Katonah Vet, Military Family: Remember Those Who Sacrifice, Honor Those Who Serve

The Memorial Day weekend is considered the kick-off of summer, signaling lazy days ahead. But it's also a time to remember those who battled for America's freedom and to honor those who are currently making sacrifices to protect their homeland.

"It's a day to give thanks and reflect," said Katonah fire commissioner, Hank Bergson, also a Vietnam Veteran who served for two years.

"I understand that freedom isn't free. I served in combat and take time to pause and remember those who didn't return home with me. The primary function of the day is to remember those sacrifices and the hot dogs and burgers are secondary," he said. In Katonah, he said, the parade and remembrance service was typically well-attended.

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Katonah's community spirit around this time of year is well-appreciated by families like the Jurschak family, who have two sons serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.

"What makes us feel great is the supportive spirit of Katonah is there for the military regardless of your politics," said Alexia Jurschak, mother to Greg and Andrew Jurschak. "Our friends always ask after the boys and we appreciate that."

When asked when her sons decided to enter the military, Jurschak said  she thought 9/11 may have been a factor. The boys were teenagers when their father was stuck in New York City that day. He came home safely but the terrorist incident made an impact on his sons. 

"They really have always had a sense of patriotism," she said, and when they announced they wanted to enter the military, she and her husband approved—but encouraged them to attend college and enter service as officers.

Following , during which time they volunteered at the , followed by their high school years—Greg attended l in Katonah and Andrew attended boarding school out west—they both went to college.

Greg graduated from The College of Holy Cross in Wooster, MA, and Andrew completed his degree at Colby College in Maine. They went into the Marines as 2nd Lieutenants, Infantry.

Greg, now 23, and Andrew, 26, are both based in Hawaii. Andrew completed a seven-month tour in Afghanistan beginning in Oct. 2010 and along with his brother, was scheduled to return there in May of this year. That assignment changed—now Greg is in Australia to establish a presence with Southeast Asian countries and Andrew is headed to Okinawa, Japan.

Jurschak described what happened when Andrew was in Afghanistan as "an outpouring of support and kindness" from local residents.

"Andrew's platoon was adopted by a Brownie troop and received hundreds of care packages—it was incredible," she said. 

She misses them, but Alexia Jurschak said she and her husband, Jerry Jurschak, are "amazed" by their children.

And on the Memorial Day holiday in particular, proud of what they do.

"They really embody what we hoped our kids would turn out to be," she said.