“The family stated that Mr. Flanagan was killed Sunday, July 21, [1968] while flying a mission over the DMZ when his aircraft was hit by hostile ground fire. Mr. Flanagan had been in Vietnam since May after his reserve unit in the Air Force was called up for active duty in January. He is believed to be the first guardsman called to duty during the period to have died in action in Vietnam.

“A spokesman for the D.C. Air National Guard based at Andrews Air Force Base said Col. Flanagan had been assigned to train replacement pilots at Myrtle Beach, S.C. His duties, the spokesman said, required him to make brief trips to Vietnam, and two months ago, he volunteered to stay there to do combat missions.”

He was flying an F-100 “Super Sabre” jet fighter when he died. A note on the Washington, D.C. Vietnam Memorial “Virtual Wall” website reports, “A Super Sabre and its pilot was lost during a mission to destroy an anti-aircraft gun position on the South Vietnamese-Laos border, in the hill country 25 miles southwest of Hue.”

“LtCol Flanagan was making his first strafing pass from 3000 feet when his aircraft was hit by ground fire and dived into the ground near the target. The pilot may have been wounded by the anti-aircraft fire as he did not eject. LtCol Flanagan was a member of the District of Columbia ANG [Air National Guard] [and] had volunteered for service [in Vietnam] …”

An undated Carroll Sun newspaper file clipping reported he joined the Air Force in 1951 and flew combat missions in the Korean War. Flanagan “belonged to the 113th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the District of Columbia Air National Guard that was called to active duty Jan. 27, 1968 during the Pueblo crisis,” said the Carroll Sun.

Flanagan was born on April 8, 1930, and raised in Westminster. He attended Westminster High School “before going to Charlotte Hall Military Academy, graduating in 1947,” reported the Carroll Sun.

According to an article in the Carroll County Times in May 1989, “Previous to his service in Vietnam … Before his reserve unit was reactivated, Flanagan was a lawyer with the legal firm of Cable and McDaniel in Westminster. He had practiced law since 1960 when he graduated from the University of Maryland law school.”

The Carroll Sun article reported, “He was the past secretary of the Maryland Bar Association and a member of the Westminster Rotary Club.”

Local historian Jay Graybeal authored an article in the Carroll County Times on June 20, 1999, that Flanagan had “Trained as a fighter pilot, he flew combat missions during the Korean War and also flew during the Berlin Airlift in 1961…”

According to oral tradition, right before Flanagan reported to Vietnam, his family had decided to purchase a home on Willis Street.

Flanagan’s remains were never recovered. He is forever remembered on the black granite memorial that is the centerpiece of the Carroll County Vietnam Memorial Park. His name can also be found etched on Panel 51W Line 025, on the granite Vietnam Memorial, in Washington, D.C.

You can also pay your respects to Flanagan, and everyone who lost their lives in Vietnam, this October at The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall. According to the Babylon Vault Co. website, the Traveling Wall will be at the New Windsor Fire Department Carnival Grounds, 101 High St., New Windsor, from Oct. 9-13. The wall and exhibits will remain open around the clock from 6 p.m., Oct. 9 to 11 a.m., Oct. 13, providing the opportunity to visit during early morning and overnight hours when there are fewer visitors.

The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall is a 3/5th scale replica of the original in D.C. standing over 6 feet tall, spanning 300 feet end to end, according to Babylon Vault. The wall honors the more than 58,000 names of the men and women of the armed forces who served and lost their lives in Vietnam.

Inscribed on the wall includes the names of 18 Carroll Countians who were killed in action serving in the Vietnam War, according to the Babylon Vault media release.

“Of the 18 KIA, Sherman E. Flanagan Jr. from Westminster is still missing in action. We also had one POW from the war. Peter “Eddie” Drabic, Army, was taken as Prisoner of War while on patrol in the jungles in South Vietnam on Sept. 24, 1968, and was held until his release on March 16, 1973, spending 1,635 days in captivity. We will have the panel numbers available for those wishing to do a rubbing from the wall of our hometown heroes,” the release said.

Flanagan was a family friend. It has been said that service members die twice, once when they are killed in action and once when their name is spoken for the last time. A portion of this discussion has been published before — and hopefully will be republished again in the future. May we never forget his service and sacrifice for our country, and forever hold him in our hearts.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. His Time Flies column appears every Sunday. Email him at kevindayhoff@gmail.com.

On June 20, 1947, the Democratic Advocate newspaper ran a story, “Three County Doctors Honored,” that reported: “Three physicians were honored for having given 50 years of service to the citizens of Carroll County at the monthly luncheon meeting Tuesday of the Carroll County Medical Society at the Charles Carroll Hotel in Westminster.

