Latest news with #Gorski
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Purple Heart reunited with WWII veteran's family in Geneva
The Brief Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs' Operation Purple Heart reunited a lost Purple Heart with the family of WWII veteran Edward Gorski Jr. during a ceremony in Geneva. Gorski, wounded in the Battle of the Bulge while protecting a fellow soldier, died in 1993; his medal was found in a bank deposit box and turned over as unclaimed property. Gorski's grandson, Shawn, an Army veteran himself, accepted the medal and said the honor deepened the meaning of his own service. GENEVA, Ill. - A Purple Heart that lost its way has now been reunited with the family of a World War II veteran. What we know "These medals don't deserve to be in a cold vault in Springfield," said Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs. "They should be in the warm, loving embrace of family."Frerichs launched Operation Purple Heart in 2021 to return lost or unclaimed combat medals to the families of those who earned Thursday, during a ceremony at the American Legion post in west suburban Geneva, Army veteran Shawn Gorski accepted the Purple Heart awarded to his late grandfather, Edward Gorski Jr. The elder Gorski served in the Army's 65th Infantry Division, which fought in Europe during 1944 and 1945, including in the Battle of the Bulge. Gorski's son, Scott, recalled that his father was wounded while trying to shield a fellow soldier from a mortar blast. "There was a mortar that got shot in a fox hole and he do over a guy that was in bad shape already," Gorski said. "He dove on top of him and it blew and did a lot of damage around his eye. And he carried that scar through life as I remember on his face."Edward Gorski died in 1993. His Purple Heart, which had been stored in a bank's safe deposit box, was eventually turned over to the treasurer's office as unclaimed property. "This program came about because when I came into office, I discovered that we held certain Purple Hearts. I saw one in a display case. and asked who does that belong to? The staff couldn't tell me."Thursday's event marked the 14th time the state has returned a Purple Heart to a veteran's family. Shawn Gorski, who was just a child when his grandfather died, said he was honored to receive the medal. A veteran himself, he plans to proudly display it in his home. "When the Treasurer's office reached out to me and said your grandfather has this, I was shocked. This just makes it all more real. And more meaningful. I think it makes my service feel more important too. So now I'm going to put it in a case and hang it up in my basement and show it off," Gorski said. What's next Frerichs said the state still has eight more Purple Hearts awaiting reunification and is asking the public to visit to see if they can help connect the medals with their rightful families.
Chicago Tribune
12-06-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Family receives World War II hero's Purple Heart at ceremony in Geneva
On Thursday, Edward Gorski Jr.'s Purple Heart medal was returned by the Illinois treasurer's office to the World War II veteran's grandson, Shawn. The medal was presented to the Gorski family at a ceremony at American Legion Post 75 in Geneva, where Shawn is a member, according to the post. Shawn, himself an Army veteran, said receiving it was an emotional experience. 'It just shows that everything he went through, we're able to, you know, tell those stories,' he said on Thursday. 'Ultimately, our teachings and his legacy will live on.' The reuniting of the Gorski family with Edward's Purple Heart comes several years into a larger effort on the part of the treasurer's office to return unclaimed military medals in its possession. Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs is the state's custodian of unclaimed property — everything from bank accounts and insurance policies to stamps and jewelry. That's why military medals like Purple Hearts sometimes end up in the office's possession. As of Thursday, the treasurer's office estimated it has returned about $2.3 billion in forgotten cash and items during Frerichs' three terms. In 2021, the office launched a special effort, Operation Purple Heart, to raise awareness about unclaimed military medals. To date, Frerichs has returned 14 Purple Heart medals, including Gorski's. In December, as part of an investigation identifying the veterans behind the unclaimed Purple Hearts in the treasurer's office's possession, the Tribune ultimately tracked down Gorski's family to let them know Edward Gorski Jr.'s medals, including the Purple Heart, were being held by the Illinois treasurer's office. According to past reporting, one of Gorski's sons, David, had put them in a bank after Edward had died and later lost track of the box. The medals had been turned over to the treasurer's office by a Darien bank in 2003, ending up in the state's unclaimed property section. But, as of Thursday, the Purple Heart medal is back with Gorski's family. Gathered at the ceremony were members of the Gorski family, members of the American Legion post including Commander Mike Ferrari and local elected officials, who recognized Edward Gorski Jr.'s service. 'It's important (that) all of us who benefit from the freedom earned and granted us by Mr. Gorski and the countless men and women like him, remember and learn about, venerate and commemorate the times they knew,' Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns said at the ceremony. Edward Gorski Jr. was the oldest child of working-class parents and grew up on Chicago's North Side, near Wrigley Field, according to past reporting. He voluntarily enlisted in the Army in April 1944, months after his 18th birthday. He survived significant combat, including a battle in Germany in which he was struck in the face and body by shrapnel. 