UPDATE: We just learned this morning that the ceremony planned for outdoors is cancelled due to rain – including the parade. The remembrance ceremony will take place inside of the VFW at 10:30 a.m. They are located on Main Street in Owego.
Only one full day is dedicated to honor the ultimate sacrifices made by Americans in war: Memorial Day.
Owego and Tioga County’s Memorial Day Parade at 10:30 a.m. and Service of Remembrance at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 29, will remember those young Americans who had lives that were only beginning and cut short so the rest of us could pursue our dreams.
Sunday Church
On Sunday, church pastors are asked to have their congregations thank veterans attending church for their service and sacrifice, and remember those who have fallen. Churches are asked again to develop from their congregation an Honor Roll of Fallen Heroes and read their honored names. Pastors are also requested to invite their church members to march in Monday’s parade behind their church banner.
Remember at Schools
Each school in Tioga County is asked to remember their fallen heroes. Volunteer to develop a memorial list of those who made the supreme sacrifice. What is available could be used during services over the Memorial Day weekend.
Flags at Half Staff
Memorial Day 2017 in Owego dawns with American flags, the POW/MIA flag and New York State flag at half-staff until noon over the Tioga County Civil War Union Memorial and the Tioga County Veterans Memorials.
The U.S. Flag only flies at half-staff for the first half of the day, and then is raised to full height from noon to sundown. The unique custom honors the war dead for the morning, and living veterans for the rest of the day. The noon flag raising symbolized the persistence of the nation in the face of loss.
Roll Call of Honor
Roll Call of honor – Remembering and Honoring deceased veterans eternally sleeping in Tioga County cemeteries starts at 8 a.m. at the Tioga County Veterans Memorial. Honored names of veterans are read aloud by Mary Beth Jones, Tioga County Courier editor and JoAnn Walter, Owego Pennysaver correspondent and Trustee of Riverside Cemetery-Apalachin.
Graves Honored
Before the parade, the Glenn A. Warner Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1371 and their Auxiliary will each honor the grave of one of their deceased members. Former Commander Kenneth Shirek at 8:45 a.m. at the Tioga County Veterans Memorial, and at 8 a.m. in Hope Cemetery-Newark Valley, Auxiliary member June Walker Spangenburg will honor their respective graves. She was the mother of 36-year-old Charles Walker, who died in April 1987, as the longest surviving recipient of a heart lung transplant.
Church Memorial Day Masses
Two Memorial Day Masses will be celebrated in church. Father Thomas Valenti at 8:30 a.m. at St. James Church-Waverly and Father Peter Van Lieshout at 9 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church-Owego. The Reading of Honored Names of Buried Veterans will be included in the services.
Veterans March/Ride in Parade
The downtown parade welcomes all male and female veterans from all war eras. Strongly encouraged are Veterans of Modern Warfare. Their military service from 1990 – the time of the Persian Gulf War that ushered in a new era of modern warfare – followed by Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through the present.
Gold Star Mothers and families are invited. Also, all surviving former POWs and their families and families of deceased POWs are invited. Former POWs are urged to make their presence known to parade officials for appropriate recognition.
Wear your military uniforms. Veterans with valor honors such as Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Silver Star are reminded to proudly wear their medals and service ribbons in the parade and remembrance service. Share the meaning of your medals with the children.
Tioga County hopes to be designated a Purple Heart County. Living veterans with Purple Hearts are urged to identify themselves. Families of deceased veterans with Purple Hearts are also asked to make this fact known.
Military home on leave are welcome to join active Army Reserve and National Guard and veterans of Afghanistan, Iraq, Desert Storm, Vietnam, Korea and World War II in the parade and receive the heartfelt gratitude of the community.
Community March in Parade
In downtown Owego, Parade Marshall John Loftus says the parade will step off at 10:30 a.m. from the Owego Police Station on Temple Street. Those marching must line up on Temple Street by the side of the Presbyterian Church before 10:25 a.m. The parade route is Temple to North to Main (past the VFW) to Paige to Front (past the American Legion) to the Tioga County Veterans Memorial on the south lawn of the Tioga County Courthouse.