“The vice president, Dr. Reuben Hoffman, superintendent of the Henryton Sanatorium, presided at the meeting. Dr. Lewis K. Woodward was in charge of arrangements. There were about 40 present. Recognition was accorded the three physicians, who had given 50 years or more to their profession and gold medals were presented to them on behalf of the association by Dr. Woodward. Dr. J. J. Stewart has served 62 years, Dr. Joseph E. Bush, 51 years; and Dr. Charles R. Foutz, 50 years…”

At the time, the community room at the Charles Carroll Hotel, 117 E. Main St. in Westminster, was across the street from what was then the City Garage, now the home of Covalent. The community room was one of the primary meeting places in Carroll County – not unlike the role that Exploration Commons plays in the community today.

Often, doctor’ offices were in their homes. They made frequent house calls.

Indeed, the idea for a hospital in Carroll County was not discussed until after World War I. The idea never got off the ground. It was not until the 1950s, according to a file in my family’s papers, that the idea of raising money to build Carroll County General Hospital became a reality.

For emergency medical care, it was not until 1926 that the City of Westminster endeavored to hire four paid emergency drivers on a 24-hour basis. An ambulance service was not started in Carroll County until 1928, when “the Rotary Club of Westminster prevailed on the city government to buy the volunteers an ambulance.”

In a time when access to medical care and its spiraling costs are hotly debated, it might be timely to be reminded of the history and tradition of leadership that the medical community has played in helping Carroll County be what it is today.

One of the most celebrated medical families in Carroll County is the Woodward family. The Woodward family represents not just 50 years of service to our community, but four generations of physicians.

One member of the third generation of this preeminent medical family, Dr. Theodore E. Woodward, was nominated for the Nobel Prize for his work with infectious diseases, most notably typhus. He was awarded the Typhus Commission Medal for “exceptionally meritorious service” on Feb. 4, 1945, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He investigated Agent Orange in the Cambodian Parrot’s Beak area of Vietnam, in the middle of heavy combat, in 1971.

Dr. Theodore E. Woodward was a 1930 graduate of Westminster High School. He is one of our most celebrated Carroll County native sons. He died on July 11, 2005, at the age of 91.

According to an article written about Woodward on July 12, 2005, by Baltimore Sun writer Jacques Kelly, “He was chairman of the UM medical school’s Department of Medicine from 1954 to 1981, and earlier had conducted influential studies related to cholera, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, malaria and tuberculosis…”

In a 1990 interview with The Sun, Woodward said, “Early on, I had planned to come to Westminster to practice. But I needed more training, and the war came in, and I went into the Army in January 1941.”

“He left the Army in 1946 as a lieutenant colonel,” Kelly reported, “ and became an assistant professor at Maryland. Work begun during the war continued to bring recognition for Dr. Woodward – in 1961, the Louis Pasteur Medal was awarded by the French institute, and in 1973, the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Award. In 1990, he received the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service to the armed forces.”

Dr. Woodward was a family friend. I have briefly mentioned him and his family in a few articles written many years ago about the history of the Carroll County medical community. Portions of the column have been published before.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. His Time Flies column appears every Sunday. Email him at kevindayhoff@gmail.com.

This year’s event is June 28 on the grounds of Westminster City Hall, 1838 Emerald Hill Lane, and at the Corbit’s Charge Monument at Carroll County Vietnam Memorial Park, 170 Willis St.

The program is hosted by the Pipe Creek Civil War Roundtable — a fund of the Community Foundation of Carroll County. According to information provided by the roundtable, “Each June, we commemorate the tragedy of war that took place on Westminster’s streets and within surrounding Carroll County.”

Westminster Councilmember Ann Gilbert will be the featured speaker at the memorial service, scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Information provided by the roundtable says, “This service recognizes the sacrifice of the Civil War era civilians of Westminster as well as the soldiers of both the Union and Confederate Armies. This service concludes at the graveyard of Westminster’s Ascension Episcopal Church located at 23 N. Court St. with the laying of wreaths on the graves of 2 Civil War Veterans: 1st Lt. John Murray, Co. E 4th Virginia Cavalry (Confederate, killed during Corbit’s Charge) and Samuel Butler Co. C 32nd Inf. U.S.C.T. (Union.)”

Gilbert’s remarks will include insights about the context and consequences of the actions of the 1st Delaware Cavalry led by Capt. Charles Corbit, and how the events of Corbit’s Charge on June 29, 1863, have had a lasting impact on our nation.

According to a brief history of the Civil War on Carroll County, written by the roundtable, “Many volunteers from Carroll County joined the armies on both sides during the Civil War.”