'He continued to fight for his country,' Frerichs said at the ceremony. 'Eventually, he came back and got to enjoy some of that freedom that he fought so hard for, was able to start a family here, raise a son, see his grandson follow in his footsteps and service to his country. These are things that really make someone a hero.' Gorski ultimately returned to Chicago after being honorably discharged in November 1945, having earned a Purple Heart, a European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars, a combat infantryman badge, and the good conduct and World War II victory medals, per his discharge records. He and his wife, Evelyn, later moved from Chicago to suburban DuPage County, and he worked for many years in private security. He died in early 1993, at the age of 67, after suffering a massive heart attack, according to past reporting. Evelyn died weeks before the Tribune contacted his family about the lost medals, at the age of 99. Tracking down the owners and family of military medals can be difficult, Frerichs said at the ceremony, because the Armed Forces and federal government don't keep a comprehensive list of who is awarded them, and because names on safe deposit boxes don't always match the name of someone awarded a medal. And, while Gorski's medal has now found its way home, the treasurer's office's efforts are not yet over, Frerichs said on Thursday. He said they have nine unreturned Purple Hearts in its possession currently, and noted that medals are still coming into his office. After the ceremony, Scott Gorski — Edward's son and Shawn's father — said he had a feeling when his oldest child was born that he'd be the one to receive the Purple Heart. 'They shared the same birthday,' Scott Gorski said. 'They are two peas in a pod.' Scott Gorski described how his father spent all week, every week with his grandson when he was young. 'We said, 'Yeah, we got to start searching daycares,'' Scott Gorski recalled. 'And he (Edward) was like, 'Absolutely not. I'm his daycare.'' During that time, Shawn and his grandfather went fishing, visited the zoo and played tennis. 'A true family man,' Scott Gorski said of his father. And, not only did Thursday's ceremony reunite the medal with the family, but Scott Gorski said he hoped it offered a glimpse of his father's character to the family members who never got the chance to know him. 'I think they feel a little closer to him today,' he said.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Company faces major fine for failing to report hazardous chemical cargo spill on railway: 'Required to immediately notify'
A July 2024 chemical leak in Springfield, Massachusetts, spotlighted the need for urgent action and notification when hazardous substances are spilled. Workers at Astro Chemicals were transferring a sodium hydroxide-based solution when a valve was left open, according to WWLP 22 News in February. What was initially thought to be a smaller leak turned out to amount to up to 3,200 gallons spilling onto the soil and crushed-stone ground cover of a railway trackbed. Regulations require that the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection be notified "within two hours of becoming aware of a spill, if the spill exceeds 50 pounds," the local station reported. WWLP said that the agency wasn't called until the next day. "When a reportable quantity of hazardous material is released, responsible parties are required to immediately notify their local fire department and MassDEP," Michael Gorski, director of the agency's office in Springfield, told the outlet. Sodium hydroxide is a potent substance used for multiple purposes, according to the Virginia Health Department. It can be used to make soap and clean wood. It's also found in household cleaning products. The chemical can cause burns and blindness, while powder forms have the potential to cause lung damage if inhaled. Sodium hydroxide is just one example of the chemicals that are transported around the country and all over the world every day. Most reach their destinations without incident. But spills of dangerous cargo can lead to disaster and require quick mitigation from trained experts. A 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, for example, unleashed toxic vinyl chloride. Air, water, and soil pollution fallout will continue to be studied long after. Last year in Maine, one of the country's largest spills of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — chemicals found in household items like non-stick cookware and also known as PFAS or "forever chemicals" — occurred at the decommissioned Brunswick Naval Air Station. A malfunctioning fire suppression system sent about 51,000 gallons of foam containing PFAS into the water. A "do not eat" order for local fish was issued, among other precautions, according to The Guardian. In Maine and in Massachusetts, watchdog groups and officials called for better communication about the contamination events. Fast action from trained professionals is key to safe containment, but experts and the public also need to receive information in a timely manner, guided by regulations, to ensure strategic cleanup, effective monitoring, thorough follow-up, and trust. Immediate reports to the proper authorities can limit damage from hazardous spills. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "This assures timely response, assessment, mitigation, and cleanup to protect both the public and the environment," Gorski told WWLP, regarding the Springfield case. Astro received a $25,000 penalty from the environmental agency. $2,500 of that penalty was suspended, to the company's credit, for a speedy cleanup on its part, per the local report. Becoming informed about the plans and procedures in your community regarding potential environmental hazards is a good way to make sure measures are in place to prevent and mitigate pollution. Communities can also come together to support pro-environment policies to safeguard local ecosystems and the water systems that connect us all from chemical contamination. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Fox Sports
