On Thursday, July 4 at noon, members of the 137th New York State Voluntary Infantry Regiment were on hand to celebrate America’s birthday, and the 128th Anniversary of Tioga County’s Civil War Memorial, dedicated to “Her Heroes Who Fought And Her Martyrs Who Fell That The Union Might Live.”
According to Jim Raftis, Sr., one of the coordinators of the July Fourth ceremony and Memorial Day Chairman for VFW Post 1371, the monument serves as a symbol for deceased members of Tioga County. The monument was accepted by General Benjamin Tracy on June 4, 1891.
Gracing the Courthouse Square in Owego, along with the other Memorials spanning from WWI through Modern Wars, the monument represents the 125 Tioga County men that lost their lives during the Civil War; 93 died as Prisoners of War.
During Thursday’s ceremony, Raftis welcomed members of the regiment to say a few words, and introduced Barbara Bilbrey, a Gold Star Mother who attended the ceremony.
When asked of the ceremony’s importance, Bilbrey, whose son Charles died from an Improvised Explosive Device while serving in Iraq in 2007, stated, “Those who lost their lives had a mother, a grandmother; they had family. We must never let them be forgotten.”
Re-enactors present included Kevin Rung, Bonnie Duff, Laura Gardiner, Daryl Holloway, Frank Borush, John Goodnough, Roger Hurlbut, and Ben Gardiner – all from the 137th New York State Voluntary Infantry Regiment. The Regiment Riflemen fired a musket salute.
The 143-year-old Kirby Band of Nichols was on hand to play selections for guests.
On Behalf of the 137th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment Reenactors thank you for the wonderful photos and coverage you gave us. We were honored to be invited by our Friend and Hero Jim Raftis and the kindness of the Pennysaver made it all that much more gratifying. Thank you so much. Sincerely, Ben Gardiner Adjutant.
Thank you for your kind words. Have a great weekend!