Frackville remembers fallen hometown heroes at Memorial Day ceremony
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Members of the Frackville American Legion conduct a 21-gun salute.
FRACKVILLE – Five fallen hometown heroes were recognized at Frackville’s Memorial Day ceremony this morning at Memorial Park.
Each year, Elaine Mykolayko researches names from the Frackville Veterans Memorial, Karen Domalakes, master of ceremonies, said.
The stories of Joseph Stank, Edward Supernavage, John Griffiths, Paul Berger, and Stephen Olshalsky natives of Frackville who made the ultimate sacrifice in the two World Wars, were shared at Monday’s ceremony.
Suzanne Domalakes read the stories of Stank and Supernavage.
Stank, the son of Joseph and Lucy Stank, enlisted in the Army along with others from Frackville, and served in World War I in France, Suzanne Domalakes said.
He wrote a letter home, which was published in the Pottsville Republican.
Stank passed away in Brittany, France, of pneumonia at a field hospital.
Supernavage served in the army in World War II, Suzanne Domalakes said. He was born in Frackville on Nov. 2, 1923 to John and Della Supernavage, 375 Broad Mountain Avenue.
He was one of three sons.
On April 1, 1945, he was killed in action in Germany, she said, and was buried in a cemetery in the Netherlands.
Judy Ragazinsky read the story of Paul Berger and Stephen Olshalsky, who both served in World War II.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Berger, Spring Street, and graduated from Frackville High in 1944.
He enlisted in the Army Air Forces and arrived in Europe in Feb. 1945.
Berger went missing in action and was later declared dead, she said, at the age of 19.
Olshalsky enlisted in the military at the age of 21 and fought in Germany in 1945, where he was killed in action, she said.
He was buried at a cemetery in Mahanoy Township.
Helen Miernicki spoke of John Griffiths, whose name is also on the East Coast Memorial in New York City, which honors the fallen airmen and merchant marines from World War II.
He enlisted in the air forces in 1942 at the age of 36.
Griffiths was the son of a Spanish American War and World War I veteran, William Griffiths.
He was reported missing in action after a crash in the Caribbean.
The ceremony concluded with Sylvia Yonalunas reading the poem “In Flanders Fields,” followed by a 21-gun salute by members of the Frackville American Legion and the playing of Taps.
North Schuylkill’s Marching Band also performed during the ceremony.
The ceremony followed a short parade consisting of the North Schuylkill band, emergency services from Frackville, Altamont, Englewood, and Shenandoah, and local youth sports teams.
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