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Last Night in Baseball: Salvador Perez's 4 doubleheader doubles
There is always baseball happening — almost too much baseball for one person to handle themselves. That's why we're here to help, though, by sifting through the previous days' games, and figuring out what you missed, but shouldn't have. Here are all the best moments from last night in Major League Baseball: Perez collects 5 hits, 4 doubles What a day for Salvador Perez. Sure, it was two games in one day, but five hits, four RBI, and four doubles — with Perez as the Royals' catcher for one of those two games — is a fine day's work whether over nine innings or 18. Especially since his Royals won both games of that doubleheader. That third double was nearly a home run, too — just another few inches higher, and it clears the wall. Ah, well, four doubles from someone who runs like Perez — which is to say, like someone who has been catching in the majors for 14 years now — is much more fun than three doubles and a homer, even if the stat sheet disagrees. On top of all of that, Perez somehow found time for a goofy thing to happen: he broke his belt on a slide. Sliding into second en route to that aforementioned third double of the day, the belt buckle came permanently undone in a way that was immediately visible once Perez turned. How'd it break? Teammate Bobby Witt Jr. had the answer : "That's what happens when you're that fast." Rockies tie a record they wish they had not In case you didn't catch it in the video, the Rockies were the Royals' opponents in that doubleheader, which means they had the opposite kind of day that Perez did. Dropping two games in a single day puts their record at 4-20 for the season, which is worrisome enough as is, but Colorado has now piled up enough road defeats in a row for it to be brought up in this space. The Rockies have now lost 13 road games in a row, which ties their franchise-worst record set back in 2008. That's not ideal, but at least they're still a ways off from the MLB record, which belongs to the 2021 Diamondbacks. Arizona lost 24 straight games on the road that year, in a season in which they'd lose 110 games and finish 55 games back of first in the NL West… and 22.5 games behind the fourth-place Rockies. The good news for the Rockies is that all they need is one win on the road to snap this thing and keep it from becoming more than just a franchise record. In other good news, it's also still just April. Given how the season has gone so far, though, it being just April is also potentially bad news. Gorski homers in first MLB at-bat Matt Gorski is 27 years old. He was born in 1997, which is not even the same century that many fellow MLB rookies were born in, and he was drafted in 2019, in the second round. He spent five years in the minors after that, and didn't even get started there until the 2021 season since there was no 2020 Minor League Baseball thanks to COVID-19. On Thursday night, Gorski finally made his MLB debut for the Pirates, and he hit a home run in his first at-bat: Now there's a man who earned the silent treatment. Christian Yelich would probably like to take this sequence back. And not just because the Giants ended up defeating the Brewers by one run, either. Having the ball drop right out of your glove is bad enough, but the fall afterward while trying to change direction… the group chat is going to have a lot of fun with this one. Your group chat? Yelich's? Yes. You know a pitch was nasty when Mariners' closer Andrés Muñoz had quite the outing on Thursday, striking out two of the three batters that he faced to lock down the win and earn a save against the Red Sox. The strikeout that stuck out the most was the second of those, against Kristian Campbell, which also ended the game. Ending the game was not what made it notable, though. (Starts at 0:25 seconds.) Campbell was fooled so bad by Muñoz's pitch that he lost his grip on his bat, when went flying nearly into left field. The pitch had 38 inches of vertical break, and it was nowhere near where Campbell thought it would be, nor at the time he thought it would be. What a pitch. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
CBS News
25-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Pirates rookie first baseman Matt Gorski homers in his first major league at-bat
Despite losing to the Angels 4-3 on Thursday night, the Pirates did have a moment that hasn't happened in their organization in more than a decade. First baseman Matt Gorski, who had been recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier in the day, made his big league debut and did so in style. Gorski led off the second inning and took Angels pitcher Tyler Anderson to deep left-center, hitting a three-run home run in his first Major League at-bat. MATT GORSKI FIRST AT BAT 🤝 FIRST HOME RUN! — Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 25, 2025 It's the first time a Pirates player to homered in their first big league at-bat since Starling Marte hit a home run against Houston in 2012. The 27-year-old has spent part of the past four years with Triple-A Indianapolis and is putting together a solid season. In 70 at-bats this year, he has 21 hits, three home runs, and 14 RBIs, for a batting average of .300. After the game, Gorski talked about how hitting a home run in his first at-bat is nothing new to him. "Every level besides Triple-A, my first hit has been a homer," Gorski said. "That's something that I'm going to take home, I guess. That's how I've started other levels before, so it was cool to start the Major League level like that." In his MiLB career, Gorski has 417 hits in 1,697 plate appearances, 90 home runs, and a career batting average of .246.
