Greek Orthodox service honors WWII pilot Michael D. Biakis

SPRINGFIELD — In a tribute steeped in faith, memory and community, St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral held a special memorial service on Sunday to honor Michael D. Biakis, a city native, parishioner and decorated World War II veteran.

Biakis, a U.S. Air Force B24 co-pilot, was on a training exercise on Jan. 19, 1945 over the North Sea when his plane was caught in a sudden snow squall and crashed into the ocean. The wreckage was never recovered.

Rev. Dionysios Koulianos told parishioners and guests at a memorial service that followed Mass in the Greek Cultural Center that it is up to the community to keep Biakis’ memory alive.

“Memory is eternal when you do something about it,” Koulianos said. He said it can be as simple as keeping a picture of the departed somewhere where you see it of