Parade Marshall Loftus needs marching units to line up with the Honor Guards and veterans from the Glenn A. Warner Post 1371, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1371 Men’s Auxiliary and Ladies Auxiliary, Chapter 480 Vietnam Veterans of America, Tioga Post 401 American Legion and Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion, Tioga County Marine Corps League and Veterans of Modern Warfare of Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Also marching are the Owego Elks Lodge, the Owego Free Academy Parade Band, students from Zion Lutheran and Owego Apalachin Elementary and Middle Schools and Owego Free Academy, the Civil Air Patrol, the Owego Gymnastics and Activities Center, the National Guard’s 204th Engineer Battalion vehicles and Army Reserves.
Also, for the fourth consecutive year, are Civil War units including Tent 2, and Daughters of Union Civil War Veterans who will pass out small American flags to children along the parade route.
Also invited are Boy Scout Troops 60 and 38 and 37, Newark Valley Troop 30 and others, Girls Scouts, Brownies and Cub Scout Packs, Angels Over Iraq/Afghanistan, Moose, Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, elected officials from the Village and Town of Owego and Tioga County, School Board members from Owego-Apalachin, Tioga Central, Candor Central and Spencer Van Etten, Emergency Squads and volunteer fire departments from Owego, Campville, Southside, Apalachin, Candor, Newark Valley and Berkshire.
This is an open invitation to all community groups – church, school, civic, fraternal, youth sports league such as Owego, Apalachin and Nichols Little Leagues, Travel teams including Soccer, Volleyball and Lacrosse, Daughters of the American Revolution, the Sons of the American Revolution, all Tioga County law enforcement agencies and State Police, fire departments and emergency squads from Owego, Campville, Southside, Apalachin, Nichols, Newark Valley, Berkshire and Richford, and groups not specifically mentioned who would like to honor Americans who died for their country.
Line Streets for Parade
Patriotic citizens may build a float with the theme of “Remembrance.” An abundance of American flags in the parade and along the five street parade route would be greatly appreciated.
The public is encouraged to line the streets of the parade route. As the American flag passes, remember to stand to salute or place your hand over your heart. The Owego Free Academy Parade Band will play patriotic music in the parade and the Armed Forces Service Songs, National Anthem and “Salute to America’s Finest” at the park.
Remembrance Service After Parade
Highlights of the Service of Remembrance at the Tioga County Veterans Memorial on the south lawn of the Tioga County Court House include the following.
Wreath Laying Ceremony by Gold Star Families, the Tioga County Marine Corps League and veterans of VMW of Iraq, Afghanistan Vietnam, Korea and World War II and representatives of the American Legion Post 401, Glenn A. Warner Post 1371, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 480 and Veterans of Modern Warfare of Iraq and Afghanistan.
There will be an Invocation, followed by the National Anthem by the Owego Free Academy Parade Band. Roll Call of Honor – the Reading of 170 Honored Names of Tioga County’s Fallen Heroes and the Placement of their American flag carried by Owego Elementary School students in the parade.
The Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony at the memorials continues to honor the 170 Fallen Heroes from Tioga County who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.
Gold Star Mothers and Families may join veterans and auxiliary members to lay the Red, White and Blue floral tributes in front of the Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, Korea, Tioga County, World War II and World War I Memorials and Tioga County Civil War Union Memorial.
The OFA Parade Band plays the National Anthem and later a Medley “Salute to America’s Finest.” They will also play the Armed Forces songs – Caisson Song (Army), Anchors Aweigh (Navy), Semper Paratus (Coast Guard), Marines’ Hymn (Marines) and the U.S. Air Force March (Air Force).
Roll Call of Honor of Names of Deceased Veterans since last Veterans Day.
The Civil War Remembrance Ceremony honors the Tioga County Civil War Fallen Heroes. Very special is the 126th Anniversary of the Tioga County Union Memorial. Karen Messersmith will preside with her Daughters of the Union Veterans. Newark Valley Historian Jerry Marsh will relate the 500 Tioga County losses in the Civil War.