“During the Maryland Campaign on September 11, 1862, Col. Thomas Rosser and the 5th Virginia Cavalry entered the area, scouting for Union troops and supplies, making headquarters in Westminster. This became known as ‘Rosser’s Raid.’

“In 1863, nearly 100,000 Union soldiers moved through the area on the way to Gettysburg. Following the Corbit’s Charge Battle, Westminster became a major supply depot for the Union Army during Gettysburg. Thousands of Union soldiers were stationed there during the battle, and thousands of wounded soldiers and Confederate prisoners were brought to Westminster following the battle of Gettysburg.

“In 1864, Confederate Gen. Bradley Johnson and Maj. Harry Gilmor, along with around 800 Confederate Cavalry troopers, entered Carroll County in search of provisions. This force raided New Windsor and Westminster before proceeding East into Baltimore and Harford Counties. This action has become known as the ‘Gilmor Raid.’ ”

The commemoration program is made possible by a grant from the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, a certified heritage area of the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. The event has been observed since 2003.

The Pipe Creek Civil War Roundtable, according to the website, “has been involved in spreading awareness of Carroll County and Civil War history through a variety of activities [including] presentations to school and youth organizations, hosting Civil War encampments, Civil War-themed balls, adopting and restoring Civil War Veterans’ graves, leading tours of historic sites and hosting authors and lecturers at our monthly meetings.”

For more information, go to: pipecreekcivilwarroundtable.weebly.com/corbits-charge-commemoration-event.html.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. His Time Flies column appears every Sunday. Email him at kevindayhoff@gmail.com. 

The service was officiated by Rev. Virgil Cain.

Hale passed away on April 1, after a brief illness. At the time of his death, Hale was serving as the director of Planning and Zoning and Code Enforcement in Taneytown.

Hale served in the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged as a corporal. He served during Operation Desert Shield ( Aug, 2 1990 – Jan. 17, 1991) and Desert Storm ( Jan. 17, 1991 – Feb. 28 1991), according to Hale’s obituary.

Hale received many honors for his service: Southwest Asia Service Medal (with two stars); a Navy Unit Citation (USS Portland); a Kuwait Liberation Medal; a Meritorious Unit Commendation; a Navy Unit Commendation (with one star); and a Combat Action Ribbon.

He was first elected to office as a Taneytown City Counci l member on May 3, 1999.

A Carroll County Times article written by Lynn Honeywell on May 4, 1999, reported that he was elected to office with Henry C. Heine, who was elected mayor, and council member Brian Long.

According to Honeywell’s article, Hale had “lived in Taneytown for 19 years. He [was] an air conditioning and heating salesman and service manager for R.M. Schmidt Inc. and Eagle Oil Co. Inc. … [Hale] said his immediate goals as a councilman [were] to get acquainted with his fellow council members. … During his campaign, he said he wanted to improve Taneytown’s image with downtown beautification projects.

Once elected to office, “Hale became a familiar and trusted voice in local decision-making, championing responsible development, infrastructure improvements, and community-building initiatives, according to a recent article on Emmitsburg.net by David Buie.

Many who knew Hale will readily agree that “his commitment to civic responsibility was a key part of his identity and only highlighted his spirit of generosity and altruism,” according to his obituary.

Hale was deeply committed to community action groups and received a Governor’s Citation for his efforts during his tenure on the Taneytown City Council.

He was a member of Monocacy Lodge A.F. & A.M. #203 and a member of the American Legion Post #120.

I met Hale shortly after he was elected to office in May 1999. We shared a bond in that both of us served in the Marines, and we were both newly elected officials. I wholeheartedly agree that “his commitment to civic responsibility was a key part of his identity and only highlighted his spirit of generosity and altruism” and that he “never met a stranger.” Hale was a great public servant, friend, husband and father. He left us way too soon. He is greatly missed.

Hale is survived by his wife of 29 years, Kimberly; two children, Morgan and Mason; and Remy, the family chocolate Labrador retriever.

Carroll County Commissioner Joe Vigliotti, Taneytown City Administrator Jim Wieprecht, Rev. Virgil Cain, David Buie, and Kim Hale contributed to this article.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. His Time Flies column appears every Sunday. Email him at kevindayhoff@gmail.com.

The Elks have always been moved in the presence of the United States flag, which is why, in 1907, Elks members adopted a resolution designating June 14 as Flag Day, according to a news release from the Elks in 2017.

It was in 1911 that the Grand Lodge of the Elks mandated that all local lodges observe Flag Day with appropriate ceremonies, making the Elks “the first national fraternal organization to require the observance of Flag Day,” according to the release.

