Veterans Day is a day when we recognize and give thanks for the service and sacrifice of the men and women who have served in the armed forces. How? In Tioga County in all Sunday church services and a five part service at 11 a.m. in Glenn A. Warner Memorial Hall of Owego Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1371. At the same time church bells and chimes will toll.
These men and women and their families endure hardship, separation, and sometimes loss for the sake of keeping peace and fighting for justice around the world. Though we wish it were not necessary, they take up arms to protect and defend their country.
The 1938 Congress called for the observance of Armistice Day in churches and schools – again dedicating the day to the cause of world peace.
Churches throughout Tioga County are encouraged to have a service to honor the brave men and women who have protected their country with their time in the armed forces. Invite the community to time of reflection and thanks. Include songs of a patriotic and religious nature such as “God Bess America.”
In their homilies or sermons, pastors may include the theme of thankfulness to God for protection and freedom, as well as thankfulness to the servicemen and women.
Hold a reception for military veterans at church. Decorate the parish or fellowship hall with U.S. flags, and use red, white and blue tablecloths. Have a cake with “Thank You” written on the top. Include a prayer for the veterans.
Create a Veterans Wall in your church foyer. Hang framed pictures of all the servicemen and women who attend the church, as well as past members. Include other memorabilia of nostalgic or historical significance such as newspaper clippings about veterans who are in the church.
Educators Teach Veterans Day to Children
Teachers are urged to obtain a Teacher Resource Guide from the Department of Veterans Affairs. This resource guide, along with another group of America’s finest – our educators, will allow students, before Veterans Day, to learn more about the price these brave service members have paid to defend our nation.
Nursing Homes
Veterans in nursing homes won’t be forgotten. VFW Post 1371 Auxiliary will visit Riverview Manor Health Care Center in Owego on Friday, Nov. 9. Sayre Elks host their annual Veterans Program at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 12, at Elderwood in Waverly. Staff develops profiles of each veteran for presentation at the service. The Valley Honor Guard attends. Elderly veterans receive thanks for their service and sacrifice from the Mayors of Waverly, South Waverly, Sayre and Athens.
11-11-11 Inside VFW
Posting of the Colors by the VFW Post 1371 Honor guard opens Veterans Day in Warner Hall at the Post, located on Main Street in Owego. Veterans from Tioga Post 401, American Legion, Veterans of Modern Warfare, Vietnam Veterans of America and Tioga County Marine Cops League will participate.
At precisely 11 a.m. a trumpet will sound like it did a century ago for the Armistice ending the First World War. Andrea McBride will sing the National Anthem. Sister Mary, director of the Tioga County Rural Ministry, will deliver the invocation. Gordon Ichikawa will provide sound.
The 100th Anniversary of WWI includes a reading of the poem, In Flanders Field, and a Roll of Honor for 25 WWI Fallen Heroes read by John Holton and Michael Middaugh of the Tioga County Veterans Service Agency. They’ll include a second Roll of Honor of Tioga County veterans who died since Memorial Day. Taps by Bugler Dean Morgan of the Post 1371 Honor Guard.
Theme: Honoring All Veterans will also especially honor Korean War Navy veteran Gerald Keene of Waverly for his many years of dedicated service to veterans. He’s the longest living past Waverly American Legion Commander, and a past Commander of Owego VFW Post 1371 in 1995-1996 and member of its Honor Guard.
Reflections on two anniversaries – the 10th for Rt. 38 – The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway of Valor and the 31st for the Tioga County Veterans Memorial – both dedicated on Veterans Days. Not forgotten are POW/MIAs and Gold Star Mothers and Families.
Troop 60 Eagle Scout Ryan Trenchant debuts his Fallen Hero project that earned him Scouting highest honor. It included GPS locations of all Fallen Heroes in Tioga County – extremely helpful for Wreaths Across America in Tioga County in mid-December, when a Christmas wreath is placed at the gravesite.
Free Dinner for Northern Tioga Veterans
Newark Valley Historical Society – for the 13th year in a row – will honor Northern Tioga County veterans, widows and spouses at a free dinner at 4 p.m. Veterans Day, Sunday, Nov. 11, at the Newark Valley Fire Station. Veterans from Richford, Berkshire and Newark Valley areas attend. Contact Marcia Kiechle at 642-8967 for more information.
Hometown Heroes
Before Veterans Day, Waverly will post 115 Hometown Hero vinyl banners. Originator and coordinator of the salute to veterans is Bonnie Young, owner of Becky’s Diner, Broad Street, Waverly. Her motivation came from family members being in the service.
Contact
Contact is Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Chairman Jim Raftis, email to jraftis2@stny.rr.com.
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