The life of a soldier happens in spurts, moving back and forth from civilian life to life in the military. Capt. D.W. Janszky, owner of the Haddonfield Floral Company, has been living the life of a soldier for nine years now.
“It’s tough running a business when you’re only here for a few months and then you get shipped off again,” Janszky said.
After coming back from Afghanistan in February, Janszky is preparing to be deployed back to the Middle East sometime in June.
“My employees really help me out when I go overseas,” Janszky said. “Without them, I could never keep my business going. Modern technology definitely helps, but it is still difficult for me to try to run a business from so far away.”
Janszky is a third generation military professional and understands that being from a military family has made him understand the sacrifices it takes.
“I didn’t grow up moving from place to place,” Janszky said. “My dad enlisted before I was born, so by the time I was born he was already out. But I still understand the sacrifices he made.”
Janszky says he wasn’t pushed by his father to join the military, but with all the equipment and memorabilia in the house, he took up an interest in it at an early age.
“It’s inevitable when there is military stuff all over the house to ask questions,” he said. “Eventually I began to learn more and more about the military and decided that it was right for me.”
Learning about the military is Janszky’s hope for those celebrating Memorial Day. The majority of the population makes resolutions to celebrate the New Year, but Janszky would like to see people make an effort to make a resolution to take an interest in what the military does for the country.
“While most people have a vague understanding of what our veterans do for us, I would like to see people dig deeper on Memorial Day,” Janszky said. “It’s not just about giving money, but understanding how the military affects veterans and how we can make things better for them.”
He is also quick to point out that there are a lot of veterans from past wars who are overlooked during Memorial Day. While it is important to recognize those soldiers who are currently in the military, Janszky acknowledges that those who are no longer in the military are just as important.
“As a current veteran, I get recognition all the time,” Janszky said. “But there are many more out there who have done so much more that don’t get recognized at all.”
Janszky hopes all citizens, including past and current veterans, will take the time to learn more about the military durng this Memorial Day.