The Second Continental Congress passed the “Flag Act of 1777” on June 14, 1777. The act’s 32 words have had a profound impact on the history of our great nation:

“Resolved, that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.”

The Second Continental Congress met from May 10, 1775, to March 1, 1781, when the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, were ratified. The president of the Second Continental Congress when the Flag Act was passed was John Hancock, who served from May 24, 1775, to Oct. 31, 1777.

The first president of the Second Continental Congress was Peyton Randolph, who only served 13 days from May 10, 1775, to May 23.

June 14 is also a birthday of national importance. On June 14, 1775, Congress established the United States Army. Ten companies of “expert riflemen” — approximately 800 soldiers — were originally authorized. The following day, George Washington was chosen to lead the Continental Army.

The delegate to the Second Continental Congress who nominated George Washington was Frederick’s own Thomas Johnson.

According to Volume I of the U.S. Army’s “American Military History,” edited by Richard W. Stewart: “A Continental Army had been formed, but it fell far short of the goals Washington and Congress had set for it. This army was enlisted for but a year, and the whole troublesome process would have to be repeated at the end of 1776. The short term of enlistment was, of course, a cardinal error; but in 1775, everyone, including Washington, had anticipated only a short campaign.”

Meanwhile, a congressman from New Jersey, Francis Hopkinson, is considered by historians to be the designer of the first version of the flag. He was a poet and artist who began serving on the Continental Navy Board in November 1776. It was in this capacity that Hopkinson began work on admiralty colors.

Tradition has it that a Philadelphia flag maker, Betsy Ross, was also involved in the design and manufacture of one of the first flags. The May 29, 1777 minutes of the Board of War meeting note: “… an Order on William Webb to Elizabeth Ross, for fourteen pounds, twelve shillings, two pence for making ships colours & put into William Richards’ stores.”

More recently, Flag Day was established by President Woodrow Wilson on May 30, 1916.

On Aug. 3, 1949, President Harry Truman signed an Act of Congress that designated June 14 as Flag Day.

According to information provided by Bob Detrow, on behalf of the Westminster Elks, the Flag Day ceremonies are a “time-honored community gathering [that] pay tribute to the symbol of our nation’s unity and freedom, while also fostering a sense of connection and pride among residents.

“The ceremony will feature a presentation on the history of the American flag, highlighting its evolution and the deep significance it holds in the hearts of citizens. Attendees will experience a moving program that includes the Pledge of Allegiance, one or two patriotic songs, and a solemn moment of reflection to honor those who have served and sacrificed for our country.”

Detrow further reports, “The Elks Lodge, a cornerstone of the Westminster community, is not only known for its commitment to patriotism but also for its extensive charitable activities.

The ceremony will take place at the Elks Lodge, 538 Gorsuch Road (behind the Olive Garden,) providing an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate patriotism, Detrow said last month.

For more information about the ceremony or the activities of the Westminster Elks Lodge, please contact the lodge directly at elks2277@gmail.com, elks2277.org or 410-848-2277.

Hopefully, you and your family take a moment today to reflect upon the flag, and pray that we do not take the challenges this nation faces for granted, and that we persevere and remain vigilant for our future.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. His Time Flies column appears every Sunday. Email him at kevindayhoff@gmail.com.

Several hundred residents gathered at the cemetery after the annual parade, led by the Westminster Municipal Band and accompanied by  Westminster Mayor Mona Becker, and Common Council members Tony Chiavacci, Greg Pecoraro, Ann Gilbert, Dan Hoff and this writer. The band, mayor and council members have led the parade since the early 1900s.

According to Carroll Post 31 American Legion Memorial Day Committee Chair Adrian Gamboa — a Marine Corps veteran — the parade this year was one of the longest in memory. William Bigelow served as the assistant chair. They worked with Marc Fisher, the current Carroll Post 31 American Legion commander, to organize and host this year’s parade and ceremonies.

The grand marshal for this year’s parade was retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer-3 Robert Keefer, and the parade marshal was Junior Fisher. American Legion member James Smith once again coordinated the daunting task of having a flag placed at the graves of more than 500 veterans in the historic Westminster Cemetery. The Carroll County commissioners supplied the flags.

Smith coordinated the placing of the flags with Kris McMasters, the president of the Westminster Cemetery Board of Managers, members of Scout Troop 393, and a key assist by historian Steve Bowersox and cemetery board member Kristy Vandervalk. Past Legion commander Richard Stem accompanied Bruce Main with a commentary for the Community Media Center filming of the parade and ceremonies. Stem and Main coordinated their work with Bob Blubaugh of the Community Media Center.

We were honored once again to have Father Mark S. Bialek of St. John Catholic Church offer an invocation for the ceremonies. Abby Otradovac sang “America” and the national anthem.

