Owego and Tioga County will Honor All Who Served for their valor, courage and sacrifice at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Tioga County Veterans Memorial on the south lawn of the Tioga County Courthouse.
Post Commanders urge attendance by Color Guards and members of Tioga Post 401 American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Tioga County Marine Corps League and Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars with their Auxiliaries. Also encouraged to attend are all veterans and their families, Gold Star Mothers and their families and the public.
Veterans Day honors those veterans who helped shape American history and remembers the 173 brave service members from Tioga County who paid the price to defend our nation including one Afghanistan, three Iraq, 17 Vietnam, eight Korea, 119 WWII, 25 WWI and many from the Civil War.
Participating to honor Tioga County’s Civil War veterans will be the New York 137th and Pennsylvania 141st Voluntary Infantry and Daughters of the Union Veterans.
The signing of the World War I Armistice took place in a railway coach near the battle zone in France. The bugles sounded cease fire and the hostilities ended, marking a most significant moment in world history – Armistice Day 1918 – the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
Veterans wear with pride your military medals, decorations and awards from your service in the Global War on Terrorism since 2001 including Gulf War, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan, Vietnam War, Korean War and WWII.
Special recognition will be paid to Owego and Tioga County’s Purple Heart Recipients and the oldest living veterans over 90 years of age as reported to the Master of Ceremonies at the park.
Not forgotten from all wars are our POWs and MIAs. They and their families have suffered greatly through their experiences.
Tioga County especially honors a WWII Navy sailor whose submarine was lost, presumably mined in the Yellow Sea, and four fallen heroes of the early Korean War – three whose remains were not recovered and one who is buried near the POW Camp where he died in South Korea. Of the four, one was KIA, one was MIA and two were POWs.
Veterans Day is intended to thank living Veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served – not only those who died – have sacrificed and done their duty.
A Roll Call of Honor will remember veterans from Tioga County who died since Memorial Day 2015. A moment of silence will honor veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice in defending freedom.
Veteran organizations encourage all service families and the public to attend the service Honoring All Who Served. Those in attendance are reminded to dress warm and bring a folding chair.
Here are tips for commemorating Veterans Day.
Observe Veterans Day in church services on Sunday, Nov. 8. On “Veterans Sunday”, honor veterans and their families for their faithful service to our country.
Remember the president has proclaimed November as Military Family Month. The nation honors the commitment and sacrifices made by the families of the nation’s service members.
Attend a community event like the 11-11-11 service at the Tioga County Veterans Memorial. Visit a hospitalized or homebound or nursing home veteran.
Veterans of Modern Warfare of Iraq and Afghanistan will visit Riverview Manor Health Care Center and Sayre Elks, and the Mayors of Waverly, South Waverly, Sayre and Athens will conduct a Veterans Program at Elderwood in Waverly to show veterans they are not forgotten.
Display your United States Flag. Talk to your Kids. Teach your children about the importance of honoring our veterans. Make a private visit to Tioga County Veterans Memorial. Ask for a veteran to tell you more about a fallen hero. Spread the word about Veterans Day via Facebook and Twitter.
Just Listen. Ask the veteran to break out the old photo albums and share stories of their service. Read the Constitution – the heart of the United States. Thank a veteran in person. Say, “Thank You for your service and sacrifices.”
Northern Tioga Veterans Invited to Free Dinner
For the tenth year, the Newark Valley Historical Society will honor veterans of all Armed Forces and spouses of deceased veterans from Berkshire, Newark Valley and Richford at a free dinner on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 4 p.m. at the Newark Valley Fire Station. Contact Marcia Kiechle by calling 642-8967 for more information.
Support New Bridge Flags
New American flags for the 2016 season on Owego’s Court Street Bridge need to be purchased with donations from interested citizens. Those flags flying over the Susquehanna River honor Tioga County’s fallen heroes for their service and sacrifice.
Explaining Wreaths Across America
Three videos will explain Wreaths Across America and why it matters from the perspective of the founder who started donating wreaths over 20 years ago, an American Gold Star Mother who lost her son, and personal stories of those who serve and sacrifice. Visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/about/answering-why/ to learn more.
National Wreaths Across America Day is Saturday, Dec. 12 at 11 a.m. The mission is to Remember, Honor and Teach about the service of deceased veterans.
Thousands of wreaths will be placed at Arlington National Cemetery, and at the same time at national cemeteries in the United States including Elmira and Bath and overseas and in all local community cemeteries.
A wreath on each veteran grave is the Tioga and Bradford County objective. How? By voluntary involvement of individuals, church groups, businesses and industry buying or making a wreath. It is a beautiful way to honor those who have fought and died for our country.
For more information on any of these items, contact Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Day Chairman Jim Raftis, Sr. by email to jraftis2@stny.rr.com or by calling (607) 687-4229.
