LISTENS. I’M RYAN RECKER THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, MANY PEOPLE ARE MARKING THE OCCASION WITH COOKOUTS AND PARADES. BUT TODAY WE’RE TAKING A MOMENT TO PAUSE AND REMEMBER WHO THIS DAY IS ALL ABOUT. EACH YEAR, MEMORIAL DAY BRINGS FAMILIAR THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS. PEOPLE ALWAYS COME UP AND SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. IT MAKES IT WORTHWHILE FOR OBSERVE THE FINAL MONDAY OF MAY. IT HONORS SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. THEY GOT ON THOSE SHIPS IN IN THOSE TANKS AT THE AGE OF 18 AND FEARLESSLY WENT AND FOUGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY. FIRST THEMED DECORATION DAY. THE HOLIDAY BEGAN AFTER THE CIVIL WAR. IT HAS SERVED AS A DESIGNATED DAY FOR REMEMBRANCE EVER SINCE. IT’S MORE THAN A THREE DAY WEEKEND. IT’S MORE IT’S ABOUT THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT DIDN’T COME HOME. THIS MORNING, A VETERAN REMINDS US OF THE HOLIDAY’S TRUE MEANING. PLUS, OUR MUSEUM IS FILLED WITH STORIES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY, DID SOME AMAZING THINGS, WHERE EVERY DAY IS MEMORIAL DAY. HOW A LOCAL LANDMARK IS HONORING GENERATIONS OF HEROES. AND I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR GETTING THERE AND SEEING A NAME THAT I KNEW A PATRIOTIC PROJECT HITS CLOSE TO HOME. THE EFFORT TO BURY VETERANS WITH DIGNITY AND WHAT WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM THE EXPERIENCE. THIS MEMORIAL DAY HAS A DEEPER MEANING FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM. WE SPOKE TO A VETERAN WHO SERVED TWO TOURS IN IRAQ ABOUT WHAT THE DAY SYMBOLIZES FOR HIM. WE ARE NOW HAPPY TO BE JOINED BY VFW STATE COMMANDER HENRY MANELLA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US ON THIS SPECIAL HOLIDAY. THANK YOU, SIR. LET’S GO BACK TO YOUR SERVICE IN IRAQ. WHAT WAS YOUR ROLE THERE? I HAD BASIC TWO ROLES. ONE, I WAS A MILITARY COOK AND ALSO ON MY FIRST TOUR, THEY TRAINED US UP TO BE MILITARY MPS BECAUSE THEY WERE SO SHORT OF MILITARY MPS AT THE TIME. SO WE WENT THROUGH LIKE A SIX WEEK COURSE AT FORT FOR FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY. AND PRIOR TO THAT, LEADING UP TO THAT, WHAT WAS YOUR AMBITION IN WANTING TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY? I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. GROWING UP, MY GRANDFATHER WAS IN WORLD WAR TWO ARMY. MY DAD WAS IN THE NAVY. I DON’T HOLD THAT AGAINST HIM. BUT BECAUSE ARMY AND NAVY. SO BUT NO, I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. GROWING UP, I WANTED A CHALLENGE AND IT WAS JUST SOMETHING GROWING UP THAT I BELIEVED IN. AND AS WE HONOR THOSE ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY, HOW DID YOUR TIME OVERSEAS SHAPE YOUR VIEW OF THIS HOLIDAY? IT MAKES ME GOING OVER THERE EACH YEAR AFTER I CAME BACK. IT’S MORE TO ME THAN JUST A THREE DAY WEEKEND OR WORKING THAT HOLIDAY, GETTING DOUBLE TIME AND A HALF. I REMEMBER THE MEN. IT’S ABOUT THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT DID NOT COME HOME. IT’S LIKE THEY GAVE GAVE UP THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. THEIR LIFE. AND I ALWAYS WILL CHERISH THAT AND REMEMBER THAT. AND YOU MENTIONED FAMILY MEMBERS, OF COURSE, WHO SERVED WHO ELSE DO YOU THINK OF ON THIS HOLIDAY? A COUPLE OF MY PERSONAL PEOPLE