Hundreds of people in Northwest Indiana gathered together at Founders Square for the City of Portage’s annual Memorial Day service on Monday, May 27.
Debbie Podgorski, secretary for Post 260 Auxiliary, describes how significant Memorial Day is to veterans and family members who lost their close ones who served our nation.
“It’s all about giving recognition to our local veterans,” Podgorski said. “They’ve allowed us to have the freedom to do this so it means a great deal to us all. It's a solemn day, but we celebrate it because we want people to not forget our military.”
The event has been put on by the City of Portage for several years. Podgorski appreciates how impressive the turnout is every time, especially this year despite the peculiar weather.
“This is an annual event and it's always well received in the Portage community,” Podgorski said. “Having everybody come together to show their support for these veterans every year is an awesome feeling.”
Portage mayor Austin Bonta shares how these veterans are remembered and thought about not only on Memorial Day but on a daily basis.
“We’re a young city, but we still have so many people that were born or lived in Portage for most of their lives that served the United States and we’ve lost over the years and the wars,” Bonta said. “We have streets named after them throughout the city. It’s very much about honoring those who sacrificed for their loved ones and they’re a part of our city’s history.”
For the City of Portage, Bonta takes pride in contributing to events that are meant to serve as a celebration and bring people together.
“It's a really important purpose for us to create those points in what we do,” Bonta said. “The opportunities for the community to come together and realize that we all have this shared unity for those who have come before us are an incredible sign of respect.”
Congressman Frank J. Mrvan was also in attendance at the service. He provided remarks on how important it is for our country, especially the residents of Northwest Indiana, to work together as one.
“The greatest nation on Earth offers the beacon of hope,” Mrvan said. “We can do our best as a nation to make sure that we’re united. It’s important for us to understand our American values and what strengthens us as we honor those who gave their lives. We must honor and perceive ourselves as one while doing what we can do best.”
With an outstanding turnout in attendance, families and friends came to honor dozens of veterans who have been integral to the city of Portage. One fallen hero who had supporting faces in the crowd for this service was David Claudio, a 2020 graduate from Portage High School who passed away from a car accident while in the Army on October 6, 2023.
Claudio’s parents were in attendance and appreciated being able to come together with other family members who have experienced the same feelings on Memorial Day in previous years.
“The City of Portage doing something like this means a lot,” said Jose Claudio, David’s father. “It brings everybody together in the community. It’s a very proud moment. All the other people that came out here is a good thing and makes it a little more positive.”
Post 260 Commander Rudy Miller provided the welcoming and dismissal for the program. Miller, who has been affiliated with the American Legion for more than 50 years, describes how these experiences of loss and hardship have impacted his life today.
“I have a lot of friends along the way that I’ve lost in Vietnam,” Miller said. “It’s just great to hold a prayer here for those we’ve lost here on Memorial Day. This was a very impressive turnout by the Portage community.”
While it’s difficult to look back at the veterans we’ve lost on Memorial Day, being able to celebrate the value that each one provided to their country is the most important part. The City of Portage couldn’t be any more pleased with how its residents are dedicated to fallen heroes on this day every year.
For more information on the City of Portage, you can visit their website.