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Lioness Jean Pasek and Lion President Boyd Clark place a wreath during the 2011 Memorial Day ceremony in Town of Niagara.
Lioness Jean Pasek and Lion President Boyd Clark place a wreath during the 2011 Memorial Day ceremony in Town of Niagara.

Memorial Day: Time to remember

by jmaloni
Fri, May 25th 2012 07:00 am

Like other communities in Niagara County and across the nation, the Town of Niagara and Wheatfield on Memorial Day will honor soldiers who died defending the United States.

In addition, Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown will honor soldiers through the weekend with a Soldiers through the Ages program.

•On Monday, the Town of Niagara Lions and Lioness clubs will host the annual Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Witmer Road Cemetery in the Town of Niagara.

The ceremony will include the placing of a memorial wreath by the Lions and Lioness presidents. Flag raising and lowering will be conducted by the Western New York Corps of Cadets. The color guard will be provided by the Conrad Kania Detachment of the Marine Corps League, which also will perform a live gun salute and play taps to honor all who gave their lives in service of our country.

Opening and closing prayers will be offered by Pastor Ron Maines of Forestview Church of God.

Bill Paterson, retired teacher and U.S. Navy veteran, will speak about three people he knew who died in three different wars. Other speakers will be Gene Colucci, president of the Town of Niagara Business and Professional Association; Joseph Rizzotto, veteran and commander of the Fredrick F. Cadille Post of the American Legion; and Angelo Onevelo, veteran and Lions Club chairman.

•Wheatfield's annual Memorial Day service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Town Highway Garage, 6860 Ward Road. Ceremonies will be held at the memorial between the helicopter and tank displayed in front of the highway building.

American Legion Post No. 1451 again will have chowder, hamburgers and hot dogs available after the ceremony at the post home, 6525 Ward Road, Wheatfield.

•Old Fort Niagara will host Soldiers through the Ages, a special event that depicts service personnel from the 17th through the 21st centuries. Program hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Monday, Memorial Day, the Veterans of Foreign Wars will conduct a memorial service in the fort's cemetery at 11 a.m. The public is invited.

Soldiers through the Ages will feature comparative weapons and uniform demonstrations, displays of military vehicles, rations through time and living history camps representing everything from the French and Indian War through World War II. This year's event also will feature a special flag ceremony on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. and demonstrations of military dogs from Operation Desert Storm.

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