The ceremonies have long defined the character and soul of who we are as a patriotic community. Carroll County has been preoccupied with public safety since its infancy when it was on the front lines of the French and Indian War, which raged in Western Maryland from 1754-1763.  Westminster was not founded until 1764, the year after the conflict ended.

Carroll County has never forgotten that without public safety, you have no community. For 158 years, the county has understood Memorial Day to be a solemn day when we gather together as a community at the Westminster Cemetery to express our profound gratitude for the acts of brave patriots who gave the full measure to preserve our way of life.

The tradition of the parade and ceremony in Westminster began in 1868, when Mary Bostwick Shellman followed Gen. John A. Logan’s May 5, 1868, General Order No. 11 to adorn the graves of Union soldiers with flowers. She gathered a group of schoolchildren for the task, and they walked from an old schoolhouse on Center Street to Westminster Cemetery.

Shellman continued organizing the annual parade and ceremonies until approximately 1932, when the American Legion Carroll Post 31 took over and has been the driving force behind the ceremonies ever since.

Ready, in remarks delivered at this year’s ceremonies, noted: “Since our nation’s beginning, over 1 million brave men and women have given their lives to defend America.

“Like Staff Sgt. Charles Isaac Cartwright, son of Michael and Carol Ann Cartwright of Union Bridge. … In 2009, at the age of 26, he lost his life in Afghanistan. After graduating from Walkersville High School in 2001, he joined the United States Marine Corps. Staff Sgt. Cartwright lost his life during combat operations, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

“Like Marine Staff Sergeant James Malachowski, originally from Silver Run … 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. James died March 20, 2011, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations in our fight to secure and protect democracy there. He served in both the Iraqi and Afghanistan theaters.

“Like Airman 1st Class Matthew Seidler of Westminster, MD, part of 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, killed on Jan. 5, 2012, at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.”

As attendees walked back into the hustle and bustle of Westminster, the remarks of Dominick Chiavacci in a recent newspaper article by Thomas Goodwin Smith, “‘Hometown Heroes’ honored with banners,” came to mind. Chiavacci is the son of Kelly Thomas Chiavacci and Tony Chiavacci, a veteran who serves as the Westminster Council president, as his father served before him.

Dominick Chiavacci served in the Marines from 2016 to 2019. In a discussion about the banners in Westminster honoring men and women from Carroll County who served in the military, he said, “But the people that actually are no longer here, those are the real heroes.”

Our community has always recognized that it is important to remember those heroes who have sacrificed their lives to protect our freedom.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. His Time Flies column appears every Sunday. Email him at kevindayhoff@gmail.com.

Afterward, townsfolk, accompanied by the Wm. F. Myers and Sons Band, will be escorted by the Pleasant Valley Community Fire Company for the half-mile walk to the Pleasant Valley Cemetery.

It is tradition to carry flowers and flags to place on the graves.

We have a responsibility to live a life of commitment and service to our community in order to honor the memory of those who died for our country. We need to finish what they began and cannot continue.

For 107 years, the Pleasant Valley community has come together to observe Memorial Day. Speakers have included Commissioner Steve Wantz, Carroll County Sheriff Jimmy DeWees, Carroll County State’s Attorney Brian DeLeonardo, former Orphan’s Court Judge and Vietnam combat veteran Charles Harrison, and Commissioner Joe Vigliotti.

Past speakers have also included my writing colleague at the newspaper, the late Hoby Wolf, and the late Carroll County State’s Attorney Jerry Barnes, whose service on the Ho Chi Minh trail in Vietnam is the stuff of legend to this day.

Former state senator and judge Ray Beck, a fellow Marine, also spoke on this hallowed ground in 1985 – as did Cmdr. Tom Hiltz in 2003 and Sgt. First Class Russell Myers, commander of the American Legion in Westminster, who spoke in 2006.

On Memorial Day, we also pause to remember our local veterans. Folks like Ray Brown, Donald Leister, Daniel Frock, Earl Shaffer, and Don Bowersox – among many, many others.

We remember folks like my stepfather, Edward J. Frock Sr., who served in the Navy throughout World War II in the Pacific. His parents, Cora Fowler and Harry Frock, are buried here.

Because of those who served, we can speak freely, elect our leaders, attend school and work where we want to, practice the religion of our choice, and experience all the other freedoms we enjoy as Americans.

Few words can describe the sense of duty and sacrifice exhibited by the men and women we honor today. However, several years ago, Angela Bowersox said it well in a Carroll County Times article, “We can’t ever forget the people who served our country. We wouldn’t be free if it weren’t for them.”

