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May 1, 2015
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D.C. ball field renamed to honor brothers by Christopher Cornell ADVANTAGE EDITOR
It’s been 40 years since the Vietnam War ended, and for some it may seem like ancient history. But for others, the memories of family members and friends who are no longer with us will never fade. Last weekend in Dickson City, a ceremony was held with the goal of keeping alive the memories of three brothers, all of whom served in Vietnam. The ball field at Crystal Park was renamed Lukasik Field, to honor Dickson City natives Joseph, Bernard and John Lukasik. • Lt. Col. Joseph Lukasik enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951. During his career as fighter pilot he received many honors including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and the Legion of Merit. He served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars, and died in 1973 in a training accident in Turkey at the age of 40. • Capt. Bernard Lukasik enlisted in the Air Force in 1954. He served as a pilot with the First Air Command and was killed in action in 1964 at the age of 29. He was awarded the Air Force Cross and Purple Heart (posthumously) for “extraordinary heroism in military operations.” • Lt. Col. John Lukasik attended the U.S. Air Force Academy and graduated as a navigator in 1964. He served for more than 10 years and spent a substantial portion of his aviation career flying C-130 transport planes into and out of Vietnam. It was there, family members believe, he was exposed to the exfoliant Agent Orange. His decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster. Following his military career he earned
From left, front row: Mike Mosig, Mary Lynn Lukasik, Barbara Lukasik Heler, Kathryn Lukasik, Gina Lukasik and Tony Lukasik. Back row: Mark Lukasik, David Lukasik and Linda Lukasik.
a master’s degree from Florida State University and was a professor of aerospace studies at Boston University. He died in 1987 at the age of 47, after a prolonged illness. The push to dedicate the ball park was spearheaded by the Glodek family, who were friends and neighbors to the Lukasiks, and have long wanted to see Dickson City honor them in some way. “My father and my uncle were childhood friends of these three boys, and have always wanted them to be recognized by our town,” explained Bernice Glodek Sheaffer. Recently her father, Myron Glodek, went before the Dickson City Borough Council and lobbied for the change, which was approved,
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The borough will put up a sign naming the playing field Lukasik Field. A plaque will also be erected in their name. “Finally, the family will be recognized for its sacrifice,” Sheaffer said. At the ceremony last weekend Dickson City Borough Mayor Stanley Prushinski called the rededication “well-deserved and long overdue.” Col. William Griffith, a vice commander in the Pennyslvania Air National Guard, said the brothers “lived and served to defend this beautiful slice of Americana.” “It is truly a privilege to know one hero in a lifetime,” Glodek said. “I knew three.”
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