![\"Veterans](\"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2017\/11\/Vets_Day1-245x300.jpg\")
In Owego, at the 30-year-old Tioga County Veterans Memorial, Veterans Day 2017 services start at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11, to Honor All Who Served in Time of War and In Time of Peace. Families and the community are encouraged to accompany veterans, especially Purple Heart and Valor Honor Recipients, and personally express gratitude to veterans for their service and sacrifices to keep our country free. <\/p>\n
At exactly 11 a.m., churches have been asked to toll their church bell 11 times. They are the Historic First Baptist Church, the United Methodist Church, the First Presbyterian Union Church and St. Paul\u2019s Episcopal Church, followed by their chimes. Fire sirens may also sound a few seconds for a Veterans Day salute at 11 a.m. <\/p>\n
All churches with church bells in Tioga and Bradford and Susquehanna Counties and Valley churches in South Waverly, Sayre and Athens are also asked to ring their bell 11 times at 11 a.m. Veterans request all citizens, wherever they are, to observe moment of silence at 11 a.m. <\/p>\n
The ceremony will offer an Invocation and Benediction by VFW Honor Guard member and St. Patrick’s\/Blessed Trinity Deacon Mike Donovan. Andrea McBride will sing the National Anthem. <\/p>\n
The Posting of Colors will be conducted by the the Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars Color Guard and Tioga Post 401 American Legion, Tioga County Marine Corps League, Chapter 480 Vietnam Veterans of America and Veterans of Modern Warfare of Iraq and Afghanistan, with support by their Ladies and Men\u2019s and Sons Auxiliaries, and the New York 137th Volunteer Infantry. <\/p>\n
Not forgotten from all wars are our POWs and MIAs. They and their families have suffered greatly through their experiences. Tioga County will remember five – one WWII MIA and four early Korea \u2013 one KIA and buried in the North Korea combat zone, one MIA and two POWs, remains never recovered. <\/p>\n
Gold Star Mothers and Families and Purple Heart and Valor Honor Recipients and veterans will place wreaths for Fallen Heroes of Afghanistan, Iraq, Korea, Vietnam, World Wars Two and One, and the 17 from Tioga County buried in overseas national cemeteries. <\/p>\n
Adjutant and Recruiter 2nd Lt. Ben Gardiner of the 137th Volunteer Infantry and Karen Messersmith, president of Tent 2 of the Daughters of Union Veteran of the Civil War, will place a wreath at the 102-year-old Tioga County Union Memorial dedicated to Tioga County\u2019s heroes who fought and her martyrs who fell that the Union Might Live. <\/p>\n
Volunteers from the 137th New York Volunteer Infantry will render a rifle salute. <\/p>\n
Deputy Newark Valley Historian Jerry Marsh will offer an update on his research on Tioga County soldier involvement in the Civil War. He has published a book, titled \u201cThe Brotherhood of Battle,\u201d profiling the Civil War soldiers of Newark Valley. Jerry is a veteran of the Vietnam War as a Vietnamese Linguist. He served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force as a Special Agent and Counterintelligence Officer. <\/p>\n
Vietnam veterans will remember the ninth anniversary of the first Rt. 38 Vietnam Memorial Highway of Valor ride from Owego to Sterling by Lake Ontario. <\/p>\n
A Roll Call of Honor will remember veterans from Tioga County who died since Memorial Day 2017. A moment of silence will honor deceased veterans, especially the 173 from Tioga County who made the ultimate sacrifice in defending freedom.<\/p>\n
Recognition will be paid to Tioga County’s oldest living male and female veteran. Not able to attend will be Waverly and perhaps the Valley’s oldest living WWII European Theatre veteran, Doc Alan Dimon of Waverly. Dimon is also the oldest member of the Waverly United Methodist Church. <\/p>\n
Thirty years ago on Veterans Day, Tioga County dedicated the Veterans Memorial (TCVM) for WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, and all from Tioga County who served. <\/p>\n
