Editor/ Publisher

Another year, another Czech Fest.

And I survived. I’m getting more adept at attending this annual event. I have a cooler with frozen water in the car (which is often not frozen by the time I’m ready to depart Saturday afternoon).

I sunscreen ... and then apply even more sunscreen.

This year, I even stuck cold washcloths in my cooler ... I definitely upped my game.

But so did our event planners for the annual festival in Wilson.

This year, the event commemorated two ladies as the grand marshals, Darcy Hubka-Vopat and Grace Bohnen, who both lost battles with cancer.

When strolling through the park, I noticed the latticework with three distinct panels: Fighters, Survivors and Forevers.

When we spoke with the families before the festival, they expressed gratitute that their loved ones were being remembered. But also the desire to show support to others.

I had no idea the support would be quite so prominent.

I was quick to add names.

The first is my friend, Jennifer, who is currently battling breast cancer. Interestingly, she and I were texting in the days leading up to the Czech Fest. The moment I saw the latticework, I felt drawn to add her name to it.

I admit, I kept being drawn back to the lattice again and again. To keep adding names. To honor. To remember.

Jack. Sarah. Juno. These names came to me quickly.

Jack is my friend’s son who was diagnosed with childhood cancer. He is currently living a cancerfree existence as a rambunctious boy, and my heart is so full when I see this family walking the “after” journey of cancer.

Sarah is my forever. She had a prolonged battle with first, cervical cancer, and later, lung cancer. Our sons were born within weeks of one another, and her death still hits me hard. I don’t feel old enough to have a friend who died from cancer, especially one of my close high school friends.

Juno is a friend and colleague. I remember so vividly the day she told my managing editor she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Juno was probably my first close experience with a friend or colleague walking the path of cancer. She was, and is, a fighter in every sense of the word. She showed up, continued to design our newspaper in Hays and also battled through what I know now was not an easy path to healing and recovery.

As the days pass, I continue to think of other friends.

I imagine the experience is similar for many of our readers. It’s easy to think of the names that quickly come to the top, but as the days continue, I think of other friends and acquaintances who have faced cancer head-on.

Yes, the After Harvest Czech Festival is certainly a time for celebration and rejoicing, but this year, I’m so glad it also offered an opportunity to celebrate and honor our loved ones who face cancer. Not only those who are here for us to support and cheer on, but also those who will remain forever in our hearts.

Thank you, Wilson community, for such a beautiful opportunity to remember those I cherish in so many ways.

Bonar is the editor/publisher of the I-R and can be reached via email: kbonar@indyrepnews.com.