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'Dedicated to the men and women of this community who served our country in time of war'

by jmaloni
Mon, May 27th 2019 03:25 pm

Memorial Day was observed Monday in the Village of Lewiston with a parade, remembrance ceremony and luncheon.

Marchers, units, elected leaders, dancers, musicians and military members proceeded down Center Street as crowds watched, waved and saluted from the sidewalks. Once everyone entered Academy Park, a memorial service began in front of the veterans monuments.

Emcee Norm Machelor, chairman of the event committee, welcomed the crowd of more than 400. He introduced the Lewiston Choraleers; keynote speaker CPO Nathaniel Fraze, commander of Coast Guard Station Niagara; special guest Simon Zawistowski, a Boy Scout with Troop 824; and Michael Roemer, who presided over the laying of a remembrance wreath by VFW Post 7487. Post Cmdr. Bill Justyk and the parents of late U.S. Army Spc. Alan Dikcis assisted with this portion of the program.

Revolutionary War reenactors were on hand; the Niagara Falls Air Force Station provided a precise military honors flag-folding ceremony; Karl Miller of Bugles Across America performed taps; and Hosingtons Ranging Company offered a black powder rifle salute.

Following the ceremony, a free luncheon was held inside a tent on the park grounds. Food was provided by the Brickyard family of restaurants, while dessert was courtesy of Hibbard’s Original Frozen Custard.

PHOTOS:

Youngstown: Honoring our nation’s fallen heroes

VFW Lake Ontario Post 313 hosted the Village of Youngstown Memorial Day service in the 1812 Cemetery at Old Fort Niagara. A nice crowd came out to enjoy the service under the trees in the cemetery with a cool breeze coming off the lake. Post Cmdr. Ed Jackson led the ceremony, which included a wreath-laying ceremony by post and auxiliary members.

The service featured a reading of the Gettysburg Address by the Post Judge Advocate Kurt Mieth, the playing of “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes by Kate Myers, plus the U.S. and Canadian national anthems by Lew Custode and patriotic songs by Bill Siddall. (Photos by Wayne Peters)

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