Honoring America’s Legions of Veterans
November 13, 2009 by The Catskill Chronicle
Commander Bruce Pesci of Alan Milk Memorial Post 7276 – Long Eddy.
Story and photos by Ted Waddell
Jim “Beetlejuice” Keith answered America’s call to arms during the Vietnam War in the 1st Cavalry Division.
LONG EDDY – At 11:00 sharp, on the 11th hour of the 11day day of the 11th month of 2009, folks gathered at the local firehouse to honor the nation’s veterans, the military personnel who have fought to protect our freedom and way of life since the Revolutionary War.
In a country where our vets are often forgotten except for a few hackneyed speeches by politicians, frequently abandoned to the fates by administrations charged with their care, while a lot of people turn out in droves for Veteran’s Day sales mindlessly looking for ever more stuff, the tiny river’s edge community of Long Eddy has a proud tradition of honoring vets. Veteran’s Day 2009 was no exception, as a few score of vets and non-vets alike showed up to pay their respects to the servicemen and servicewomen of all branches of the military, who have served the United States with distinction in all conflicts and peacetime.
Joining Alan Milk Memorial Post 7276 of Long Eddy were representatives from the Emmett Turner American Legion Post 276 of Jeffersonville, Callicoon’s VFW Post 5808, and the Marine Corps League.
The 143rd NYVI rifle guard: 1st Sgt, Dennis W. Bernitt served in Vietnam, and was joined on Veteran’s Day 2009 by privates Tyler Jon Bernitt, Kolin R. Bothun and Brett Dirie.
The 143rd New York Volunteer Infantry (NYVI) served as the rifle guard, as a fitting complement to the color guard.
November 11 was originally declared “Armistice Day” 8 years after hostilities ceased in WWI as a way of honoring those who served in that bloody conflict. In 1954, it was renamed “Veteran’s Day’ to pay homage to all veterans who served America in war and defended democracy, whether in battle of peacetime duty, from the Revolutionary War, to WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and the ongoing international War on Terrorism.
“Fellow comrades, ladies auxiliary, Long Eddy fire department, fellow patriots, we welcome you here today in remembrance of all our comrades who have served, and are serving in all branches of the armed forces in this country and abroad,” said Bruce Pesci, Commander of Alan Milk VFW Memorial Post 7276.
The Alan Milk Memorial Post color guard: Jim Keith, Jerry Murphy, Kirk McGraw, Horace Finis, Verl Ringgenberg.
“Veteran’s Day is a day of honor and pride, and also a day of remembrance for all those who have given the ultimate sacrifice of themselves for their country and this great nation of ours…[it] is a special day in the hearts and minds of Americans everywhere. God Bless Her.”
Betty Ringgenberg of the Ladies Auxiliary said, “Today we honor all our veterans who unselfishly placed their lives on the line for our freedom…Those men and women were ordinary people until they heard the call of duty and answered it. They left their families, their homes, and their lives not for recognition or fame, or even the honor we bestow upon them today. They fought to protect our country, to maintain our way of life…The defense of freedom is not just for those in the military, each of us shares that duty and that responsibility.”
Kathleen Geosits sang “God Bless America” and the National Anthem.
“Veteran’s Day is a day to remember why they were fighting and a day for all of us to begin our journey of protecting our freedom, and the freedom of many future generations,” added Ringgenberg.
To view more photos or to purchase prints from Honoring America’s Legions of Veterans visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.
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The Catskill Chronicle 
Honoring America’s Legions of Veterans
November 13, 2009 by The Catskill Chronicle
Commander Bruce Pesci of Alan Milk Memorial Post 7276 – Long Eddy.
Story and photos by Ted Waddell
Jim “Beetlejuice” Keith answered America’s call to arms during the Vietnam War in the 1st Cavalry Division.
LONG EDDY – At 11:00 sharp, on the 11th hour of the 11day day of the 11th month of 2009, folks gathered at the local firehouse to honor the nation’s veterans, the military personnel who have fought to protect our freedom and way of life since the Revolutionary War.
Joining Alan Milk Memorial Post 7276 of Long Eddy were representatives from the Emmett Turner American Legion Post 276 of Jeffersonville, Callicoon’s VFW Post 5808, and the Marine Corps League.
The 143rd NYVI rifle guard: 1st Sgt, Dennis W. Bernitt served in Vietnam, and was joined on Veteran’s Day 2009 by privates Tyler Jon Bernitt, Kolin R. Bothun and Brett Dirie.
The 143rd New York Volunteer Infantry (NYVI) served as the rifle guard, as a fitting complement to the color guard.
November 11 was originally declared “Armistice Day” 8 years after hostilities ceased in WWI as a way of honoring those who served in that bloody conflict. In 1954, it was renamed “Veteran’s Day’ to pay homage to all veterans who served America in war and defended democracy, whether in battle of peacetime duty, from the Revolutionary War, to WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and the ongoing international War on Terrorism.
“Fellow comrades, ladies auxiliary, Long Eddy fire department, fellow patriots, we welcome you here today in remembrance of all our comrades who have served, and are serving in all branches of the armed forces in this country and abroad,” said Bruce Pesci, Commander of Alan Milk VFW Memorial Post 7276.
The Alan Milk Memorial Post color guard: Jim Keith, Jerry Murphy, Kirk McGraw, Horace Finis, Verl Ringgenberg.
“Veteran’s Day is a day of honor and pride, and also a day of remembrance for all those who have given the ultimate sacrifice of themselves for their country and this great nation of ours…[it] is a special day in the hearts and minds of Americans everywhere. God Bless Her.”
Betty Ringgenberg of the Ladies Auxiliary said, “Today we honor all our veterans who unselfishly placed their lives on the line for our freedom…Those men and women were ordinary people until they heard the call of duty and answered it. They left their families, their homes, and their lives not for recognition or fame, or even the honor we bestow upon them today. They fought to protect our country, to maintain our way of life…The defense of freedom is not just for those in the military, each of us shares that duty and that responsibility.”
Kathleen Geosits sang “God Bless America” and the National Anthem.
“Veteran’s Day is a day to remember why they were fighting and a day for all of us to begin our journey of protecting our freedom, and the freedom of many future generations,” added Ringgenberg.
To view more photos or to purchase prints from Honoring America’s Legions of Veterans visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.
Click any service in this box to share this post with your friends!
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