The last Sunday in the month of September has been declared Gold Star Mothers Day since a 1936 joint congressional resolution named the day in honor of mothers of fallen members of the U.S. military.
Approximately 100 family members, friends and city, state and federal officials gathered Sept. 24 to honor Army Spc. Dale J. Kridlo, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010, by renaming the Ft. Jenkins Bridge in his honor.
“The family is what this is all about,” said state Rep. Mike Carroll. “The Kridlo family has endured tremendous pain and made a tremendous sacrifice on behalf of all of us.”
Carroll, who co-sponsored the bill with state Rep. Aaron Kaufer, to rename bridge, went on to call Dale Kridlo a “true 21st Century hero.”
The bridge, built in the 1920s, is one of two that connects Pittston and West Pittston.
Born and raised in Pittston, Kridlo was a member of the 27th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps out of Fort Bragg, N.C. He was killed in action on Nov. 7, 2010, at the age of 33.
At the time of his death he was serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kunar province, Afghanistan, and died of wounds suffered during an insurgents’ attack.
Present for the ceremony were Kridlo’s parents, Al Kridlo, of Hughestown, and Michelle Dale, of Vero Beach, FL; his twin daughters Delyn and Zoë Kridlo; grandmother, Alberta Kridlo; his former wife, Antonia Reed; and his aunts and uncles.
Along with Carroll, D-Avoca, and Kaufer, R-Kingston, state Sen. John Yudichak, D-Plymouth Township, offered remarks.
U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Moosic, read from a Congressional Record speech he recited to Congress earlier this month.
“I’m in awe of everyone being here and the honor given my son, a bridge in his honor for giving the ultimate sacrifice,” Michelle Dale said. “I’m mostly grateful to God for giving me my son, Dale, and all the love I got from him and the memories I have from him.”
Al Kridlo called his son a bridge of sorts and found it fitting a bridge was being named after him.
“Dale, for the better part of his life, was like a bridge,” he said. “He was always there to help the task or to help people get along, either by encouraging them or by talking to them or making them laugh – bridging the gap, so to speak.”
Kridlo’s daughters and former wife made the trip to Pittston from Wellington, Colo., to be a part of the bridge dedication.
“It is really heart-wrenching because we are not really used to this sort of stuff,” Zoë said. “There’s nothing in Colorado that honors him because nobody knows him but here.
“It’s special.”
It had been five years since the 16-year-old twins had been in Pittston.
“It’s something nice,” Delyn said. “It’s an honor, not to be taken as sad and depressing. “Sure there’s going be tears, sure there’s going to be emotions, but it’s for a good cause.”
“I’m more than happy and thrilled for the turnout,” Al Kridlo said. “I’m happy for his memory today.
