Christmas Wreaths to honor veterans

Christmas wreaths on all veteran headstones and cemetery entrances in Tioga and Northern Bradford and Susquehanna Counties by Saturday, Dec. 17 are the local goals of the National Wreaths Across America Program. The theme is, “Say Their Names Out Loud This Year On National Wreaths Across America Day.”  

This is an opportunity at the holiday season for each family of a veteran, patriotic individuals, churches, school children, and business organizations to give back to those who made the commitment to serve and sacrifice. 

Wreaths Across America started over 24 years ago when a wreath maker from Maine showed his appreciation in the way he best knew how. He donated and placed thousands of wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery. 

This December hundreds of thousands of people around the country will do the same in their community’s cemeteries.  

Remember, Honor and Teach about the service and sacrifice of our veterans is the Mission of Wreaths Across America. View the reasons why from the founder, an American Gold Star Mother, and from personal stories by visiting www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/about/answering-why. 

You’ll understand the importance of remembering when you’re in a local cemetery and hear a Gold Star Mother talk to her fallen hero son. Watch parents in the cemetery. They are teaching their young children the meaning of freedom bought by the veterans.  

Visit Bath National Cemetery and see the red bow evergreen wreaths honoring veterans on a snow-covered hillside. 

It would be nice if church congregations or local business groups step up to adopt a cemetery of their choice and place a wreath at the entrance and on veteran graves. 

A town in Tioga County could be the first to 100 percent blanket veteran graves. Say let’s make this a community wide project. Yes, it’ll be challenging. But we’ll find ways to buy or make Christmas wreaths for all our veteran graves.  

For more information and your ideas about Christmas wreaths for veterans in Tioga and Northern Bradford and Susquehanna County cemeteries, or to submit names of Purple Heart Recipients or veterans from Tioga County buried in Arlington, 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. 

Thank You for Making Veterans Day Ceremony 

Veterans thank the Owego and Tioga County community for coming out to the Tioga County Veterans and Tioga County Civil War Union Memorials to honor local veterans for their service and sacrifice on Veterans Day 2016.  

Some ceremony highlights include a Roll Call of Honor for Tioga County veterans who died since Memorial Day 2016; a wreath laying at the Tioga County Veterans Memorials by Gold Star Mother Mrs. Barbara Bilbrey, Purple Heart Recipients, veterans and at the Tioga County Civil War Union Memorial Bonnie Baker Duff of the Daughters of Union Veterans and Adjutant 2nd Lt. Ben Gardner of the 137th New York Infantry; and the Tioga County Civil War published book author and Vietnam Veteran Jerry Marsh of Newark Valley says he has identified over 2,000 men who enlisted in 70 different regiments. More than 460 of those men died as a result of their service. More than 230 of those heroes enlisted in two regiments – the 137th NY Infantry and the 109th NY Infantry.  

Riverview and Elderwood Veterans Thanked 

Thanks to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and Post Auxiliary from the Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars for their emotional second time visit with veterans at Riverview Health Center. Each veteran received a small American flag and cupcake after lunch. Veterans cried tears of emotion for the thoughtfulness of being remembered and thanked for their service on Veterans Day.  

Thanks to the Sayre Elks Lodge for their annual Veterans Appreciation Ceremony at Elderwood of Waverly. Veterans were presented with certificates, pins and programs and at the conclusion cake and ice cream. The three Valley Mayors also thanked them for their service. 

NV Historical Society Salutes Their Veterans 

Thanks to the Newark Valley Historical Society for their 11th annual Veterans Appreciation Dinner honoring veterans from Richford, Berkshire and Newark Valley.

Members of the Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard were honored for Honoring Deceased Veterans at Military Funerals. 

Historical Society Dinner Organizer Marcia Kiechle presented Newark Valley Boy Scout Troop 30 Scoutmaster Jon Maule with a Thank You plaque for “Flags In.” His Boy Scouts placed over 500 small American flags on veteran graves from Flemingville to Berkshire before Memorial Day. 

Newark Valley Deputy Historian Nellie Snapp has spent countless hours compiling and documenting information about the veterans of Newark Valley, Berkshire and Richford. Thirty-five veterans – many fallen heroes – have been identified. Many are Purple Heart Recipients. This continues to be a developing story for publication soon.   

Purple Heart Recipients Sought 

Tioga County has veterans who have received the distinguished Purple Heart medal. This is a military award “sought by none but respected by all.” 

Help identify those in Tioga County who have received the oldest military decoration created by General George Washington in 1782. Data is needed for a Tioga County Purple Heart County application.   

Arlington National Cemetery 

Your help is also needed to identify veterans from Tioga County who are buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Arlington is celebrating its 152nd anniversary this year. Local veterans want to make sure those from here are honored for their service and sacrifice.