Community members honor eight brothers who served

  • August Janak stands next to his parent’s gravestones, where a plaque was set honoring his brothers who served in the U.S. Army.
    August Janak stands next to his parent’s gravestones, where a plaque was set honoring his brothers who served in the U.S. Army.
  • A close up of the plaque
    A close up of the plaque
  • Family and friends gathered at the dedication ceremony
    Family and friends gathered at the dedication ceremony

    Community members and members of the Janak family came together at the Queen of Peace Cemetery in Sweet Home Aug. 26 to honor eight Janak brothers who served in both World War II and the Korean War.
    The eight brothers in the Janak family who served were Jerome John Janak Sr., Bohdan “Buck” Alois Janak, Frank Micheal Janak, Josef “Nehi” Alois Janak, Eugene Joseph Janak, Daniel Jerome Janak Sr, Richard Joseph Janak, and August “Gus” F. Janak.
    Of the eight brothers, August is the sole surviving member. These brothers served in the military for approximately 25 years. August was in the Air Force, while his seven brothers were in the Army.
    Along with commemorating his fallen brothers, August celebrated his 89th birthday at the ceremony.
    “I want to thank my parents, my brothers, and all the veterans around that help to make this country free,” August said.
    A new plaque was set up at the gravestones of August’s parents, Albert John Janak Sr., and Helen Matusek Janak. The Vietnam Veterans Association made the new plaque possible.
    At the ceremony, Sgt. Brad Woods of the VVA gave a speech on how he met Gus and what inspired him to set up the plaque.
    “Upon meeting Gus and Celia (August’s wife), I thought what a cool couple. They explained what Gus wanted and a sense of panic came over me for a split second,” Woods said.
    “Then I remembered doing a memorial for a fallen brother whom we called Nightcrawler. He died on his motorcycle, after returning from Iraq. He and a female passenger were riding his bike straight down the road and a 15-year-old girl, who was driving illegally, turned right in front of him, killing him instantly.
    His passenger is still in a wheelchair, she will never walk again. I tell this story so I can tell you this.
    The drive and need to accomplish Nightcrawler’s mission were the same drive and need to complete this mission I felt for Gus and his cause.”
    “We, as a nation, need to remember history. Those who aren’t a student of history are doomed to repeat it. So when I heard about Gus, I had but one thing to do which was to try to get this plaque for him somehow.”
    After the speech, attendees faced the flag and saluted while other veterans provided the 21-gun salute and played Taps.
    Members of the family left feeling privileged to honor those brothers who served.
    “My biggest joy comes in seeing my dad being so proud because I especially think that nowadays we have to draw our strength on our family and our heritage,” August’s daughter, Sheryl Pavliska, said.
    “None of his brothers lived past 80. To see August be so proud and what joy he can bring to his nieces and nephews who have already lost their dads, it makes me so proud.”