I have always thought of Uncle Al as kind.  When I close my eyes I can easily see his smile.  He was always coming up with some amusing quip or connection to share, and he was a very good listener.  He was genuine in his interactions with humans, which is one of the things I most highly value in a person.  I have seen the word “kind” used over and over in eulogies and stories describing him and it feels good to share this with others who feel the same way. 

Just before my trip toPolandlast fall as the 2012 PACIM Cultural Exchange artist, I received a check out of the blue from Uncle Al and Aunt Gloria congratulating me.  This gesture of theirs to help with expenses sends the same sentiment home once again.  Their card wished me a wonderful trip and expressed their pride in my representing our family there and our Polish heritage.  In a way I was surprised, but in another way not because they have always supported me in my art, and it means so much to me.  When I opened that card, I felt so loved and cared for, and such a strong feeling of warmth and connection that it filled me with tears.  That is the way I feel once again as I think about Uncle Al. 

He is someone to look up to and to learn from his example about living and sharing.  I will always remember him in my heart.

PopPop’s Committal Ceremony narrative                                                                      Glory Kulczycki


It was a crisp December 26th morning when we arrived before 9 am at the Holy Hope Cemetery for the Committal Ceremony for Alfred Kulczycki. PopPop’s ashes were to be committed to a boulder under a tree in the Veteran’s section of the grounds. At the site there was a large canopy with a sitting area of 8 chairs and a small table in front next to the open boulder. On the table was a sealed box of PopPop’s ashes, his officer’s hat and a portrait of him in uniform.  As we arrived we were met by the Cemetery Manager and a few enlisted members of the US Navy in uniform. Nearby a rifle detachment of uniformed Airmen arrived and  marched to a place beyond the canopy about 40  feet away to the right and stood at attention. We seated ourselves in the chairs with Granny in the front row flanked by her daughter, Jane, Glory and Mary. Also with us were Walker, Becky, Art, Paul Mirocha, Christina Robinson and Leo Mirocha and Father Richard Troutman.

On cue two of the Naval representatives entered the canopy and stood in front of us and invited us to stand. There was a very slow, reverent series of salutes, to the folded flag held to her heart by one of them, a salute toward the Airmen and a standing at attention. Then the Airmen began the gun ceremony with brief calling of orders and then a volley of three rifles at once, three times in succession. At the end of the volleys, they held the rifles in front of them and stood still. 

Then to our left and several  yards away, another Naval representative stood and played Taps very slowly and reverently. After she had finished Taps, the flag ceremony began. The two Navy representatives stood before us and ceremonially unfolded the flag very slowly and carefully. At the end they held the flag lengthwise between them  until it was held full length but still folded lengthwise in half. Then on a very quiet count of three they opened the flag fully and held it horizontally, symbolically over an absent casket. After a few seconds, they began to refold the flag, slowly and reverently, back into the triangle. Once it was folded, the senior representative carefully inspected and retucked it until it was perfect. The other representative then laid it on her heart and then held it out for a very slow and reverent salute from the senior person. He then received the folded flag from her and snap turned on his heel to face Granny who was seated. He then took a knee before her, presented the flag and said” ‘In the name of the President, the US Navy and the country we present this flag in appreciation of your husband’s service to his country”. Then he stood, saluted very slowly and turned and they left the canopy in march step. The detachment of Airmen also marched back out of view.

Father Richard then began the Rite of Committal with prayers for PopPop and prayers for the grieving family and friends and a sprinkling of the table and its contents with Holy Water, recalling that PopPop first entered Eternal Life at his Baptism and now had moved to the next phase of that eternal life.  He remarked on PopPop’s life and his own acquaintance with him. Walker stood and shared his thoughts on being a part of our family and PopPop’s son-in-law. Art shared similar remarks of appreciation for PopPop’s life and example. 

Then the cermetery groundsman approached the canopy and opened the box of ashes and placed the sealed bag in the boulder. Granny’s note to PopPop was then placed in the boulder and the Rite ended with the Our Father. Family members each then took a small handful of blessed earth from an urn next to the table and placed that in the opening in the boulder and the boulder was then sealed. 

The Airmen collected three of the rifle shell casings and they were given to us by the Cemetery Manager as a memento of the ceremony. We stood talking under the canopy for a few minutes as family members embraced each other and moved to the cars. We regrouped at a nearby restaurant for a meal together.

We are sorry for your loss, I've been thinking of my Dads death 2 years ago. Some of my brothers and sisters can't talk about it still. It's never easy but if the loved one in question has lived a full life as our Dads have, you miss them but what more could they have done. Their love will always be with us and through the mercy of Christ they still are with us.
Our Dads were the leaders of our bands. We have always tried to imitate them, but know we will come up short, but if we are close we will be examples for our own bands. Our own children look up to us every bit as much as we looked up to our leaders (Dad) & Mom.
The love and friendship you have expressed to me over the years about your Dad, tells me what a great success his life really was. His passing is a loss but his being your Dad was one of the greatest blessings God ever gave you.
Take care & God bless you all
Love Mark & Bonnie