On somber holiday, heroes are praised

Eric Leake

Tuesday, May 31, 2005 | 11:16 a.m.

Jan Lukac talked about his son, a Marine killed in Iraq, as he knelt before his grave and traced a heart in the dirt.

"He's always in our hearts," he said as he pulled from beneath his black Marine T-shirt his son's dog tags on a chain.

"I will wear this forever."

This Memorial Day was the first since John Lukac, 19, died in combat. He is buried at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City.

Helena Lukac said she visits her son's grave along the edge of the cemetery twice a week. But this visit -- on the special day for visiting the graves of veterans -- was different.

"I was really very, very proud," she said, her voice breaking.

She carried a small flag and had left two others along with carnations at her son's grave.

"When I saw the flags it just touched my heart," she said. "I just had a feeling like it was waving, 'Hi, Mom.' "

Hundreds of families visited the cemetery Monday for the remembrance that was at times quiet and private and at times a mass event.

"I think that the people who have gone before us, who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, deserve us being here to remember," Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., said during the cemetery's annual Memorial Day service.

The attending crowd included veterans from five wars. People filled the chapel and sat in the courtyard.

Ensign called it a reminder that the cost of war is often the lives of the young. He mentioned Lukac and others.

"We are truly a blessed nation to elicit such patriotism and passion from our service men and women," he said. "We must never, never take that for granted."

Ensign was joined by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Reps. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev. Berkley led the delegation in awarding a Purple Heart to Duane Fordin, a Vietnam War veteran who lost his medal in a house fire 30 years ago.

"He, like so many other brave, strong men, becomes very emotional when they talk about their experience in battle," Berkley said.

Fordin wiped a tear from his cheek before the medal was pinned to his chest and he shook hands.

"You have the respect, the love, the appreciation of an entire grateful nation," Berkley said.

After the service, Korean War veteran Bill Burr said parts of the ceremony, especially the music, were touching.

"I got choked up in my throat listening to it. It carried a message," he said.

Burr, who lingered in the chapel after the service, said he appreciated the patriotism and the crowd.

"I'm greatly impressed by the families, by the thoughtfulness of the people who participated, and proud of the American heritage this represents," he said.

Cemetery superintendent Jack Porrino estimated that well over 1,000 people visited for Memorial Day. He said there are about 17,500 graves on the grounds.

In the cemetery courtyard, people read inscriptions on memorials to veterans of various wars.

In the driveway was the Mid-East Mobile Memorial Wall built by former Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren.

"It's a good way to give people a chance to find out who the names are, where they're from. You see it one the news and it's a blip," Vietnam War veteran Paul Peterson said as he stood in front of the wall.

Like many veterans, Peterson wore a hat and shirt displaying his military service. He wore all black. Peterson surveyed the memorial names.

"I was just looking to see if I recognized any of the names," he said. "You can take a little time, consider each one."

The wall displayed 544 names of service men and women killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Among the names of 18 Nevadans at the front of the wall -- John Lukac.

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