I agree with Commissioner Wantz, who once said the Pleasant Valley Memorial Day observances are “like a Norman Rockwell painting come to life. This is our unique way of paying tribute to those who served our country.”

Ed Leister and the many generations of the Angell/Gist family; Geary Angell, Helen Gist, Mike Gist, Angela Bowersox, and Susan Bowersox-Blizzard, have worked hard to preserve this ceremony as a special tradition – and have maintained the cemetery.

Three native sons of Pleasant Valley lost their lives while in service to our country. They were honored by the community at the June 1, 1947, dedication of the war memorial in town.

Killed in World War II were Lt. Richard S. Brown, Pvt. William O. Hiner, and Lt. John D. Leister.

Lt. Brown graduated from Westminster High School in 1941. He was killed on Jan. 16, 1945, in northern France.

Pvt. Hiner was killed on Feb. 2, 1945, in Neuhof, Germany. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Hiner.

Lt. Leister graduated from Westminster High School in 1938. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey D. Leister. He was 23 when he was killed on March 21, 1944, in Italy.

It is our duty and responsibility as members of the community to remember these brave sons of Carroll County. We should never forget the men and women, who knew all too well the cost of freedom, and their service to our country.

Over the years, I have written about the Pleasant Valley Memorial Day ceremonies. Members of my family – the Frock family — are buried in the cemetery. I have served as the guest speaker and I will speak at this year’s ceremonies. Portions of this discussion have been published before and hopefully will be published again in the memory of those who served so that we may enjoy the future.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. His Time Flies column appears every Sunday. Email him at kevindayhoff@gmail.com.

The food choices at these events fulfill an important part of the Carroll County nutrition pyramid, while the rides and entertainment provide a diversion from summer chores. 

Arts programs and cultural events, fairs and carnivals add to our sense of community and quality of life.

The fairs and carnivals also serve a greater community purpose by providing an important source of funds for the fire companies. 

One of the first mentions of a firemen’s carnival occurs in the Nov. 21, 1896, edition of the old Democratic Advocate newspaper in Westminster: “The Westminster Firemen, They Have Arranged for a Parade On Thanksgiving Day, the Dedication of the Town Clock and the Unveiling of a Memorial Tablet. … Next Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. All good citizens who can will attend divine worship, and afterwards will enjoy the usual extra dinner. The Firemen’s fair and festival will be in full blast, and an excellent dinner will be served there.”

Once again this year, the first fire company carnival will be hosted by the New Windsor Fire Department from May 20-24 at the New Windsor carnival grounds, 101 High St.

The scheduling of the other fire company carnivals has also come together. According to information gathered from the Carroll County government website, the “County Commissioners encourage all residents to support local fire departments by attending carnivals and other fund-raising events. Although the county continues the process of gradually transitioning to a combination system, fundraising and donations remain critically important to the maintenance of the stations and equipment.

“Carnivals and other fire department activities are an important source of fundraising for Carroll County fire companies, without which the companies cannot function. This wonderful community tradition is important for both the financial support of the volunteers who help safeguard our county and also for the family-friendly experience enjoyed by all.”

The 2025 carnival schedule:

• New Windsor Fire Department: May 20-24
• Gamber Fire Department: May 23-31 (closed May 28)
• Union Bridge Fire Department: May 29-31
• Mount Airy 4 County Lions Club: June 2-7
• Taneytown Fire Department: June 9-14
• Sykesville-Freedom Fire Department: June 7-14
• Harney Fire Department: dates to be determined
• Reese Fire Department: June 23-28
• Manchester Fire Department: June 30-July 5
• Winfield Fire Department: July 7-12
• Mount Airy Fire Department: July 21-26
• Hampstead Fire Department: Aug. 4-9

Please be sure to check the websites for each fire company to confirm the dates and gather more information about the carnivals.

This year, according to the “Feeding Carroll Together” website, “Local pantries will be at each of the 11 fire company carnivals to collect food that will stay in that community. Head out for a night of fun, support your volunteer fire department, and bring canned goods to donate to a local pantry.”

Add to your calendar several exciting Westminster events. The downtown Westminster Farmers Market opened for another great season on Saturday. The market is located at 27 Railroad Ave. on the Conaway Parking Lot at Railroad Avenue – Route 27 North.

