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WAMPSVILLE, N.Y. — Members of Madison County War Veterans Memorial and the community paid tribute Sunday, Veterans Day, to all veterans, past and present.
The annual commemoration this year marked the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, the end of World War I.
The featured speaker was John Salka, supervisor of the town of Brookfield.
“All over our great nation today, there are millions of American who are taking time to honor those who have given so much to their country,” Salka said. “Their commitment to God and country, their dedication to keep us safe, their sacrifice to maintain our democracy and the ability to place our nation’s safety above their own deserves our ultimate honor and respect.”
To a crowd of about 40 persons, Salka read a poem he was written by his friend Paul Sheldon, of Lebanon, a Vietnam veteran:
“I am a soldier of this great land and have gone to war to make freedom stand,
“Ready to protect America from oppression at first command,
“With feelings of love and duty to protect our fellow man.
“The reason I go is close to me and the list is a mile long,
“With thoughts and memories that have long since been written into song.
“Friends and loved ones I counted by the score.
“I think of all those great men and women who have gone on to war.”
Salka said the nation has faced many trials through its history, but democracy and the freedom it brings must always be protected.
Helping bridge the generational gap this year were Nicholas Martin, of Saint Patrick’s School, Brady Sullivan, of North Broad Elementary School, and Lily Dygert, of North Broad Elementary, who read essays they wrote for Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Jim Tuggey, a retired Oneida City School District teacher and member of Oneida Elks Lodge No. 767, helped organize essay contests with Madison County War Veterans Memorial and the Elks Lodge.
“Veterans are our heroes in many different ways,” Lily said. “They’re brave, fight for our freedom and risk their lives us. Our veterans fight for freedom and liberty.”
“Veterans risk their lives and leave their families,” Brady said. “They go through difficult training, missing holidays and training all day.”
“One day I attended a ceremony to honor our veterans,” Nicholas said. “As the mayor called out to the butcher and the mailman, I realized that veterans live amongst us. They serve our country in our times of need and went back to their everyday lives. They stepped in when our country needed them. They’re heroes; they deserve our respect.”
“It is the blood, sweat and tears of the men and women who served who ultimately protect us,” Salka said. “We have seen threats, both foreign and domestic, that seek to undermine our way of life. Although our great country is one of continual change, we must always be ready to guard against those that would challenge the bedrock principles of our way of life. We will hold these men and women who serve in the highest esteem, for they are the warriors, the patriots and the heroes who have chosen to work collectively with their brothers and sisters in arms to defend this United States of America.”
Saying every day is an opportunity to thank a veteran, Doug Ginney, president of Madison County War Veterans Memorial, read from a Facebook post by Paul Ferguson of the Ferguson and Rogers Band.
Based out of Watertown, Ferguson and Rogers played a show at the Veterans Hospital outside of Norwich, N.Y. Ferguson recounted that he was not prepared for what happened when he and bandmate DJ Rogers closed out their musical set with the national anthem.
“Most vets are from Vietnam, Korea and a few WWII,” Ferguson wrote. “And all in attendance were in wheelchairs. They crossed their hearts and some started standing up. The nurses, aides and orderlies began running to get through the cluster of wheelchairs to badist them trying to stand up, lock their wheels and keep them from falling over.”
Ferguson wrote one of the veterans who stood for the anthem hadn’t stood on his own feet in two and a half years.
“As the break music came on, we walked through the badembly, shaking hands and hugging total strangers, with tears in their eyes. They thanked us,” Ferguson wrote. “They told brief stories about where and when they served and some details of their service they thought was important to share with us. I never felt so humbled in my life.”
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