Marcia Kiechle presents Jerry Marsh Newark Valley Historical Society’s Veterans Award during the Veterans Day dinner held in Newark Valley.
Jerry Marsh addresses guests at the Veterans Day dinner held in Newark Valley.
Pictured is Jerry Marsh’s published book, along with his award.
Dean Morgan emphasizes the need for new members for the Honor Guard. Their most important duty is rendering military funeral honors.
Veteran Bill Chandler addresses guests at the Veterans Day dinner held in Newark Valley. Chandler was recognized for his fundraising efforts and improvements to the Veterans Memorial in Tioga County, N.Y.
On Veterans Day the Newark Valley Historical Society honored veterans of all Armed Forces from Berkshire, Newark Valley and Richford at the Newark Valley Fire Station with at free dinner.
Master of Ceremonies, Jim Raftis Sr., presented the Newark Valley Historical Society’s Veterans Award to Jerry Marsh for his published book titled “The Brotherhood of Battle,” profiling the Civil War soldiers of Newark Valley.
Newark Valley’s deputy historian has been researching, writing about, and giving talks about Civil War soldiers from other communities in New York State’s Southern Tier.
March is a veteran of the Vietnam War as a Vietnamese linguist and served 20 years in the Air Force as a special agent and counterintelligence officer.
He gave the keynote address at Veterans Day 2014 at the Tioga County Veterans Memorial and talked about Tioga County’s extensive involvement in the Civil War.
The president of the Newark Valley Historical Society, Ross McGraw, delivered the welcome. St. John’s Deacon Warren Rutan gave the invocation. Marcia Kiechle coordinated arrangements for the ninth year of the free appreciation to veterans program. Dale Burrell explained his WWII Memorabilia display. Each veteran introduced themselves and told where they served.
The Glenn A. Warner Post 1371, Veterans of Foreign Wars Color Guard posted and retrieved the flags. Two members addressed the veterans and their spouses.
Dean Morgan explained the role of the Honor Guard. He emphasized the need for new members. Their most important duty is rendering military funeral honors. The memorial or burial rite ceremony in the church or at the gravesite includes the folding and presenting of the American flag to the next of kin and taps played by a bugler.
Morgan told the veterans that in the past three years his VFW Post 1371 Honor Guard has conducted 114 military funerals. There were 34 in 2012, 47 in 2013 and 33 so far in 2014.
Bill Chandler shared his personal role in updating the Tioga County Veterans Memorial from significant fundraising to adding new Memorials for WWII and Afghanistan/Iraq, new American and service flags, a new sidewalk, names of Tioga County’s four Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients and Battlefield Cross of helmet, rifle and boots.
Three Purple Heart Recipients were honored. A request went out for others Purple Heart Recipients to step forward and be identified. Tioga County is compiling this information to proclaim Tioga County As A Purple Heart County.