According to the market website, “The market is open every Saturday, 9 a.m. – noon from now through the week before Thanksgiving. This gives you 28 weeks to pick up locally grown produce, meats, poultry, pork, eggs, cheese, baked goods, coffee and prepared foods. Our market prides itself in providing goods that are grown or produced within 50 miles of our location in beautiful Downtown Westminster, Maryland.” For more information, go to: downtownwestminsterfarmersmarket.com 

On June 14, the City of Westminster will host its annual Beer and BBQ Stroll in Westminster’s historic downtown business district.   The Westminster Department of Recreation and Parks says: “Join us for a day of local brews, live music, vendors, and delicious food al fresco! This event features live entertainment, including performances by the Sagamore Band, Late Night Record Shop, Ebb & Nova, and Red Dirt Revolution.” For more information, go to: westminstermd.gov/445/Beer-and-BBQ-Stroll 

On July 12,   Westminster will host A Toast to Italy. The city invites visitors to, “experience the vibrant celebration of Italian culture, food, and tradition. Main Street will be transformed into a bustling Italian street fair, featuring street performers, bocce ball, the Miss Little Italy Contest, and a showcase of stunning Italian cars and scooters. Savor authentic Italian street food, sip on exquisite wines and beers, and shop from a variety of local vendors.”

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. His Time Flies column appears every Sunday. Email him at kevindayhoff@gmail.com.

In March 2002, Palijczuk was interviewed by Carroll County Times writer Stephen Snyder on the occasion of his “first all-faculty art show at the college in recent memory” at the Esther Prangley Rice Gallery in Peterson Hall.

As I recall the interview, Palijczuk was installing his show while Snyder interviewed him. Snyder reported that Palijczuk was hanging a painting called “Venus with Snowflake,” that showed a woman and a cat against a swirling, chaotic background.

“He speaks with an accent that isn’t immediately traceable, the result of having lived, at different times, in Ukraine, Germany and the United States. He has a goatee and wears his long, white hair in a ponytail underneath a gray fedora. He has, at one point or another, spoken six different languages, including Ukrainian, Polish, Russian and German. Earlier in the day, while hanging a collection of collages, faculty member Linda Van Hart referred to Wasyl as legendary. ‘He’s our Picasso,’ she said. ‘He’s versatile. He can work in any medium.’”

According to his obituary, “Wasyl was born in 1934 in Dzhuriv, Ukraine, a small village near the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains.”

Snyder reported that “His mother died shortly after he was born, and his father was taken by the Russian army [at the beginning of the Second World War.] Wasyl survived at a very young age by begging for food. He lived in a small house with no electricity and no running water. …”

According to his obituary, “when his father was taken to Germany … Wasyl was left to fend for himself. It was during this time that Wasyl developed his passion for art and love of nature. With nothing else to do and no one to stop him, he’d roam the village streets and sit by the river each day, sculpting with clay or drawing with burnt wood charcoal on the white-washed walls of his tiny, thatched-roof home. …”

Palijczuk “stole scraps of flour from the nearby mill. He ate grass,” Snyder reported. Snyder quoted Palijczuk as saying: “’People in America don’t understand what real poverty is.’ His house was composed of just four bare white walls. The walls drove him crazy. One day he decided he couldn’t stand them anymore, so he took soot from the stove and rubbed it all over the stark, white surface — his first painting.”

Shortly after his father returned to Ukraine, “He and his father were taken to Germany after the Germans invaded,” according to Snyder. “During the war, he lived first in … labor camps and then in children’s homes. …”

“Soon after the war ended, Wasyl fell ill and spent six months in a children’s hospital where he met an American social worker who later helped bring him to [New York] at the age of 15,” according to his obituary. “Wasyl settled in Baltimore and was immediately enrolled in the 9th grade despite not being able to speak English. After graduating from Baltimore City College [High School], Wasyl served four years as a draftsman in the Intelligence Division of the U.S. Air Force before attending the University of Maryland, where he earned his B.A. as well as a Master’s Degree in Fine Art. He later received a second master’s degree in sculpture [from the Rinehart School of Sculpture at the Maryland Institute, College of Art].’”

In 1967, Palijczuk was offered a position as an art professor at Western Maryland College. He served as the head of the art department for much of the time he was a professor at the college.

His obituary said it best – and many will agree, “Wasyl was charming and charismatic. … He appreciated beauty and loved people but was most happy at home reading a good book or in nature taking long walks … and tending to his garden and beloved bonsai trees. His warm smile and generous spirit will be sorely missed.”

Linda Van Hart (my art partner) said of Palijczuk in a long tribute on Facebook on May 7: “We knew each other as teacher and student since the ‘60s. We were colleagues for decades. We were in Egypt together in ’89. We have shown together as artists. … Our lives have intertwined on so many levels. I join you all in remembering Wasyl for his lifetime achievements, his ability to dance creatively through challenge and adversity, always finding the beauty and praising it for others to enjoy with him. … His spirit is with me every day I create. Thank you, Wasyl for being my mentor and friend! Rest in peace. You will not be forgotten”

In his 2002 article, Snyder quoted Palijczuk as saying: “My whole life is a puzzle, I’m so interested in everything. How can you not be fascinated by this world?”