THAT I KNOW AND I SERVED WITH OVER THERE, CLIFFORD MOXLEY, DANIEL BROSIUS, CARRICK, LIEUTENANT MICHAEL MCCULLEN AND CARL KOSECKI AND MICHAEL KERN, THEM THEM INDIVIDUALS. THERE THAT I KNOW PERSONALLY DID NOT COME BACK. MEMORIAL DAY IS, OF COURSE, DESIGNATED TO HONOR THOSE WHO DIED WHILE SERVING OUR COUNTRY. WHAT DOES IT MEAN, THOUGH, AS YOU REFLECT ON THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES TO THOSE WHO DID COME HOME AFTER SERVING? THE ONES THAT DID COME HOME, THEY IT GIVES THEM TIME TO REFLECT, LIKE, HEY, THEY DON’T FORGET ABOUT THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. THAT DID NOT COME HOME. IT GIVES THEM IT’S THEIR DAY TO REMEMBER THEM, THEIR SACRIFICES. IN MY OPINION. HENRY, IF YOU COULD GIVE US A SENSE OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS HOLIDAY IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS OF PENNSYLVANIANS AND PITTSBURGHERS THAT HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE OVER THE YEARS. THE THING IS, PENNSYLVANIA IS ONE OF THE MOST DEPLOYED GUARD UNITS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COUNTRY, ARMY AND AIR FORCE GUARD. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE MEN AND WOMEN GO OVERSEAS A LOT MORE THAN A LOT OF OTHER STATES. AND IF YOU HAD A MESSAGE TO THOSE OUT THERE WATCHING ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY, WHAT WOULD IT BE? JUST SAY A SILENT PRAYER FOR THE ONE FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT DID NOT COME BACK HOME. AND JUST JUST REMEMBER, EVEN IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE KNOW ANYBODY THAT LOST THEIR LIVES, JUST IT’S MORE THAN A THREE DAY WEEKEND. IT’S IT’S ABOUT THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT DIDN’T COME HOME. IT’S GOOD TO WHEN I GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND SEE THE FLAGS UP, PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY STILL HAVE PRIDE AND YOU SEE IT ON MEMORIAL DAY AND YOU SEE IT ON 4TH OF JULY AND VETERANS DAY. IT’S A PRIDE THING. AND IT’S ONE THING THIS COUNTRY WAS BUILT ON. AND WE WE’RE STILL SEEING IT EVEN TODAY. IN TODAY’S SOCIETY. WHAT ARE SOME WAYS FOLKS CAN HELP GRIEVING FAMILIES? ON MEMORIAL DAY? JUST THANK THANK YOU FOR THEIR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR THEIR SACRIFICE THAT THEY LOST A LOVED ONE. I MEAN, JUST SEE IF THAT VETERAN NEEDS HELP OR ANYTHING. JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SEE IF THEY NEED HELP. I MEAN, I SUSPECT THAT YOU LEARNED SO MANY STORIES AND BACKGROUNDS ABOUT WHO WERE COMPLETE STRANGERS. NOW THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, NOW THEY BECOME FAMILIAR TO YOU? YES, THEY’RE IN MY ROLE RIGHT NOW. YOU HEAR ABOUT THE SACRIFICES THAT THEY’VE GONE THROUGH AND ALSO IN MY ROLE, I’VE SEEN PEOPLE THAT I SERVED WITH AND DIDN’T EVEN KNOW I SERVED WITH THEM. WE WERE THERE AT THE SAME TIME, SAME BASE AND EVERYTHING. I MIGHT HAVE WALKED PAST THAT PERSON. BUT NOW BEING THE STATE COMMANDER, WE REMINISCE. HEY, DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN THIS HAPPENED? THAT’S VERY REWARDING TOO. WHEN YOU FEEL THAT KIND OF BOND, HOW FULFILLING DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL IN THE ROLE THAT YOU’RE IN NOW? IT MAKES ME FEEL THAT I’M DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. IT MAKES FOR IF I’M