ST. HYACINTH CATHOLIC WAR
VETERANS MEMORIAL

Cleveland, Ohio - On Saturday, November 14, 2009, the Catholic War Veterans Post 496 from St. Hyacinth Parish rededicated the monument that was installed in 1952 at the site of the newly constructed St. Hyacinth Church on East 61st Street and Francis Street in Cleveland, Ohio. St. Hyacinth Church was founded in 1906 as a two story building. The lower level held the grade school and the church was on the second floor. The parishioners decided to build a new church in the late 1940's and construction was completed in 1952.

The original site of the monument to the fallen soldiers of WWII was positioned on the west side of the church. Eventually the monument was moved to the site between the rectory and the church. The monument stood on the church property site until the closing of St. Hyacinth Church by Bishop Richard Lennon in September 2009.

The fallen soldiers on the monument include Francis Gamulkiewicz, Joseph Nawalaniec, Stanley Piechowiak, Felix Szymanski, Julian Jendrezejek, Walter Majewski, Sylvester Nykiel, John Kwiecien, Joseph Lakota, Joseph Cholewa, Chester Rej, Walter Gorka, Clement Jojczyk, Francis Zajac, Walter Lekutis, John Sobieraj, Bruno Wachala, Edward Sostek, Stephen Majka, John Murany, John Dziekankowski, Thomas Majkrzak, Mayron Marek, Thomas Mihon, Zigismund Kopec, Aloysius Jurek, and Albert Sobieraj.

The monument was moved to Calvary Cemetery on the site of the WWII deceased soldiers by the East 116th Street entrance of Calvary Cemetery, due to the efforts of the St. Hyacinth Catholic War Veterans led by Mr. George B. Sobieraj, who was the principal force of moving the monument. George contacted the Catholic Cemeteries organization, helped choose the site, and was involved with the moving of the monument as well as the cleaning and selection of the type of base to hold the monument. Deacon Reverend Kenneth Piechowski was successful in his appeals to Bishop Lennon to allow the monument to be moved to the cemetery.

Attending the prayers and ceremony led by Deacon Ken, were members of the PNA - Union of Poles Division Members George Sobieraj, Casey Zylko, David Mordarski, Larry Mielczarek, Stanley Jaworski, George Kosakowski, Joseph Brodzinski, Ralph Bodziony and PNA Commissioner of District 17 Mark Relovsky.

Submitted by:
Ralph Bodziony

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