Anne Phinney’s fifth grade class with Tom and Pete Beckingham, and Bob Jones.
In recognition of Veterans Day, Anne Phinney’s fifth grade class at the Town of Webb School was one of seven classrooms in Herkimer and Oneida counties selected to participate in an essay contest sponsored by The Battle of Oriskany Post No. 55, Masonic War Veterans of New York. Continue reading
The Veteran’s Day Ceremony in Old Forge was conducted on Monday, November 11 from the porch of Covey-Pashley American Legion Post 893 in Old Forge.
Firing Squad, from left, Bill Wanamaker, Bob Dibble, Mike Tigue, Gary Fairbrother, John Bauer and Fred Ehrensbeck
Color Guard, from left, John Weedmark, Ash Kellogg, Lou Salin and Bill Ransom
The gathering of spectators was welcomed by Master of Ceremonies Mike Farmer. The program included a recognition of area war
veterans and those presently serving, a three-shot volley by the rifle squad, and Taps played by legion member Lance Maly. A luncheon at the legion hall followed.
PHOTOS BY GINA GRECO
Bill Wanamaker, left, and Bob Dibble
From left, Mike Farmer, Vinnie Dolan, Fred Ehrensbeck and Charlie Kiefer
Lance Maly
Covey-Pashley American Legion Post #893 of Old Forge invites all to a Veterans Day Ceremony on Monday, November 11 at 11 a.m. The ceremony will take place outside the Legion Hall which is located on Route 28 across from the Town of Webb Visitor Information Center.
The program will include a recognition of area war veterans and members of the local legion post who are currently serving in the military.
Charlie Kiefer of Old Forge, far right, was among the
attending honorees at last year’s Veterans Day
ceremony. File photo by Carol Hansen
Mike Farmer will be Master of Ceremonies, filling in for Commander Bill Ransom who is recuperating from eye surgery.
Following the program all are welcome to enjoy hamburgers, hotdogs and salads at the legion hall.
Legion members also extend an invitation to their annual Marine Corps Birthday Party at Daiker’s Inn on Saturday, November 9 at 7 p.m.
All branches of service are welcome to attend.
A Veterans Day Ceremony was conducted from the porch of Old Forge American Legion Post #893 on a blustery Friday, November 11.
From left, are Commander Brad Birnie, Chaplain Zachary Brombacher, Bill Ransom, Bill Simpson (1st Vice Commander), Donna Myers, and Helen Dolan. Photo by Carol Hansen
The ceremony began with opening remarks by Master of Ceremonies Bill Ransom who explained to the audience the history of recognizing the holiday on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour.
Following Ransom’s remarks, Zach Brombacher, Chaplain of the Post, read an opening prayer.
Other speakers who presented traditional Veterans Day readings were Commander Brad Birnie, Beverly Meeker of the Ladies Auxiliary, Navy Lt. Helen Dolan, and Vice Commanders: Bill Simpson, Robert Dibble and Michael Tigue. Continue reading
Under normal circumstances, the typical U.S. military person is half kid, half adult, not yet dry behind the ears. They are for the most part unmarried and with a few material possessions, maybe an older car, possibly a laptop and an iPod in their pocket.
They just got out of high school, received fair grades and have someone they have promised to be true to. They had trouble spelling, but can break down their weapon in 30 seconds and put it back together in 29.
They can describe the nomenclature of a fragmentation grenade, explain how the machine gun operates and use either one of them.
They can dig a hole, apply first aid to a wounded comrade, march until they are told to stop and stop until they are told march.
They have seen more suffering in their lives than they should have. They have stood among the dead, both enemy and friendly.
They have become self sufficient. They sometimes forget to brush their teeth but never to clean their weapon. They keep their socks dry and camelback full.
They can prepare their own meals; fix their own rips, both material and mental.
They will share their water with you if you are thirsty, break their MRE’s in half if you are hungry and split their ammo in half if you are fighting for our life.
They can do the work of two civilians, draw half the pay and find ironic humor in it all.
They have learned to use their weapon as their hands and their hands as a weapon.
They can save a life and most assuredly take one.
It is this half kid, half adult to whom we send our love, our gratitude and our prayers.
—Gordon Rudd grew up in Inlet and currently lives in Central Square. His son, Sgt. Gordon Rudd, is stationed at Ft. Belvoir VA. And is assigned to The Pentagon with a security detachment for The Joint Chiefs of Staff. Sgt. Rudd is also the son of Wendy Rudd of New York Mills and the grandson of Inez Rudd of Inlet.