HELPING A VETERAN, THAT’S MY GOAL. EVEN THOUGH WHEN I’M DONE BEING STATE COMMANDER, I’LL BE A PASS STATE COMMANDER. BUT MY GOAL IS TO HELP A VETERAN. THAT’S WHAT WE DO. OUR SAYING IN THE VFW HONOR THE DEAD BY HELPING THE LIVING. THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY A A SAD DAY FOR SO MANY. WITH THAT IN MIND, WHAT TYPE OF RESOURCES IN TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE THAT ARE SAD AND REFER ACTIVE ON THIS HOLIDAY? IF IF ANYBODY OUT THERE THAT IS FEELING DEPRESSED OR ANYTHING, CALL THE VA CRISIS LINE BECAUSE THEY’RE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS. THAT WILL HELP. THAT’S WHAT ANYTIME ANYBODY CALLS THE VFW, THAT’S WHAT IF THEY’RE GOING THROUGH A BAD TIME OR AMERICAN LEGION, THE VSOS, THE VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION, PENS, WE WE WE STRESS TO THEM TO CALL THE VA CRISIS LINE BECAUSE THERE ARE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS. AND THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO GET THEM HELP AND GET THEM THROUGH THIS TOUGH TIME. IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE THAT KNOWS SOMEONE STRUGGLING JUST SAY, HEY, HOW ARE YOU DOING? HEY, YOU WANT TO GO GRAB A BEER? HEY, YOU WANT TO GO OUT TO LUNCH OR DINNER OR WHATEVER, BUDDY? CZECH HELP HELPS OUT A LOT. STILL AHEAD, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY REMEMBER AND HONORED IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE’RE PAST MEETS PRESENT HOW A LOCAL MUSEUM HAS MOVED PEOPLE FOR GENERATIONS. WELCOME BACK TO WTAE LISTENS. HERE IN PITTSBURGH, THERE IS NO GREATER SYMBOL OF RESPECT FOR OUR FALLEN HEROES THAN THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS. MEMORIAL HALL AND MUSEUM. MUSEUM LEADERSHIP TELLS US IT’S A PLACE TO LEARN AND REFLECT. WE’RE NOW PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY TIM NEFF, VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF MUSEUM AND EDUCATION AT SOLDIERS AND SAILORS. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. IT’S MY PLEASURE. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. MEMORIAL DAY. TIM HAS A RICH HISTORY IN PITTSBURGH. CAN YOU TAKE US THROUGH SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MEMORIAL DAY OVER THE YEARS? WELL, I MEAN, MEMORIAL DAY STARTED COMING OUT OF THE CIVIL WAR. IT WAS ORIGINALLY REALLY RECOGNIZED AND CALLED SOMETHING LIKE DECORATION DAY, WHERE IT WAS ABOUT DECORATING GRAVES AND RECOGNIZING THE FALLEN OF THE CIVIL WAR. AND OF COURSE, PITTSBURGH PLAYED A VERY SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE CIVIL WAR. ABOUT 25,000 SOLDIERS FROM THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY AREA SERVED FOR THE UNION ARMY. SO IMMEDIATELY IT BECAME A PRIORITY IN THIS AREA TO TAKE TIME TO DECORATE THOSE GRAVES AND REFLECT UPON IT. AND A BIG DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE MOVEMENT WAS THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC, THE GAR FOR SHORT, WHICH WAS ESSENTIALLY THE UNION VETERANS ORGANIZATION AT THE TIME. SO THAT’S REALLY HOW IT KICKED OFF. AND THEN THROUGH THE YEARS, MANY OF THE SMALL COMMUNITIES HAVE, YOU KNOW, COME UP WITH THEIR OWN LITTLE PROGRAMING AND DIFFERENT WAYS TO PARADES, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, CLOSING OF LOCAL BUSINESSES AND, YOU KNOW, JUST TAKING TIME TO TO HONOR