Wasyl Palijczuk, an art professor at Western Maryland College – now McDaniel College, for over 30 years, has died at the age of 90. Palijczuk was born in 1934 in Dzhuriv, Ukraine, a small village near the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. He came to Baltimore after WWII. He began teaching at Western Maryland College in 1967. (Courtesy)The world is less fascinating and interesting without my friend and art partner Wasyl.

Family and friends are invited to Wasyl’s Celebration of Life on May 22 at The Cloisters, 10440 Falls Road, Lutherville-Timonium from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Visitation will take place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., followed by a short service and luncheon.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. His Time Flies column appears every Sunday. Email him at kevindayhoff@gmail.com. 

The term Earth Day was coined by Wisconsin U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson and first observed on April 22, 1970. Although Earth Day is not a federal holiday, it was President Richard Nixon who played a crucial role in its annual observance. The observance of Earth Day in 1970 began a series of events, including the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the adoption of the Clean Air Act, the 1972 Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act, all of which passed with broad bipartisan support.

Overpackaging is not only a leading cause of exhaustion for parents with opposable thumbs, but it is also a serious environmental hazard for our community.

To add insult to injury, many folks reading this have probably lost this battle of wits and skill with an inanimate object and have been left “in stitches” from having cut themselves trying to open the dreaded plastic packaging.

For those of us who believe that throwing our trash in a hole dug in the ground and covering it over poses a serious threat to our health, safety and welfare, more than 50 years after the first observance of Earth Day, community leaders are – incredibly – still actively discussing landfills as a solution to trash.

According to an article, “OECD Global Plastics Outlook,” on the website OECD — Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development — “around 40% of the world’s plastic waste comes from packaging. Packaging also makes up a significant share in the three regions that generate the most plastic waste: the United States, Europe, and China. Packaging accounts for 37% of total plastic waste in the United States. …” This results in significant disposal costs for individuals, families and the government.

The OECD article explains, “Plastic pollution is one of the great environmental challenges of the 21st century, causing wide-ranging damage to ecosystems and human health, while the fossil-fuel origins of most of the plastics produced have implications for climate change. Yet plastics have become an integral part of the global economy, being used in almost all economic sectors. …”

Regarding municipal solid waste, “Americans waste about 60 million tons of food every year.” This, according to a recent article by the waste management company RTS, “Food Waste in America in 2025.” The article provides some food for thought: “While the world wastes about 2.5 billion tons of food every year, the United States discards more food than any other country in the world: nearly 60 million tons — 120 billion pounds — every year.

“That’s estimated to be almost 40 percent of the entire US food supply, and equates to 325 pounds of waste per person. That’s like every person in America throwing 975 average-sized apples right into the garbage — or rather right into landfills, as most discarded food ends up there. In fact, food is the single largest component taking up space inside U.S. landfills, making up 22 percent of municipal solid waste (MSW). All told, the amount of food wasted in America has an approximate value of nearly $218 billion – the equivalent of 130 billion meals.”

Getting back to overpackaging, in recent years I’ve come to understand overpackaging as the basic foot soldier in the war against obesity.

Who among us has not been reduced to the colorful language of a drunken sailor while inelegantly engaged in an attempt to free our dinner ingredients from the prison of its packaging?

Roaming the web recently, I ran across an intrepid writer who posed the question, “I wonder what’s the number one question consumers have with overpackaging?” To which one commenter responded: “How do I stop the bleeding?”

“According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission,” says Washington Post staff writer Margaret Webb Pressler, “injuries from plastic packaging resulted in 6,400 visits to emergency rooms. …”

She also observed that the “persons who imagined this packaging should spend a couple weeks in hell next to those who designed the modern car alarm.”

At present my tried-and-true method is to open the packages with a heavy-duty pair of utility shears. I only use a knife after I’ve checked with the Red Cross on the current level of blood supplies.

For those of us who are environmentally conscious, we couldn’t agree more with another point brought out in Ms. Pressler’s article, “It’s not just the difficulty that steams shoppers, it’s the environmental impact of all that plastic. It’s just so wasteful. …”

Of course, many will agree that the most sustainable approaches to environmental challenges come from market forces. Increasingly, we, as a society, must demand that consumer products be marketed and sold in a manner that is environmentally conscious. That not only would serve the best interests of our community, but it would also help us preserve our sanity. After all, the opposable thumb you save may be your own.

And speaking of sanity, I have written about this subject before – it’s therapeutic.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. His Time Flies column appears every Sunday. Email him at kevindayhoff@gmail.com.