All’s quiet at the Courthouse Square lawn in Owego, N.Y. prior to the Memorial Day parade and ceremony on May 30. Pictured is the Tioga County Civil War Union Memorial, the ceremony of which celebrated its 125th anniversary. (Photos by JoAnn R. Walter)
Veterans and guests not only gathered on Memorial Day in Owego, N.Y. for the annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony, but also to be a part of the 125th anniversary of the Memorial Day celebration in Tioga County and also the Tioga County Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who have died while in active military service.
History states that over 25,000 people came to Owego for the unveiling and dedication of the Tioga County Civil War Monument in 1891. Notable speakers included U.S. House of Representatives Senator Thomas Collier Platt, Secretary of the Navy Benjamin F. Tracy and General Isaac S. Catlin.
Coincidentally, Memorial Day 2016 was celebrated on May 30 in Owego, just as it was 125 years ago in 1891. This year’s activities began at 8 a.m. with the reading of names during the annual roll call of veterans buried in all Tioga County cemeteries. A bright, blue sky greeted visitors to the Tioga County Veterans Memorial Park, which was adorned in red, white and blue wreaths and flags.
Blue skies and warm temperatures greeted visitors who attended the Memorial Day parade and ceremony at the Tioga County Veterans Memorial Park on May 30 in Owego, N.Y.
Just prior to 10:30 a.m., parade-goers lined the streets of downtown Owego, cheering and clapping as veterans from VFW Post 1371 and the Men’s and Ladies Auxiliary Units, Chapter 480 Vietnam Veterans of America, the Tioga County Marine Corps League, Tioga Post 401 American Legion members and auxiliary, the Veterans of Modern War, the 137th New York and 141st Pennsylvania Civil War reenactment units, the Daughters of Civil War Union Veterans, and other veterans marched or rode in the parade.
World War II veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor Bill Kennedy of Owego, now age 94, received a special ride during the parade. Owego Elementary students, the Owego Free Academy parade band, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, local officials and others also participated in the parade, along with the Owego Police Chief, several fire trucks and emergency vehicles.
Veterans and active members from various military groups pose together prior to the Memorial Day parade on May 30 in Owego, N.Y. Standing, center, is Pearl Harbor survivor and WWII veteran, Bill Kennedy of Owego, now age 94.
At a Service of Remembrance immediately following the parade, Memorial Day Chairman and Korean War veteran, Jim Raftis, Sr., greeted guests and shared the meaning and importance of Memorial Day.
Raftis commented, “Small communities like Tioga County never forget their veterans.”
The Owego Free Academy parade band performed the National Anthem following a presentation of colors by the Glenn A. Warner V.F.W. Post 1371. Father Peter Van Lieshout of Blessed Trinity and St. Patrick’s Parish delivered the Invocation and Benediction.
Young people from Boy Scout Troop 60 read names of Tioga County fallen heroes while Owego Elementary School students placed remembrance flags in a basket in front of the memorials. Raftis read names of Tioga County veterans who have recently passed away and Gold Star families were also acknowledged. In a salute to America’s finest, the OFA parade band performed a medley of five Armed Services songs.
WWII veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor, Bill Kennedy, received a special ride during the Memorial Day parade on May 30 in Owego, N.Y.
Newark Valley historian and author, Jerry L. Marsh, and also an expert in Civil War history, spoke to guests and referred to an article from the “Owego Times” that communicated to readers back-in-the-day, “Take your place in line.” Marsh shared that approximately 2,000 Tioga County volunteers from nine towns stepped forward to take their place in line to defend the American Flag during the Civil War, 500 of who gave their lives.
“Those brave soldiers are to be remembered for their tremendous sacrifice,” Marsh commented, and added, “They helped create the greatest nation on Earth.”
Following Marsh’s speech, re-enactors from the 137th New York Volunteer Infantry and 141st Pennsylvania Regiment performed a rifle salute in honor of and in memory of the lives lost during the Civil War.
American Legion Post 401 members ride in style during the Memorial Day parade on May 30 in Owego, N.Y.
Toward the conclusion of the Remembrance Ceremony, U.S. Navy fallen heroes were remembered by a wreath thrown upon the Susquehanna River from the west side of the Court Street Bridge, and Taps was played by an OFA bugler along with a rifle salute by V.F.W. Post 1371.
Raftis also thanked the Owego Public Works Department, Village of Owego employees and Bill Chandler, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 480 for their contributions in flag placements and preparing the Civil War Memorial and Veterans Memorials and grounds for the May 30 ceremony. Orville and Carolyn Wright were thanked for their donations of flags and memorial wreaths.
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- American Legion Post 401 members march in the Memorial Day parade on May 30 in Owego, N.Y.
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- Young people and others from Owego Elementary School march in the Memorial Day parade on May 30 in Owego, N.Y.
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- The OFA parade band march in the Memorial Day parade on May 30 in Owego, N.Y.
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- Boy Scouts from Troop 60 and Pack 37 of Owego, N.Y., along with Pack 208 march in the Memorial Day parade on May 30.
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- Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War march in the Memorial Day parade on May 30 in Owego, N.Y.
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- Union Army re-enactors of the 137th New York Volunteer Infantry and the 141st Pennsylvania Regiment of Bradford County march in the Memorial Day parade on May 30 in Owego, N.Y.
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- Union Army re-enactors of the 137th New York Volunteer Infantry march in the Memorial Day parade on May 30 in Owego, N.Y.
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- Parade-goers applaud as an Army Jeep escorts veterans, including WWII veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor, Bill Kennedy, during the Memorial Day parade on May 30 in Owego, N.Y.
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- Boy Scouts from Troop 60 read names of Tioga County fallen heroes during the Remembrance Ceremony on Memorial Day in Owego, N.Y.
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- Veterans groups and other groups line the sidewalk at the Tioga County Veterans Memorial Park in Owego, N.Y. on May 30.
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- Memorial Day Chairman and Korean War veteran, Jim Raftis, Sr. speaks to guests at the Service of Remembrance on Memorial Day in Owego, N.Y.
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- Union Army re-enactors from the 137th New York Volunteer Infantry and Pennsylvania 141st Regiment perform a rifle salute during the Remembrance Ceremony on Memorial Day in Owego, N.Y.
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- Pearl Harbor survivor and WWII veteran, Bill Kennedy, on the right, places his hand on his heart during the playing of the National Anthem, while another veteran standing behind him salutes.
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- From left, U.S. Army veterans, Jeff Avery and Dakota Nelson, both of Apalachin, N.Y. stand with Owego, N.Y. resident and Pearl Harbor survivor and WWII veteran, Bill Kennedy, now age 94.
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- Veterans from V.F.W. Post 1371 march in the Memorial Day parade on May 30 in Owego, N.Y.