THOSE THAT THAT GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. SO WE CERTAINLY FEEL THAT PRIDE HERE EACH AND EVERY YEAR RIGHT AROUND THIS TIME FOR YOU AND THE STAFF AT SOLDIERS AND SAILORS, THOUGH, IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT MEMORIAL DAY, IT’S EVERY DAY THAT YOU HONOR THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. YEAH, THAT’S REALLY WHAT SOLDIERS AND SAILORS IS ALL ABOUT. WHEN IT WAS BUILT IN 1910, IT WAS BUILT AS A CIVIL WAR MEMORIAL. BUT TODAY STANDS AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HONORS ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED CIVIL WAR THROUGH PRESENT DAY. AND, OF COURSE, A BIG PART OF THAT SERVICE ARE THOSE WHO, LIKE I SAID, GAVE THE LAST FULL MEASURE THAT THAT ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. SO OUR MUSEUM IS FILLED WITH STORIES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY, DID SOME AMAZING THINGS. AS WE SAY, MANY ARE LOCAL HEROES AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY’RE REMEMBERED AND HONORED IN APPROPRIATE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. FOR THOSE THAT VISIT THE MUSEUM, NO DOUBT THEIR EMOTIONS ARE ARE STIRRED UP. WHAT IN YOUR MIND, IS THE ONE THING THAT REALLY MOVES PEOPLE WHEN THEY’RE THERE? THAT’S A REALLY TOUGH QUESTION BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY AND AND IT CAN BECOME FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND THEIR EXPERIENCES. IF YOU HAVE A LOVED ONE THAT SERVED IN WORLD WAR TWO, IT’S GOING TO BE SOMETHING PROBABLY FROM THAT ERA. BUT I KNOW THAT THE MEDALS OF HONOR THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COLLECTION, WE HAVE SEVEN ACTUAL MEDALS OF HONOR IN OUR COLLECTION THAT FAMILIES DONATED TO US SO THAT THOSE STORIES COULD LIVE ON. AND WE HAVE THEM IN A ROOM CALLED OUR HALL OF VALOR, WHICH IS FILLED WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE THE MEDAL OF HONOR AND SOME OF THE OTHER IMPORTANT MEDALS, LIKE THE SILVER STAR AND DISTINGUISHED CROSS AND I KNOW WHEN YOU STEP INTO THAT ROOM, IT’S POWERFUL. AND I ALWAYS TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE, WHEN I’M GIVING A TOUR, WE END IN THAT ROOM AND I TRY TO GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR WHAT SURROUNDING THEM WITH THE PLAQUES ON THE WALL AND THOSE SEVEN MEDALS OF HONOR IN OUR COLLECTION. AND I’M SURE YOU SEE SUCH A WIDE RANGE OF EMOTIONS FROM PRIDE TO SADNESS TO REFLECTION. IT’S ALL THERE. YEAH, IT DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAD SOMEBODY THAT SERVED, WHICH IN THIS AREA, YOU DON’T HAVE TO LOOK VERY FAR. MOST FAMILIES HAVE LOVED ONES THAT SERVE. THERE’S THAT SENSE OF PRIDE, BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, ARE SADDENED, OF COURSE, BY, YOU KNOW, THE WAS IT NECESSARY, WAS IT UNNECESSARY, THE SACRIFICE? SO IT’S A WIDE RANGE AND VERY COMPLICATED EVEN AT TIMES SPECIFIC TO MEMORIAL DAY ON THIS MONDAY, HOW WILL THE MUSEUM MARK THIS HOLIDAY? YEAH, MEMORIAL DAY IS OUR BIG HOLIDAY EVERY YEAR ON THE MONDAY OF MEMORIAL DAY, WE HAVE A FREE PROGRAM FROM 11 TO 4 WHERE THE MUSEUM IS OPEN FOR FREE. THERE’S KIDS GAMES AND AND COOKOUT OUTS AND FOOD FOR SALE AND MUSIC ALL DAY LONG. SO IT IS A CELEBRATION OF THE DAY. HOWEVER, AT 3:00, WE DO TAKE A MOMENT TO HAVE A CEREMONY AND WE ARE THIS YEAR CONTRIBUTING AND PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL MOMENT OF OBSERVANCE, WHICH IS AT 3:00. FOR ONE MINUTE, EVERYONE GOES SILENT AND THAT’S SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN ACROSS THE NATION. SO I ENCOURAGE ANYONE AT HOME CAN PARTICIPATE THIS. YOU DON’T HAVE TO ATTEND OUR EVENT. YOU CAN JUST TAKE A MOMENT AT 3:00 AND REFLECT UPON THOSE WHO WHO DID NOT COME HOME. SO IT’S IT’S ONE OF OUR FAVORITE EVENTS. IT GETS PEOPLE OUT TO OUR MUSEUM INDOORS, OUTDOORS, AS THEY GET TO LEARN ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO. AND, YOU KNOW, TAKE A MOMENT AT TIME TO REFLECT UPON THE TRUE MEANING TERMS OF THE EDUCATIONAL ARM OF YOUR OPERATION. HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATING A YOUNGER GENERATION? YEAH, I MEAN, THAT’S WHAT I MY GOAL IS WHEN I WHEN I GOT HIRED AT SOLDIERS AND SAILORS, I EXPECTED TO BE A HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY TEACHER. AND I STILL LOOK AT MYSELF IN MANY WAYS THAT WAY BECAUSE IT IS UP TO ME AND OUR MUSEUM AND MY VOLUNTEERS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE SACRIFICE, RECOGNIZE THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE STORIES ARE PASSED ALONG TO THEM. AND THEY THEY RECOGNIZE THAT. I WOULD IMAGINE ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT YOUR JOB, NOT ONLY ARE YOU THE EDUCATOR, BUT I WOULD TEND TO BELIEVE YOU GAIN AN EDUCATION, THOUGH, IN HEARING STORIES FROM FOLKS THAT PASS THROUGH. YEAH, I MEAN, I AM NOT A VETERAN MYSELF, SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I GOT HIRED, THERE WAS A LEARNING CURVE. I HAD YOU KNOW, I WAS SURROUNDED BY VETERANS THAT I WORKED WITH AND I LEARNED THE LANGUAGE A LITTLE BIT. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE MEDAL OF HONOR, YOU DON’T SAY THAT SOMEBODY WINS THE MEDAL OF HONOR. THAT’S REALLY TABOO. YOU SAY SOMEBODY IS EARNS THE MEDAL OF HONOR. IT’S NOT A GAME. SO PICKING UP ON LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT AND WHAT I HEAR SO OFTEN FROM VETERANS WHEN THEY COME THROUGH IS, YOU KNOW, THEY DON’T CONSIDER THEMSELVES A HERO. THEY DON’T CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF THEY DID KNOW, I’VE MET SOME MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS, BUT THEY NEVER CONSIDER THEMSELVES A HERO. THEY ALWAYS SAY THE HEROES ARE THE ONES THAT DID NOT COME HOME. AND THAT HUMBLE NATURE OF OF THE VETERAN AND ESPECIALLY THE VETERANS THAT I HAVE MET HAS HAS LEFT A BIG IMPRESSION ON ME. I KNOW, AS YOU MENTIONED, MEMORIAL DAY IS YOUR BIG DAY THERE AT SOLDIERS AND SAILORS. BUT WHAT TYPE OF PERSONAL PRIDE DO YOU FEEL EACH AND EVERY DAY WHEN YOU WHEN YOU WALK INTO THAT MUSEUM? YEAH, I MEAN, IT IS IT’S AN EXPERIENCE. I MEAN, WHEN I WALK IN, I SOMETIMES JUST HAVE TO STEP BACK. I WENT TO SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, SO I WAS AROUND THE BUILDING. BUT AT THAT TIME YOU WEREN’T ALLOWED IN, SO IT WAS NOT REALLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT THAT TIME. SO TO SEE AND BE ABLE TO KIND OF BE THERE FROM THE GROUND FLOOR OF, YOU KNOW, BECOMING PUBLIC, BECOMING THIS MUSEUM THAT IS DOING ALL THAT WE DO TODAY IS IS VERY MEANINGFUL TO ME STILL AHEAD, I HOPE THAT MESSAGE IS THAT WE WE DEFINITELY NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY OUR VETERANS AND GIVING THEM PROPER BURIAL, MAKING SURE NO VETERAN IS LEFT BEHIND. THE TEAM EFFORT TO HANDLE UNCLAIMED REMAINS WITH RESPECT. WELCOME BACK TO WTAE LISTENS. MAKING SURE THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY ARE BURIED WITH DIGNITY. THAT WAS THE GOAL FOR OFFICIALS IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY. WHEN THEY DISCOVER THE UNCLAIMED REMAINS OF 15 VETERANS SITTING IN AN OFFICE. WE SPOKE TO TWO LOCAL LEADERS WHO MADE SURE THEY WERE LAID TO REST WITH HONORS. WE ARE JOINED NOW BY TIM CARSON AND DOUG TEW. