The family of Staff Sgt. Raymond Plouhar, Orion’s most recent war casualty, rely on the wind to spread their memory of him.
Each year, his large, extended family gathers at his parents? home on a lake in southern Orion Township to release balloons on Memorial Day.
Plouhar was killed by a roadside bomb in the Anbar Province of Iraq on June 26, 2006.
Memorial Day also coincides with Plouhar’s birthday. Last year, they were on the same day. This year, the birthday was the day after. Plouhar would have been 33 years old.
‘It’s for his birthday that we do this,? said Cindy Plouhar, Raymond’s mother.
Several dozen friends and family members congregated at the Plouhar’s home for the balloon ceremony following the 1 p.m. events at the Orion Veterans Memorial.
They came toward the lake wearing Marine t-shirts bearing Raymond’s image, carrying bunches of red, white and blue balloons.
At the base of the balloons is a picture of Raymond and a poem he wrote explaining his devotion to his country and the military.
The balloons were released and flitted up toward the blue sky as the family shielded their eyes from the sun to watch.
There’s good reason to think the memory of Raymond Plouhar will make its way out of Orion.
Last year, the family received four phone calls from the Buffalo area from people who found deflated balloons with Raymond’s picture on it.
The Review did a story about it last June.
Raymond’s aunt, Barb Ealy, is hopeful to get more calls from out-of-staters this year.
Plouhar is still remembered for his generosity, specifically when he gave a kidney to his uncle.
His father, also named Raymond, said his son wanted to join the Marines as long as he could remember.
‘It’s his birthday. We just want to be able to celebrate it,? Raymond said about the ceremony.
The family also has two other members in the service, Beth Ealy and Tyler McMurray.
‘It’s sad, but it’s happy,? Cindy said. ‘It’s so we don’t forget. He was really dedicated and caring. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for you.?