Pictured is Bill Kennedy, Pearl Harbor Survivor. (Photo credit: Rita Nier)
Senator Tom Libous nominated George Penney to the New York State Veteran’s Hall of Fame. Penney was a World War II veteran and a Councilman for the Town of Owego, among other notable achievements. (Provided by the Office of Senator Tom Libous)
Apalachin Girl Scouts Place Flags in Riverside Cemetery-Apalalchin. Pictured, back row from left, are Leader Leann Lesperance and Leader Drew Deskur of Troop 30919, and Leader Nancy Reedy of Troop 30425; in the front row, from left, are Cathy Deskur, Sophia Werner, Teresa Deskur (30919), Miranda Werner, Megan Reedy, and Leader Jennifer Werner of Troop 30425. (Photo provided by Jim Raftis Sr.)
Red, white and blue wreaths and flags decorated the Tioga County Veterans Memorial Park on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, as names of veterans buried in Tioga County cemeteries were read during the annual roll call which started at 8 a.m.
Prior to the annual parade at 10:30 a.m., VFW Post 1371 and the Ladies Auxiliary honored and remembered Jack Howey during a special ceremony at the park. The Junior Girls Auxiliary also attended. Howey, who passed away in 2008, was a Tioga County Veterans Service Officer, VFW Quartermaster and Korean War veteran.
Parade goers lined the streets of downtown Owego, cheering and clapping as veterans from VFW Post 1371 and the Men’s and Ladies and Junior Girls Auxiliary Units, Chapter 480 Vietnam Veterans of America, the Tioga County Marine Corps League, Tioga Post 401 American Legion and Sons of the American Legion, the 137th New York and 141st Pennsylvania Civil War re-enactment units, the Daughters of Civil War Union Veterans, and other veteran groups marched.
World War II veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor Bill Kennedy received a special ride during the parade, as did World War II veteran Dick Tiffany, along with veterans Ken Patterson and Ed Bidwell. Owego Elementary students, the Owego Free Academy parade band and color guard, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, local officials and others also participated in the parade, along with several fire and emergency vehicles.
At a Remembrance Ceremony immediately following the parade, Memorial Day Chairman, Jim Raftis, Sr., shared the meaning and significance of Memorial Day with a large crowd gathered in the courthouse square prior to the invocation delivered by G. Terry Steenburg, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Owego.
Young people from Boy Scout Troop 60 read names of Tioga County fallen heroes and Owego Elementary students presented flags in veterans’ memories. Names of veterans who have passed away since Veterans Day 2014 were also read, and Gold Star Families attending the ceremony were acknowledged.
Derrick Kalpokas (Boy Scout Troop 30 out of Newark Valley) replaces the flag on his grandfather Nelson G. Houston’s (Korea) grave at the West Newark Cemetery as his sister Taylor (Sea Scout Ship 25 Ithaca) looks on. (Photo provided by Lisa ‘Houston’ Kalpokas)
Newark Valley Boy Scout Troop 30 and Troop Leader, Jon Maule, were recognized for outstanding community service. Not only has Troop 30 participated in “Flags In” ceremonies at various cemeteries in Newark Valley for many years, they also placed flags at other Tioga County cemeteries that needed help.
Maule shared, “It’s an important task, and we like to do our part.”
Owego Middle School eighth grade social studies teacher, Michael Bartlow, and his students were acknowledged for participating in a project Bartlow assumed two decades ago. Called “In Harm’s Way,” the activity allows students to meet and interview veterans.
Bartlow explained, “My students learn that freedom is not free.”
Other ceremony highlights included mention of Tioga County’s application to become a “Purple Heart County.” Raftis is looking for community support in updating the list of Purple Heart recipients, and communicated that Tioga County will work with the Department of Transportation regarding an official sign and the necessary funding for the project.
Raftis announced that Senator Tom Libous’ office, along with the New York State Senate, has nominated George Penney to the New York State Veteran’s Hall of Fame. Penney was a World War II veteran and a Councilman for the Town of Owego, among other notable achievements. Penney, who passed away in February 2015 at the age of 92, is fondly remembered for his many contributions to Tioga County throughout his lifetime.
Also during the ceremony, the OFA parade band performed a medley of five Armed Services songs. At the conclusion of the remembrance service, U.S. Navy fallen heroes were remembered by a wreath thrown upon the Susquehanna River from the west side of the Court Street Bridge, as well as the playing of Taps and a gun salute.
The year 2015 marks the 124th annual Memorial Day ceremony in Owego, N.Y., the first of which was recorded on May 30, 1891.
Click here to view a photo gallery from the Memorial Day event.