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY AND FOR JOINING US. TIM, WE’LL START WITH YOU. TELL US ABOUT THE PROCESS OF SETTING UP OPERATION DIGNITY AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO COORDINATE IT. WELL, RYAN, WHEN I FIRST TOOK OFFICE IN 2022, ONE OF MY FIRST DAYS ON THE JOB, ONE OF THE DEPUTIES WAS SHOWING ME AROUND OUR FACILITY, OUR OFFICE, AND THERE WAS SEVERAL DOZEN BOXES AND I ASKED, I SAID, WHAT ARE THOSE? AND THEY WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT THEY WERE THE CREMATED, CREMATED REMAINS THAT WE HAD TO TAKE POSSESSION OF BECAUSE NO ONE CLAIMED THEM. SO AT THAT POINT, MOVING FORWARD, WE DECIDED TO REACH OUT THERE WAS A PROJECT IN AMERICA MISSING IN AMERICA PROJECT THAT IF YOU SUBMIT THE NAMES TO, THEY CAN RUN THROUGH A DATABASE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND WE’RE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT WE HAD 15 VETERANS DATING BACK TO THE KOREAN WAR THAT SERVED OUR COUNTRY THAT NO ONE EVER CLAIMED THEIR REMAINS. OBVIOUSLY, A VERY POWERFUL SITUATION. AND DOUG, FOR YOU, I KNOW THIS BECAME VERY PERSONAL AS WELL. YES, I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR GETTING THERE. AND SEEING A NAME THAT I KNEW ON THE LIST OF REMAINS THAT THE CORONER HAD SET UP. BOB OTTAVIANI WAS A GREAT FAMILY FRIEND AND ALMOST A YEAR PREVIOUS TO THAT, I HAD LOST TRACK OF HIM. WE WEREN’T ANSWERING TEXT MESSAGES OR THINGS LIKE THAT. AND SO I HAD NOT EVEN REALIZED THAT HE PASSED AWAY. NOBODY HAD ALERTED US AND SO IT WAS IT WAS SURREAL TO TO SEE THAT NAME ON THE LIST. HAS THIS ALL PLAYED OUT AND UNFOLDED? WHAT TYPE OF REACTION DID YOU GET FROM THE PUBLIC AND AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FAMILY MEMBERS? WELL, YOU KNOW, THE POURING THE OUTPOURING FROM THE PUBLIC WAS WAS TREMENDOUS. AND WE HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT WANTED TO BE A PART OF EVERYTHING. AND THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT. IT REALLY LAUNCHED US GETTING EVERYTHING GOING THAT WE WANTED TO DO IN TERMS OF A MEMORIAL AND ALSO WITH, YOU KNOW, DOING A FULL MILITARY FUNERAL AS WELL. SO THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT WAS JUST VERY, VERY TREMENDOUS. YOU MENTIONED THE MEMORIAL SERVICE. HAYS. TAKE ME THROUGH, IF YOU COULD, YOUR EMOTIONS DURING AND AFTER THAT SERVICE. WE’LL START WITH YOU, DOUG. THE SERVICE WAS VERY, VERY POWERFUL. I FELT A LOT OF PRIDE IN BEING ABLE TO HELP PUT THESE VETERANS TO REST. I WAS AMAZED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY TURNED OUT AND ED, IT WAS A VERY, VERY FULFILLING EVENT TO BE ABLE TO RESPECT THE REMAINS PENS OF OUR VETS THAT DAY. TIM LIKEWISE, WE HAD FOUR MOTORCYCLE GROUPS THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THROUGH VARIOUS STATES THAT CAME OUT AND HELPED WITH THE ESCORT. WE HAD UPWARDS