Navy Burial at Sea Wreath Ceremony moves from the park to the west side of the Court Street Bridge. Navy fallen heroes are remembered when a Navy veteran casts a wreath upon the waters of the Susquehanna River. You may watch from Draper Park. Tell us whereabouts, downriver, you find the wreath. From the alcove of the bridge, Memorial Day 2017 concludes with a Rifle Salute by the Post 1371 VFW Honor Guard and Taps by an OFA Bugler.
Remembering
This Memorial Day recalls the fallen of the nation’s wars.
Especially remembered is the 73rd anniversary of D-Day, the largest amphibious invasion in history and a pivotal battle of World War II.
D-Day, June 6, 1944, must never be forgotten. Were you there? It is the 72nd Anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) and in August V-J Day (Victory over Japan).
Recall the words of General of the Army and Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Forces Dwight D. Eisenhower: “The heroes of the war against Hitler would always be G.I. Joe, a truly heroic figure, and his counterparts in the Air, Navy and Merchant Marine. G.I. Joe has endured cold, hunger, fatigue. His companion has been danger. Death has dogged his footsteps.”
G.I. Joe’s from Tioga County are invited to be in the parade and/or at the park. Where in Europe were you on V-E Day?
June 25 will be the 67th Anniversary of the invasion of South Korea. It was the first war against Communism. The Korean War is known as the “Forgotten War”, but not to those who were there between June 25, 1950 and July 27, 1953. There was no fanfare when Korea veterans returned home.
This year also marks the 52nd Anniversary of the beginning of the Vietnam War. Remember to honor and support those who have served.
On Saturday, July 15, attend the ceremony at Owego Free Academy honoring Vietnam Veterans before they leave on the ninth annual Rt. 38, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway of Valor Tribute Ride from Owego north to Hannibal near Sterling. Motorcycles cover 95 miles in over two hours. They refuel and eat and pay tribute to Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient USMC 2nd Lt. Terrence Graves at his Memorial in Groton.
D-Day, V-E Day, V-J Day, and significant other major campaign veterans of all wars make your presence known at the park or in advance so you can be recognized and honored for your service and sacrifices.
Recommendations are welcome from the community as to a tribute to recognize the sacrifices made by those who have served in the war in Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, Korea and World War II. Troops are still deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, the valor and sacrifice of this war generation cannot and should not be ignored. Tell us ahead of time who is serving there now.
Owego and Tioga County’s ’s Memorial Day parade is intended to call attention to the true meaning of the holiday – Remembrance. Also to serve as an education event for families to gather and thank those who have sacrificed while serving our nation.
Thanks for Sound
The Public Address System is very important for Owego’s Memorial Day. Veterans thank Gordon Ichikawa of T&K Communications Systems of Owego for faithfully providing sound for the Memorial Day events at the Tioga County Veterans Memorial. Gordon is following in the footsteps of his decorated combat veteran father. Both father and son have provided sound for years.
Gordon is the son of the late 89-yearold Past Post 1371 Commander Tom Ichikawa. In WWII, Tommy was a Battalion Combat Radio Sergeant for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the most decorated unit of its size and duration in U.S. Army history. The native U.S. citizen born of immigrant Japanese parents received the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. He enlisted Dec. 8, 1941.
Gordon’s mother, 98-year-old Kiyo Ichikawa, died Jan. 25, 2016. With other Japanese Americans she spent three years in concentration camps in California and Idaho. Tommy and Kiyo Ichikawa relocated to Owego in the early 1960’s.
TCVM Update
Brothers Bill and John Chandler updated the Tioga County Veterans Memorial for Memorial Day 2014.
The Chandlers added a Second World War II Monument with the honored names not on the original and an Iraq and Afghanistan Monument. In center front there is a new Monument honoring four Tioga County Medal of Honor Recipients. This is placed on a stone base. On top is a Bronze Statue of A War Memorial Battle Cross Boot, Rifle and Helmet. A Tioga County War Service Medal is attached.
