We have an oddly named street in my community. It’s driven by and on daily by hundreds – perhaps thousands – of motorists who probably don’t give it a second thought. Yes, nestled in the grid of more common names like Dewey and Allison and Clark is the less familiar “Iwo” street. To the less informed, it’s just an oddly name street. An outlier of sorts. But to those who care to learn the history of its naming, it represents sacrifice, honor, hardship, loss, freedom, spirit and everything that embodies Memorial Day.
Following High School, William “Bill” Kail left his Auburn, Indiana home for military services. On March 15, 1945, Kail was killed in action on the Iwo Jima volcano islands “in the performance of his duty and service of his country.”
To the less informed, it’s an oddly name street. To those who care to learn the history, it’s everything that embodies Memorial Day. (Image source: CreationSwap.com)
A Daily Memorial Day Reminder
His best friend in the military later wrote to the grieving family, “He died doing something above and beyond the call of duty, and I’ll never see a braver sight than Bill standing in the teeth of that namboo and firing back shot for shot. ‘Greater love hath no man than he give his life for a friend.’”
In 1960, the family was provided the opportunity to name a former alley that ran behind their homestead as it was being converted to a street and several homes were being built along it. Kail’s parents wanted to honor Bill with it and considered several names, including “Memorial Avenue” and “Iwo Jima Drive.”
They felt the latter would be too long, so they shortened it to Iwo Street. In the years since, so many motorists have driven past or on the street meant to honor a fallen son, brother friend and service man. To those who don’t know the significance, it’s merely an oddly named street. To those who Memorial Day: The story of Bill Kail and Iwo Street, it’s a daily reminder of the price we pay for our freedom.
Let us always remember Memorial Day.
Here are a few other Memorial Day related posts to help us honor our fallen and put Memorial Day into proper perspective.
- Memorial Day 2015 quotes, inspirations: Honoring those who died this holiday (GulfLive)
- God’s Memorial Day by Henry Morris, Ph.D. (Institute for Creation Research)
- Which veterans would you like to thank? (Michael Hyatt)
- Thinking Theologically About Memorial Day by Kevin DeYoung (Christianity.com)
- A Memorial Day Message: Saluting our heroes with utmost honor (Journal Standard)
- In Remembrance for Memorial Day (SB Nation – On the Banks)
- Gaining Perspective on Memorial Day, America, and Friends Who Died Young (Chicago Now)