The TCVM is a 1987 Bicentennial gift from Tioga County to Owego on its 200th birthday. Town of Barton Legislator Leon Thomas made it happen after IBM Owego Employee Relations Advisor Jim Raftis told him a suitable gift from the county to Owego on its 200th would be a veteran\u2019s memorial. <\/p>\n
Tioga County District 2 and Legislative Chair Martha Sauerbrey will recognize the 30th Anniversary and have her two Veteran Service Officers – Mike Middaugh and John Holton – briefly describe their support to Tioga County veterans. <\/p>\n
The Veterans Memorial is in seven sections: Five columns of select granite from Barre, Vt., one for WWI, two for WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq\/Afghanistan. The central column is of South Africa Jet Black Granite and is inscribed, “In memory of all those from Tioga County who served our nation in wars that we might live in everlasting peace.” <\/p>\n
Below is the Pledge of Allegiance. Behind the columns are flagpoles for the American, POW\/MIA and Service Branch Flags. The memorial’s total weight is over 12 tons and was designed by local artist Glenn Strope of Richards Funeral Home, who installed the monuments. In front is the Medal of Honor memorial for four Tioga County recipients. <\/p>\n
President Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming Nov. 11 as Veterans Day, and called upon Americans everywhere to rededicate themselves to the cause of peace. <\/p>\n
To commemorate the ending of the \u201cGreat War\u201d (World War I), an \u201cUnknown Soldier\u2019 was buried in the highest place of honor in both England and France. Those ceremonies took place on Nov. 11, 1918, celebrating the ending of World War I hostilities at 11 a.m. (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.) <\/p>\n
The day became known internationally as \u201cArmistice Day.\u201d In 1921, America laid to rest the remains of a World War I soldier at what is now known as the \u201cTomb of the Unknowns\u201d at Arlington National Cemetery. <\/p>\n
The \u201cTomb if the Unknowns,\u201d the Tioga County Union Memorial and Tioga County Veterans Memorial in Owego\u2019s Courthouse Square symbolize dignity and reverence for the American veteran. <\/p>\n
A reminder to bring a folding chair and dress for the weather. <\/p>\n
Veterans in Home Care Centers to be Remembered <\/b><\/p>\n
In the afternoon, veterans in nursing homes will be remembered for their service and sacrifice. <\/p>\n
Veterans of Modern Warfare from Iraq and Afghanistan and Ladies Auxiliary of the Glenn A. Warner Post 1371 Veterans of Foreign Wars will go from the park ceremony to Riverview Home Care Center. <\/p>\n
Veterans in Elderwood at Waverly and Sayre House will be special guests at ceremonies conducted by the Sayre Elks and Valley Mayors from Waverly, South Waverly, Sayre and Athens. <\/p>\n
Free Dinner for Northern Tioga Veterans and Purple Heart Recipients <\/b><\/p>\n
For the 12th year in a row, the Newark Valley Historical Society will honor veterans and Purple Heart Recipients of all Armed Forces and spouses of deceased veterans from the Northern Tioga County communities of Berkshire, Newark Valley and Richford at a free dinner on Veterans Day, at 4 p.m. at the remodeled Newark Valley Fire Station. Contact Marcia Kiechle at 642-8967 for more information. <\/p>\n
Wreaths for Veterans Graves a Worthy Project for Individuals <\/b><\/p>\n
National Wreaths Across America Day is noon Saturday, Dec. 16. The mission is to Remember, Honor and Teach about the service of deceased veterans. <\/p>\n
Thousands of wreaths will be placed at Arlington National Cemetery and at the same time at national cemeteries in the United States including Elmira and Bath and overseas and in all participating community cemeteries. <\/p>\n
Local objective is a Christmas wreath on each veteran grave and at the main entrance to all cemeteries around Tioga and Bradford and Susquehanna Counties and the Valley communities of Athens, Sayre and South Waverly. Every citizen reading this is encouraged to purchase and lay a wreath. It is a beautiful way we can all honor those who have fought and died for our country and are locally buried. <\/p>\n