Memorial Day in the United States, a day to remember 'The Fallen,' those who have died in the service of their country, their community, their families. Historically and by tradition The Fallen have been soldiers. But why? There are so many more. Firefighters, police, social workers, nurses, doctors, "ordinary" working people who have died on the job in the service of their country, community and families.
About 100 years ago steelworker Andrew Kovaly, a Slovak immigrant -- I don't know (or care) if he was "legal" (can a person ever be "illegal"?) -- was working in the hellish mills of McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
I was a young foreman in a Bessemer mill here in McKeesport. A very good friend of mine, a member of my crew, had saved enough money to send to Slovakia for his family. While they were on their way to America, he was killed before my eyes under an ingot buggy. I tried to grab him but it was too late. It was terrible. I felt so bad that when I met his wife and children at the railroad station I hardly knew how to break the sad news to them. Then I made this song. My friend was very proud of America and it was with pride and happiness that he looked forward to raising his children as Americans. The song made me feel better, and also my friend´s wife. But she cried very hard. I have never forgotten it (In Evanson, J. (1949). Songs of an industrial city. In G. Korson (Ed.), Pennsylvania songs and legends (pp.423-467). Philadelphia: University of Pittsburgh Pres via National Centre for English Cultural Tradition).
Here is Kovaly's song, later sung in a haunting version by Pete Seeger:
He Lies in the American Land
By Andrew Kovaly
Ah, my God, what is this land of America?
So many people traveling there
I will go, too, for I am still young
God, the Lord, will grant me good luck thereYou, my wife, stay here till you hear from me
When you get my letter put everything in order
My raven black steed -- a horse like the wind --
Fly across the ocean to join me hereAh, but when she arrived in this strange land
Here in McKeesport, this valley, this valley of fire
Only his grave, his blood, did she find
Over it bitterly she criedOh, my husband, what have you done to this family of yours?
What can you say to these children, to these children, you´ve orphanedTell them, my wife, not to wait for me
Tell them I lie here in the American land.
The Reveres, Memorial Day 2007
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Our neighbor one door down has put up a beautiful display this weekend. All three flags are mounted in a frame. In the middle is the American flag, to the left is a POW/MIA flag with combat boots below, to the right is a 9-11 flag that says "we will never forget" with a firefighter's hat and boots. He even had a spotlight on it last night.
To the SOB's who burned the flags off of the graves and placed Nazi swastikas in the cemetary in Orcas Island Washington I would like for you to come by my pad for a little front end alignment. You can respond to me at memphisservices@bellsouth.net and I'll give you the address.
I will introduce you to the reason that doctors operate in the morning.... its because the afternoons are reserved for funerals.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,275974,00.html
Great post -- again! -- except for this part:
can a person ever be "illegal"?
That's an unfair twisting of what people concerned about too much immigration think. Most people are reasonably concerned about illegal immigration -- whether people are entering the country legally or no. Most citizens of any country are probably concerned about this.
The discussion is not whether people are legal or illegal, but whether an individual's act of immigrating is legal or not.
I think your comment was quite misleading.
Jun: It is common -- very common -- to hear of someone spoken of an "an illegal." You are completely correct that unpacking it makes it obvious that the only possible meaning is that the person is an illegal immigrant, or immigrated illegally. Unfortunately, words have a way of insinuating themselves into our consciousness and I personnally think calling a person "an illegal" has the effect of transferring some of the illegality onto their personhood, although that is not the intention. It becomes a psychological 'fact'.
It is common -- very common -- to hear of someone spoken of an "an illegal."
Well, I'm glad I don't travel in those circles 'cause I'd certainly be a very busy person correcting everybody! ;-) I agree -- not a usage of the word.
Not a good use of the word I meant to say!
Andrew Kovaly was my great granfather. His son, Micheal J. Kovaly was my grandfather.
Mark Ramel - Acme, PA
Mark: How interesting. Did he write more poetry?
Hi ,My name is Carol Kovaly Ramela and Andrew Kovaly was my
dad's father . His name was Michael Kovaly.
How did you find my grandfathers song and story?
He was quite an interesting man and the story you wrote was only the tip of the iceburg of this fascinating man.
Pete Seeger came to our home and met my father Michael.
He gave me an autographed book that he ,Pete wrote about
many, many of this land that worked and loved America. He is quite an interesting man.
My grandfather did write a lot of poetry and I have them.
You may reach me by my email ,and I'll try to answer your
Questions if you have any........Carol ramela
Carol: The song is quite well known and has been one of my favorites for many, many years. I wanted to write about it on Memorial Day and found some of the story via a Google search. Poetry is quite a bit out of my line but judging from the single example of this beautiful song, I'm guessing there is much other good material. I hope someone is interested in publishing it or at least looking at it.