Veteran: Memorial Day more than a ‘three-day weekend, major shopping day’

CEDAR RAPIDS - An American flag fluttered rapidly back and forth in the wind behind retired Iowa National Guard Sgt. Ray Ropa as he stood before a large crowd gathered Monday at All Veterans Memorial Park in Cedar Rapids.

He implored them to remember why they were there.

'Remember the true meaning of Memorial Day. We come here to honor our fallen comrades by our presence.” Ropa said. 'You understand that on Memorial Day we honor the ideals and values those soldiers stood for and died for defending.”

His message was met with loud applause.

Ropa was the guest speaker at this year's Metro Area Veterans Council Memorial Day Service at the park, 950 Rockford Rd. SW. He was asked to speak because of his dedicated service to his community and country, organizers said.

Ropa served more than 17 years with the 168th infantry, during which he was deployed to Kuwait in 2000 and to Afghanistan in 2010.

In 2012, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, but instead of being a victim of the disease, he became a spokesman and advocate for awareness.

'Since he was diagnosed in 2012 he has overcome a lot with his PTSD,” said Kris Ropa, Ray's wife. 'He has a lot of guilt that he survived and others didn't so it's good for him to talk about it, almost like therapy.”

Ropa has traveled across the United States delivering a message of how he battled PTSD and the resources available to veterans and their families.

Today, Ropa lives in Cedar Rapids with his wife and two sons, Will and Andy.

Since his retirement from the service, Ropa also has worked as a veteran's advocate helping homeless veterans in Eastern Iowa find stable housing and employment.

Kris Ropa said it was quite an honor to see her husband speak and be remembered alongside other veterans for his service.

'They volunteer. They gave their time and made sacrifices and their families did, too,” Kris Ropa said. 'They gave up their life. We had to put our life on hold while Ray was gone and it's a sacrifice.”

During his speech, Ray Ropa commented on how many Americans have forgotten the importance of Memorial Day.

'Sadly, the Americans have lost connection with our history,” Ropa said. 'All too many Americans today view military service as an attraction, as images seen on television, social media and movies.

'For a growing percentage of American people, Memorial Day (has become) simply a three-day weekend or a major shopping day.”

Monday's service also included a reading of orders given in May 1868 by Army Gen. John A. Logan that established May 30 as Decoration Day - now known as Memorial Day.

In addition, the ceremony featured a placement of wreaths on the war memorials at All Veterans Memorial Park, performances by the New Horizons Band, a volley salute and playing of taps.

A second service took place Monday at Cedar Memorial, 4200 First Ave. NE, where a group gathered to honor those who have served with a ceremony and ballon release. Each balloon released was to honor veterans people loved, respected or admired.

Cedar Memorial was decorated with more than 6,700 American flags at the gravesites of veterans, the flags having been placed there on Saturday by more than 100 volunteers.

'We as a country owe a great debt and gratitude to those who sacrifice their lives so we can live free,” Ropa said in concluding his remarks at the All Veterans Memorial Park service. 'We can start to pay the debt by not forgetting, by remembering what they did and what they stood for.”

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