By Wendy Post —
In Owego, N.Y., Memorial Day continues to hold special significance for veterans and the community for decades. It is a time to remember and honor those who died while in active service to our country. It is also a time to come together, united, and to reflect and show gratitude to those who gave their lives so that we all could go on to live in freedom.
The annual parade, coordinated by Parade Chairman John Loftus, is set to kick off at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 26. It will wind its way up North Avenue, east on Main Street, south on Paige Street, and west on Front Street.
The parade will end at the Veterans Memorial on the Courthouse Square for a Service of Remembrance, emceed by Gold Star Mother Barbara Bilbrey.
Pictured is the grave of 2nd Lt. Albert F. Church of Nichols, buried in the Henri-Chapelle-Belgium cemetery. Photo credit: Erwin Flohr.
The V.F.W. Post 1371 Honor Guard will post the colors, patriotic music will be performed by the OFA Marching Band, and Owego Elementary students will take part in placing flags at the basket of remembrance by the memorials.
Erwin Flohr of the Netherlands, a longtime friend of Tioga County, is scheduled to speak.
Erwin has cared for six Tioga County World War II fallen heroes since 2008, who rest in the Margraten American Cemetery in the Netherlands and at Belgium’s Henri-Chapelle Cemetery.
On May 17, Flohr traveled to the cemeteries in Margraten and Henri-Chapelle to decorate and honor the graves of Tioga County’s servicemen buried there.
Pictured is the gravesite of Glenn A. Warner. Warner, an Owego native, was killed while serving with the U.S. Army in Germany on Feb. 23, 1945. His mother, Nina, had signed him up with the VFW Post in Owego when he went overseas. Warner was the first member of the post to be Killed In Action, and the post was renamed Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 in his honor. Photo credit: Erwin Flohr.
He did this early this year as he planned to travel to America for the Memorial Day ceremony planned for Monday in Owego, N.Y., a visit in which Flohr had hoped to finally meet Jim Raftis, Sr.
“I would have loved to send the pictures to Jim Raftis,” Flohr stated in an earlier email to Barbara Bilbrey, a Gold Star Mother serving as emcee for this year’s Memorial Day ceremony at the Courthouse Square in Owego and by the Veterans Memorial.
Flohr was very excited to finally meet Jim during his planned visit, but Jim passed away on Mother’s Day; his loss was felt throughout the community, especially this year on Memorial Day.
Pictured is the grave of Sgt. Richard Hoyt of Candor, buried in Netherlands-Margraten. Photo credit: Erwin Flohr.
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During this year’s ceremony, the reading of the names of Tioga County’s Fallen Heroes will continue, as well as a reading of the names of Tioga County veterans who have died since Veterans Day.
Let us always remember, honor, and teach, which is also the motto of the Wreaths Across America effort. These values continue today.
Erwin Flohr is pictured by the gravesite of Pvt. Walter R. Magee of Lounsberry, buried in the Netherlands- Margraten. Photo credit: Erwin Flohr.
Pictured is Erwin Flohr next to the grave of Pfc. Edward Whalen of Straits Corners, buried in the Netherlands- Margraten. Photo credit: Erwin Flohr.
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