Memorial Day marks a day of remembrance for those who have died while serving in the Armed Forces. While a nation pauses and remembers, the decedents of the late Andrew and Gale Rakosh traditionally come together to celebrate the lives of the former Park Hill couple.
In 1980, Gale Rakosh died of cancer and six years later, her husband, Andrew, followed, leaving behind four children. At the time of their mother’s death, the youngest was only 11 years old. The oldest was 23.
Saturday evening the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the Rakoshes gathered at the couple’s graveside at Hedrick Cemetery in East Taylor Township.
In the past, the family has released balloons in memory of the couple. But this year, because the balloons were not environmentally friendly, they decided to release 24 monarch butterflies into the sky.
The family, including siblings of Andrew and Gale, each released a butterfly that was carefully packaged and shipped to Johnstown from a company in California.
The Rokosh children are Gary Rokosh of Windber; Cindy Batzel of East Conemaugh; Joe Rokosh of Windber; and Maryellen Wilson of Harrisburg.
“I barely remember them,” said Wilson, the youngest daughter. “I was so young. But this is our way of keeping their memory alive.”
Batzel looked at the group and said, “It is so sad, so many of (the grandchildren and great-grandchildren) have never even met my parents, and my parents will never get to know their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
“This is something the grandchildren look forward to. They will remember doing this each year.”
Batzel’s 22-year-old daughter, Jackie, fondly embraces the family tradition.
“We have been doing this ever since I can remember,” she said.
Cindy said the younger family members believe the balloons and butterflies are heaven-bound and are flying up to meet their grandmother and grandfather.
Last year, prior to the graveside gathering, Wilson wrote a letter to each family member sharing with them the traits each possess which she believes has been handed down from her parents.
Together, following the brief ceremony, the family lights a candle at the graveside.
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