While surfing the Internet, Brecksville, Ohio American Legion Post 196 Commander JC Sullivan discovered an Irish Medal of Honor recepient was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland. County Cork-born Michael Corcoran was a veteran of the Indian Wars. When he inquired at the Catholic cemetery, Sullivan was told there was no Medal of Honor stone at Corcoran's gravesite. Sullivan, through his membership and contacts in the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the largest Irish Catholic fraternal organization in the country, was able to secure a Medal of Honor stone from Uncle Sam.
Hoping to find surviving family, Sullivan contacted Lou Mio at the Plain Dealer, who was their military event reporter at the time. Mio assigned the story to Janet Cho.
The first article published was about Sullivan's attempt at finding Corcoran descendants. The morning the first story ran, one of Corcoran's great-granddaughters read the story and burst into tears when she realized it was her family Sullivan was looking for. She called other family members to tell them about it. They got in touch with Janet Cho. The Plain Dealer followed up with a second story about finding Michael Corcoran's family. Descendants from around the nation made plans to come to Cleveland for the dedication ceremony at the gravesite.
Needing a place relatively close by the cemetery to host Corcoran family members, Sullivan mentioned it to Post 196 Legionnaire Bob Farber, who was a member of PLAV Post 13 in Slavic Village. Farber brought the matter up at the next Post 13 monthly meeting and members graciously voted to donate their Hall (and liquid refreshments) to Sullivan for the post-dedication reception.
The dedication ceremony produced the Plain Dealer's third and final story. Afterwards, at Post 13's Hall, Sullivan commented to fellow veterans, "You guys are great. If I was Polish, I'd join the PLAV." That's when he found out that one didn't have to be Polish to be a member. Being grateful for everything the PLAV had done for him and the Corcoran family, which included providing a color guard for the ceremony, Sullivan became a member. He recently transferred his membership to Tremont's Post #58.
"I've enjoyed the new friends I've made through the PLAV," Sullivan said. "I've always loved the ethnicity of my hometown; it's a strength we have that other cities do not have."
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