time they were born and the time they died, they gave the ultimate measure of devotion. He said when it comes to remembering them, “maybe one day a year is not enough.”

avugrincic@tribtoday.com