In Owego at the Tioga County Veterans Memorial, Veterans Day 2014 services start at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 11, to honor all American veterans and Purple Heart recipients – both living and dead. Families are encouraged to accompany veterans, especially Purple Heart Recipients.
At 11 a.m. church bells will toll from the Historic First Baptist Church, the United Methodist Church, the First Presbyterian Union Church and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, followed by their chimes. Fire sirens will sound a 30 second veterans salute as well at 11 a.m.
All churches in Tioga County who have church bells are asked to ring their bell 11 times at 11 a.m. Veterans request all citizens to observe a moment of silence at 11 a.m.
The Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Color Guard will render honors by posting the colors. These veterans proudly represent the Glenn A. Warner Post 1371, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Tioga Post 401 American Legion, Tioga County Marine Corps League, Chapter 480 Vietnam Veterans of America and Veterans of Modern Warfare of Iraq and Afghanistan with support by their Ladies and Men’s and Sons Auxiliaries.
The Senior Pastor of Owego’s Historic Baptist Church, the Rev. Pastor G. Terry Steenburg, will give the invocation and benediction. Andrea McBride will sing the National Anthem.
Not forgotten from all wars are our POWs and MIAs. Tioga County will remember five – one WWII Missing In Action (MIA) and four early Korea, one Killed In Action (KIA) and buried in the combat zone, one MIA and two POWs, remains never recognized.
Gold Star Mothers and families and Purple Heart recipients and veterans will place wreaths for fallen heroes of Afghanistan, Iraq, Korea, Vietnam, World Wars Two and One, and those buried in overseas national cemeteries.
Bonnie Baker-Duff, president of Tent 2 of the Daughters of Union Veteran of the Civil War, will say a few words and place a wreath at the Tioga County Union Memorial dedicated to Tioga County’s heroes who fought and her martyrs who fell that the Union Might Live.
Volunteers from the 137th New York and 141st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry will do a rifle salute.
This year’s keynote speaker is Jerry Marsh, a native of Newark Valley. He will focus on Tioga County’s role in the Civil War. He has a degree from the University of Rochester. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War as a Vietnamese Linguist. He served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force as a Special Agent and Counterintelligence Officer.
Now he’s a deputy Newark Valley historian and researches of Civil War Soldiers of Tioga County and Western Broome County. Marsh has published a book, titled “The Brotherhood of Battle,” profiling the Civil War soldiers of Newark Valley and has been researching, writing about and giving talks about Civil War soldiers from other communities in New York’s Southern Tier.
Roll Call will remember veterans from Tioga County who died since Memorial Day 2014. A moment of silence will honor deceased veterans especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defending freedom.
Again this year the Newark Valley Historical Society will honor veterans and Purple Heart recipients of all Armed Forces and spouses of deceased veterans from the Northern Tioga County communities of Berkshire, Newark Valley and Richford are invited to a free dinner on Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 4 p.m. at the Newark Valley Fire Station. Contact Marcia Kiechle at 642-8967 for more information.
Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are asked to become involved in community veterans events. There is an urgent need for you to serve on the Owego VFW Post 1371 Honor Guard for duty at military funerals. Other volunteer opportunities are for Veterans Day, Pearl Harbor Day, Wreaths Across America Day, Flag Details for Memorial Day or something of special interest to you or your group.
For more information, contact Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Day Chairman Jim Raftis by email to jraftis2@stny.rr.com or by calling (607) 687-4229.
