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The Montour Falls service's Color Guard in front of Shequagah Falls.

Memorial Day Services honor our fallen

SCHUYLER COUNTY, May 31 -- Ceremonies honoring our military men and women who have given their lives in service to their country were held around the country and around Schuyler County on Monday, Memorial Day.

Morning services were held at the base of Shequagah Falls in Montour Falls, at the Naval Memorial at Seneca Harbor Park, on the Schuyler County Courthouse lawn in Watkins Glen, and at the Seneca County Veterans Memorial Park outside Odessa.

The service in Montour Falls occurred first, at 9:30 a.m., and featured County Sheriff William Yessman (pictured at right) as the keynote speaker, with Mayor Donna Kelley as emcee. The Odessa-Montour High School Band performed two selections of music. Rev. George Norton delivered the invocation and benediction, referring to the placid site as "this place of reflection."

Yessman, noting that Memorial Day is a day to honor our military dead, said "we've forgotten the true meaning" of this special holiday. "We've forgotten the people, the heroes" who made our life of peaceful existence possible, he said, and he asked for prayers for local soldier Zach Williams, wounded in Afghanistan and "back in the States now and on the way to recovery."

The ceremony at the Naval Monument in Seneca Harbor Park was a brief one at 10:30, with members of VFW Post 2674 present, along with Boy Scouts that the VFW sponsors, Troop 2674. A highlight came when Hope Decker, president of the VFW Ladies Auxliary, threw a bouquet of flowers off the pier and into Seneca Lake, symbolizing Naval personnel who have given so much over the years to the cause of freedom.

A parade followed from First Street south on Franklin Street to the Schuyler County Courthouse Lawn, with Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, firefighters, and Freedom Village Singers among the participants. Freedom Village also offered a float with a scene akin to the raising of the U.S. Flag on Iwo Jima in World War II -- the four young men on the float holding perfectly still throughout, as though in a painting or photograph.

The ceremony on the Courthouse Lawn featured the VFW's Tony Specchio as emcee -- as he has been for many years. He introduced local politicians such as Mayor Judy Phillips and Legislator Paul Marcellus, both of whom issued brief remarks. Boys Scouts from Troop 2674 received an American Flag from Specchio and raised it halfway up the nearby flagpole.

Keynote speaker was Army veteran Robert H. Lee (right), former mayor of Watkins Glen, who dwelt on the meaning of the U.S. Flag and of its ceremonial folds. He also considered the roles of local soldiers who have served across the years in different conflicts -- such as Daniel Love, who died in Vietnam, "and my brother Dick, who served 21 years in the miliary." Lee also, in remarks before his speech, suggested that a rewarding website to visit is virtualwall.org/iStates.htm. It lists the casualties of the Vietnam conflict, including when they died and where to find their names on the actual Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C.

The ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Park along Rt. 228 near Odessa -- under the auspices of the nearby American Legion Post 676 -- featured a keynote speech by Rev. Jeremy Spencer, whose theme was "the contribution of ordinary men to make us what we are today." Spencer is a retired U.S. Navy Chaplain.

The Odessa-Montour High School Band played once again at this ceremony, performing "Eternal Father, Strong to Save."

Marie Decker and Genevieve Dean of the American Legion Auxiliary recited "In Flanders Fields." Taps were performed by Tom Darling.

The event -- which attracted a large crowd to the shaded park grounds, also introduced a new park feature: 10 granite benches in honor of specific veterans -- with their names carved, one to a bench, on the front edge. They were purchased through donations from family members and anonymous contributors. Three men were honored posthumously: Robert Carpenter, Wayne Decker and Robert M. Decker. The others: Fred Sibley, Donald Flatt, Luther J. Palmer, G. Robert Harrison, James H. Bowman, Clayton T. Snow, and Norman Underdown.

The Flatt and Palmer benches had not arrived in time for the ceremony, but are on order. Folding chairs with those two honorees' names were placed where the benches will be.

The Legion's Jim Shippy was emcee of the benches ceremony, introducing each honoree and each honoree's wife. Each couple then walked to their designated bench for photo opportunities by family members.

Photos in text:

Top: Schuyler County Sheriff William Yessman delivers the keynote address at the Montour Falls ceremony.

Second: Tiger Cubs from Watkins Glen were among the parade participants in Watkins Glen.

Third: Robert H. Lee, who was the keynote speaker at the ceremony on the Schuyler County Courthouse lawn.

Fourth: Malissa Richards, left, and Ashley Bryington perform as part of the Odessa-Montour High School Band at the Montour Falls ceremony.

Bottom: Bob and Gerry Harrison rest on the bench created in honor of Bob, a veteran of World War II.

Left: Rev. Jeremy Spencer delivers the Benediction at the ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Park. He was also the keynote speaker. Right: Norm Underdown sings as part of the community chorus performing under the leadership of Kim Caldwell at the Veterans Park.

Boy Scouts prepare to raise the U.S. Flag at the County Courthouse service.

Left: Tony Specchio, emcee at both Watkins Glen ceremonies -- at the Naval Memorial and on the County Courthouse lawn. Center: O-M band member Katie Griggs. Right: Rev. Sheila Price sings as part of the community chorus at the Veterans Park service.

The ceremony at the Naval Memorial at Seneca Harbor Park.

Bernie Riley plays "Taps" at the Naval Monument service.

Left: Fred Sibley and wife Peggy stand in front of a bench named in Fred's honor at the Veterans Memorial Park. Right: Watkins Glen Mayor Judy Phillips issues introductory remarks at the County Courthouse ceremony as emcee Tony Specchio watches.

One of two Freedom Village floats in the Watkins Glen parade.

O-M student Amanda Williams plays the flute as part of the high school band during the ceremony in Montour Falls.

O-M student Aaron Fisher sings as part of the community chorus at the Veterans Park ceremony.

Left: VFW Ladies' Auxiliary president Hope Decker sends a bouquet of flowers into Seneca Lake as part of the ceremony at the Naval memorial. Right: An Iwo Jima-like pose was held by four Freedom Village residents on a parade float.

A member of the audience -- reflected -- listens intently as Sheriff William Yessman, right, delivers the keynote speech at the Montour Falls service. Rev. George Norton is at left.

Left: Montour Falls Mayor Donna Kelley, emcee of the Shequagah Falls ceremony, with Village Trustee Phil Joe Smith in the background. Right: O-M student Mallory Richards plays "Taps" in front of Shequagah Falls.

Donald Flatt, a Korean War veteran who was one of the granite-bench honorees at the Veterans Park ceremony.