Archive: Around Town

All over the United States people spent Monday remembering service men and women who have died in our nation's service.  One ceremony was in Ludlowville's Pine Grove Cemetery, where about 50 people of all ages gathered in the 80-plus degree heat to remember.  Many brought umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun,

Waterloo, NY has been officially recognized as the holiday's birthplace, but more than two dozen towns around the country claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day.  It was officially proclaimed 'Decoration Day' by General John Logan on May 5th, 1868 and first celebrated by placing flowers on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery on May 30th of that year.

Patrick Sweazy began the ceremony by playing the Call to Assembly on his trumpet, and the assembly rose to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.  The invocation was given by Lansing United Methodist Church Pastor Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, after which Paul Welch, President of the Ludlowville Pine Grove Cemetery Association, welcomed the crowd.  "In all these wars nothing has been learned," he said.  Let's send forth our fervent prayer that these many lives are not ended in vain."


Stephanie Peter sang "America the Beautiful," then Carl "Juke" Johnson recalled his service as a tank operator in World War II.  Drafted at age 18, Johnson found himself at many now famous locations.  He was in Normandy 10 days after the famous battle there, then later went to Germany and participated in the Battle of the Bulge in which 81,000 Americans were killed.  He noted that 2,925 servicemen in his 3rd Armored Division were killed in that war.  Peter led the assembly in "God Bless America" before the wreath was placed to honor the dead.

Stephanie Peter leads 'God Bless America'	Paul Welch
Frankie Lechner	Lou Emmick

Veterans were asked to come forward to be part of the placing of the wreath, performed by Marine Lieutenant Colonel David M. Taylor.  A Lansing resident, Taylor is the Executive Officer of Naval ROTC and a professor of military science at Cornell.  He noted that America's proud tradition continues as he had just commissioned 11 new Ensigns and a new Second Lieutenant two days before.  After placing the wreath he led the veterans in a salute to fallen comrades.


Association Secretary Treasurer Frankie Lechner invited those present to stay for refreshments, and expressed her pride in her granddaughter, a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, who was present for the Ludlowville ceremony.  The ceremony ended when Sweazy played Taps.


Pine Grove Cemetery faces Route 34B and Ludlowville Road.  It is well cared for by the Ludlowville Pine Grove Cemetary Association, which hosted the Memorial Day event.  Veterans from many wars are buried there, including the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish American War, and World Wars I and II, among others. It's a beautiful setting.  Taylor says he often brings his boys there to view the historical head stones and pick blackberries.


Trustee Lou Emmick says many Association members participated in preparing the cemetery and making the event happen.  They've been holding Memorial Day ceremonies at the cemetery for about five years.


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