Two new flagpoles fly the American flag. Poles above the monuments fly one of the five branches of service flag for Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.
Flags In
A decades old ceremony, known as “Flags In”, marked the beginning of Memorial Day activities in Tioga County. The mission: to place an American flag on each and every veteran gravesite, leaving no veteran forgotten. Legion Adjutant Tom Simons coordinated flag procurement and distribution.
“Flags In” details of veterans from American Legion Posts in Owego, Candor, Nichols and Waverly, and VFW Posts in Owego, Waverly and Spencer Van Etten, as well as their Auxiliaries and Sons of the American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, Tioga Marine Corps League and Veterans of Modern Warfare of Iraq and Afghanistan, placed small American flags on veterans headstones in 100 Tioga County cemeteries. Senior veterans welcome the enthusiasm of the younger Boy and Girl Scouts, school children, volunteers and families.
The Auxiliary of the Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars and Boy Scout Troop 60 place flags on veteran graves in Historic Evergreen Cemetery. Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 480 placed flags on veteran graves in Tioga Cemetery. American Legion Post 401 placed flags in veteran graves in the Towns of Owego and Tioga. Newark Valley Boy Scout Troop 30 placed flags from Flemingville to Richford including Hope Cemetery-Newark Valley and Evergreen Cemetery-Berkshire.
Students Place Flags
In St. Patrick’s Cemetery, the Youth Ministry of St. Patrick’s-Owego and St. Margaret Mary-Apalachin held their first “Flags In” ceremony at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 20. The youth have been organized by their Director, Annette Larrabee.
Iraq Gold Star Mother Barbara Bilbrey described the daily Remembrance of Memorial Day from a mother’s perspective. She knelt and stood by the grave of her Iraq Fallen Hero son, 21-year-old Army Specialist Charles Bilbrey Jr., killed July 26, 2007 when an improvised explosive device blew up near his vehicle. The Owego Free Academy graduate, who would have been 31 on May 10, is the posthumous recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his Iraq Freedom heroism.
New York State Senator Fred Akshar inducted him into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame on Tuesday, May 16. Owego-Apalachin Schools will induct him to their Wall of Fame in June.
In Riverside Cemetery on Marshland Road, Apalachin, Apalachin Girl Scout Troop 425 placed flags near the headstone of over 200 veterans. Troop Leader Jennifer Werner has her Brownies and Juniors precede “Flags In” with a ceremony remembering all veterans.
Project Homecoming Tributes
Chet and Anita Harding of Project Homecoming will mark a decade-plus one long milestone. They are at over 500 wreaths and flag holders placed.
Before Memorial Day, more wreaths and flag holders were placed in cemeteries throughout Tioga County. They’re split up for veterans of all eras and wars. Different veterans are chosen each year. Wreaths are 16-20 inches depending on embellishments. Each year a different theme and color is used. The Theme this year will be rose buds and roses in red white and blue color.
Selection is based on graves that do not have a military stone or clear marking since they are graves often missed.
Visit Civil War Exhibit at Museum
There is a Civil War Exhibit at the Tioga County Historical Society and Museum on Front Street. Visit www.tiogahistory.org for details.
Who to Contact
If you wish more information about being part of Owego’s Memorial Day parade, contact VFW Post 1371 Memorial Day Chairman Jim Raftis by email to jaftis2@sty.rr.com, or by calling 687-4229.
Ways to Observe Memorial Day
Here are some suggested ways to commemorate the Memorial Day holiday. Fly your flag. Parents and children, insist that your veteran marches in the parade. Take a folding chair to the Tioga County Veterans Memorial for the Remembrance Service. Remember each name is a person. It is our solemn duty to remember in a manner befitting their sacrifice. Honor the veteran on Facebook, change your profile picture into an American flag. Place an American flag on the grave of a forgotten veteran. Help organize a school or community-wide observance.
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