Wheatfield honors fallen heroes on Memorial Day

Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, June 2, 2005

Wheatfield Town Supervisor Timothy Demler shows his gratitude to Sgt. Rick Skorik (center) and the soldier’s grandfather, Harold Wienke, a veteran and member of the American Legion Wheatfield Post. (photo by Chuck and Donna Cederman; todaychuck@yahoo.com)

While the sun looked down from a blue sky, the town of Wheatfield honored both past and present military heroes during its annual Memorial Day ceremony, held last Monday at the monument in front of the Highway Garage on Ward Road.

With members of the American Legion looking on, Wheatfield Town Supervisor Timothy Demler stressed the duty of the living to celebrate and honor the names of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the freedom for future generations of Americans. As every year, he also took a moment to remember the names of those who gave their lives in World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the two Gulf wars.

“As we do every year, we gather here together not just to commemorate but also to pause and remember and, most importantly, be thankful,” he said. “Our country status today as a free society and the greatest nation on the Earth was earned by the men and women in uniform who have taken up arms in the defense of freedom for themselves and for free and peace-loving nations throughout the world.”

Defense Of Free World

In the light of America’s ongoing war on terrorism, Demler pointed out that the task to defend the freedom of the United States and the free world rests once again on the shoulders of this country’s brave servicemen and women.

“Today, we are faced with all kinds of new dangers – new types of weapons, a war of terror waged by faceless, nameless enemies – and it is again up to the American soldiers to pick up their arms and ready our defensive forces that are second to none,” he said.

Although the price to defend liberty and freedom always comes with extreme sacrifices, the generations of American soldiers always knew that doing nothing would be even more costly, Demler added.

Always Remember

In his tribute to the great men and women who dedicated their lives to preserve America's freedom, the supervisor also pointed out that it is important for present and future generations to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of their county.

“Today, we honor those who gave us each so much,” Demler said. “We come to pay tribute to those who served and died. They did their duty. Now, it is up to each of us to do our duty. We must carry on today and every day. We all, too, must stand at our post and we must keep the faith with their sacrifice.

“And let us remember that these men and women of the United States armed services have made themselves immortal by dying for something immortal: A free United States of America. … May we remember them in love and in our hearts and certainly in our national consciousness.”

Following Demler's remarks, members of the Wheatfield American Legion and other veterans laid down wreaths at the monument to honor their fallen comrades. The ceremony ended with the raising of the American flag, the firing of a six-gun rifle salute and the sounding of “Taps.”

Timothy Demler (left) exchanges a few works with former American Legion Wheatfield Post Commander Gordon Sanstrom after last Monday’s Memorial Day Ceremony. (photo by Chuck and Donna Cederman; todaychuck@yahoo.com)