Wheatfield honors veterans

by Ralph Schwarz
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, Nov. 18, 2004

Cold winds and light rain could not damper the patriotic spirit as the town of Wheatfield paid tribute to servicemen and servicewomen, past and present servicemen and servicewomen at its annual Veterans Day on Nov. 11 at the monument in front of the Highway Department garage.

With members of American Legion Wheatfield Post No. 1451 and the Conrad F. Kaina Detachment, North Tonawanda, in attendance, Town Supervisor Timothy Demler pointed out in a brief speech the importance of honoring America's veterans not only on Veterans Day but every day of the year.

“Today, on this and every Veteran’s Day, we stop, we pause and we honor you, the men and women of our armed forces,” he said. “But as important as this day is, it is important for each of us to honor our nation’s veterans every day. Because it is, in fact, every day that we live in this great nation; it is every day that we experience life as free people; and it is every day -- not just Veterans Day -- that there are and were soldiers of the United States in harms way, over many generations, who gave us the gifts we celebrate in America.”

Demler pointed out that the present and future generations should always remember the sacrifices U.S. servicemen and women made in their never-ending quest to preserve peace, liberty and individual freedom in America and bring these values to countries around the world.

“If you think about it, all you have to do is to turn on the news and you see what the rest of the world is like,” he said. “You can appreciate the type of freedoms that we have in this country. And without sounding like a cliché, these freedoms did not come free; they come with the sacrifice, the achievements, the efforts and the blood of men and women of our armed services who are defending us around the clock in all generations.”

Noting the many contributions of the former members of the military and their roles in the community, Demler stressed the importance to thank all veterans for their efforts in times of war and peace in preserving America's freedom.

“Every day, we should say ‘thank you’ to our veterans, to those who served us so well, defended us so strongly, represent what our flag means to the world,” he said. “And most importantly, these veterans are here today, serving in our community in all kinds of organizations. Your efforts are truly, truly appreciated.”

Guest speaker U.S. Rep. Thomas Reynolds, a former serviceman himself, shared a similar opinion.

“As we are look at our future generations, we have to let our young people know that Veterans Day isn’t just a day off at school,” he said. “The freedoms that we enjoy today have been earned by our country that never rested for freedom and democracy and our soldiers, our veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives to protect the great freedoms we enjoy. ... Thank God, our men and women in uniform are the best-trained in the world, and they keep a vigilant eye and pay the ultimate sacrifice to protecting us in our freedoms. To all veterans, thank you for what you have done to our country to keep it the freest and strongest in the world.”

Following a gathering of local veterans, town officials, honored guests and residents at the American Legion Post on Ward Road, Eagle Scout Bob Simmington handed Post Sergeant at Arms Jerry Piper the American flags that he collected throughout the community for his Eagle Scout project. The sergeant then retired the flags, burning them in a fire set up in the backyard of the post.