May 23, 2026 3 min read

Rocky Bleier said it well last year on Memorial Day.

“This day is meant to be a time for reflection or contemplation more than celebration,” he told the crowd assembled for the annual tribute to the members of the armed forces buried at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Cecil Township. “It’s a time to honor those who gave their lives to defend their country.”

Bleier – best known in these parts for his storied tenure as a running back with the Pittsburgh Steelers – is a decorated Vietnam War veteran who overcame serious leg and foot injuries when his Army platoon ran into an ambush.

His words resonated with the large crowd assembled that day at the cemetery. For one man in particular, they held special meaning.

George Herwig served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. His daughter, Patti Balestra, said her dad, then 102, attends the service every year, and – sporting a Steelers shirt and World War II veteran ball cap – posed proudly for a photo with Bleier.

“To him, it means everything,” she said at the time. “He loves his country so very much.”

Bleier spoke with sincerity and conviction that day, acknowledging that like many, he once treated the federal holiday as the celebratory kickoff to summer – the day school was out and swimming pools opened for the season.

But that all changed after Bleier was drafted.

“The true meaning didn’t sink in until you were called to serve your country,” he said. “Memorial Day, think about it, is dedicated to those who died while serving in the armed forces.”

And there have been many.

Too many.

A staggering 1.3 million American servicemen and women have perished in wars and conflicts since the Revolutionary War.

So it is only appropriate that we set aside one day of the year to honor them.

While cities and towns across the country have been paying tribute to our nation’s war dead for more than 150 years, it wasn’t until 1971 that Memorial Day was declared a federal holiday.

Some 30 years later, in 2000, the National Moment of Remembrance was signed into law as a way to remind us to pause for a moment of silence – at 3 p.m. – and reflect on the sacrifices made by so many. The hour was chosen because it is the time of day most Americans are enjoying their holiday and the freedoms made possible by those who answered the call to serve.

As Bleier so aptly said of the holiday, “It also serves as a reminder of the cost of freedom and the dedication of those who have served. It’s a day to remember the sacrifices of military personnel, and more importantly, their families.”