OF CLOSE TO 500 PEOPLE AT OUR MEMORIAL AT HEMPFIELD PARK, AND IT WAS TRULY ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL DAYS IN MY LIFE, SHORT OF CHILDREN BEING BORN IN THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST SEEING THE RESPECT AND DIGNITY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE THESE THESE FALLEN SOLDIERS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT OPERATION DIGNITY AND WHERE IT STANDS NOW AND WHERE YOU HOPE IT MOVES FORWARD TO IN THE FUTURE, WHAT TYPE OF MESSAGE ARE YOU HOPING THAT IT SENDS? WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT’S ONE THING SINCE I’VE YOU KNOW, WE COMPLETED THE PROJECT, I’M ONE OF THE COORDINATORS NOW FOR THE STATE, SO I REACHED OUT TO VARIOUS FUNERAL HOMES AND CORONER’S OFFICES, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE KNOW, YOU KNOW, IF THEY DO HAVE A CREMATED REMAINS, THEY’LL RUN THEM THROUGH, YOU KNOW, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND SEE IF THEY ARE VETERANS. SO I HOPE THAT MESSAGE IS THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY OUR VETERANS AND GIVING THEM PROPER BURIAL. I HOPE THE MESSAGE PEOPLE GET FROM OPERATION DIGNITY IS THAT PEOPLE REALLY RESPECT THE VETERANS IN OUR AREA. THEY WANT TO SEE VETERANS RESPECTED. THEY WANT TO SEE THEM HONORED. AND I’M HOPING THAT THAT MESSAGE CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD. IT’S SAD THAT THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT THE CORONER FOUND WHOSE REMAINS HAD NOT BEEN CLAIMED UP UNTIL THIS POINT. AND SO HOPEFULLY PEOPLE REALIZE THAT EVERYBODY DESERVES A PROPER BURIAL AND A RESTING PLACE. I WANT TO ASK BOTH OF YOU ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF POINT OF PRIDE THIS WAS FOR YOU, NOT JUST IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, BUT AS A US CITIZEN. IT WAS TREMENDOUS THAT THAT WHOLE DAY JUST SEEMS SURREAL FROM THE MEMORIAL SERVICE WE HAD IN OUR COUNTY TO GOING DOWN TO THE CEMETERY OF ALLEGHENY CENTER FOR THE FULL MILITARY FUNERAL. I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED A FULL MILITARY FUNERAL AND THE PRIDE THAT I FELT THAT DAY AND ACTUALLY PRESENTED ME ONE OF THE FALLEN SOLDIERS THERE, THEIR FLAG AND IT WAS A TREMENDOUS DAY. AND THE SENSE OF PRIDE I WAS ABLE TO TAKE MY CHILDREN ON AND THEY WROTE IN A IN A IN A CARAVAN. AND IT WAS IT WAS A GREAT DAY. I HAD A LOT OF PRIDE IN BEING ABLE TO BE PART OF THE EVENT. AND I WAS VERY THANKFUL THAT THE CORONER ASKED MY OFFICE TO PARTICIPATE. MY CHIEF OF STAFF IS A RETIRED SUBMARINER AND HELPED PLAN AND PUT TOGETHER THIS ENTIRE EVENT AS AN AMERICAN, AS SOMEBODY WHOSE FAMILY HAS SERVED IN IN WARS AND BEEN A PART OF DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF THE MILITARY, I WAS EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT. I DIDN’T SERVE, BUT I FELT I HAD A CHANCE TO GIVE BACK TO THOSE WHO DID SERVE BY PARTICIPATING. YOU’RE WATCHING WTAE WTAE LISTENS. WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK. WELCOME BACK TO WTAE WTAE LISTENS. WHETHER YOU LIVE IN ONE OF PITTSBURGH’S NEIGHBORHOODS OR ANY SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, TELL US ABOUT WHAT’S WRONG AND WHAT’S RIGHT IN YOUR AREA. SO WE CAN LISTEN. YOU CAN SEND US AN EMAIL AT WTAE WTAE LISTENS. AT HEARST.COM. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK.