by Rachel Hunter
The 2022 Gouverneur Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, November 11 was hosted by the Silas Wainwright VFW Post 6338 in Gouverneur in conjunction with the James Maloy American Legion Post No. 65. The ceremony drew a crowd to the Gouverneur Memorial Arch in the Gouverneur Village Park at 11 a.m.
The Gouverneur Veterans Day Master of Ceremonies Michael Webster welcomed all in attendance. “Good morning, it’s the 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month…” The invocation was led by VFW Post 6338 Chaplain Karl Beck. The Pledge of Allegiance was led jointly by VFW Post 6338 Commander John Holt and American Legion Post 65 Commander Jason Carvel.
The ceremonial presentations were made as follows at the Gouverneur Memorial Arch: Wreaths by VFW and American Legion Posts (by VFW Commander John Holt and American Legion Commander Jason Carvel), Flowers by VFW Auxiliary President Jeff Platt and Auxiliary Legion Auxiliary President Denna Cline, Yellow Rose by Sara Platt for the Gold Star Mother, Red Rose by Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Descendant Lynda Andrews, Wreath by Sons of the American Legion Member Mark Jenkins, and Wreath from the Gouverneur CSD Students (presented by Gouverneur Middle School Vocal Instructor Sarah Stedman and Student Alice Idzenga).
Local bagpiper Jeff Forsythe then performed a Christian hymn, “Amazing Grace.”
Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall, guest speaker, then gave the following address: “Armistice Day, better known as Veterans Day, 11 o’clock, 11th day, 11th month. It’s easy to remember – 11-11-11 as Mike alluded to earlier. It’s a great day, but every day is a great day. It’s a great day to be an American, but of course freedom is not free. My analysis of this being the greatest country, is the more that people want to get in, there are more that want to get out. There have been exceptions. We’ve known that… particularly people in the Vietnam era who wanted to avoid the draft. But I thought I would at least mention my good friend and classmate, PFC U.S. Marine Larry Edward Christie, who lost his life in the rain in Vietnam. We used to communicate, and I’d say: “What’s it doing today, Larry?” He said in his letters, as there were no cellphones then, “It has rained everyday for the past 30 days.” But as he got ready to enter the military, the draft was going… As young guys, our parents never knew, but we used to walk over the ice to Morrisburg. It’s very dangerous and I shouldn’t even be admitting it, but the Seaway was different then. Anyways, it came time and “What are you going to do?” A young guy, 18 years old, said: “Well, I am not going to go over there. I could walk to Canada, but I am not going to do it. I am not a draft dodger. I am going, and I am going to be a United States Marine, and proud of it.” He gave his life for that. I’ll never forget that… The last time I saw him was the night before he left. Yes, he knows the price, and we know the price: Freedom is not free. The draft was eliminated early on in President Nixon’s second term, early in 1973. It was delayed because of the Vietnam era, but now we have a fully volunteer armed service, and I support that. We should always support our defense. Most people don’t realize that a little more than one-third of the world’s defense is right out of our country, the spending that we have on a per capita basis for defense. And I’m all for that. I’m a Hawk, have always been a Hawk, there’s no question about that.
“Yesterday, I listened to a great American, General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who I had the honor of meeting several times when he served as commander at Fort Drum. The subject was the modernization of our armed services and how important it is that we follow our Constitution, take the oath of office, and believe in it. We never, ever want to have a military such as the overrated Russian army. We never want to be in that position. We have to have a strong military if we are going to have a strong United States democracy. He also stressed how important it is – God, country… He did serve a couple tours at Fort Drum, the last being as the Commander. We are just so blessed to have Fort Drum and our soldiers here amongst our community, right next door. I say it is here, it’s close enough. But they serve too.
“I became aware recently that the Ukraine War is going on. Most of our allies are supporting us in one fashion or another. We are carrying the load, as usual, for democracy, for freedom. That’s what this is about, and that is what today is about. Recently I became aware the inside Ukraine we do have soldiers, some of them might be from next door, Fort Drum. Yes, while it is true, they are not in combat, nevertheless, they are there, and let’s face it: The Ukraine today is not exactly a tourist destination. I always think about having Fort Drum and our troops here. We talk about the past, and we honor the past – just like it is going on in Washington, D.C. right now during this hour on the 11th day of the 11th month at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Please think of our troops, yes it is voluntary, I know that. Yes, it provides a better standard of living because we supply our defense than it used to when these people served. But nevertheless, support them and particularly when they are on their nine-month deployments, support their families here at home.
“We’ve got many memories… I do reflect on a lot of things of the past with the military and the people who have served. We’ve got our passenger depot here, right up the street. We’ve heard many stories about people departing on that. Dave Spilman, our Town Supervisor, got a message that CSX who owns it wanted to tear it down. But the Village and Town, we are going to try to save it. It has to be moved, because it is their property. We are going to try to save it. One of the stories was from an elderly woman, naturally, who sent a relative off to World War II… it was the last time she ever saw him. That means something. Yes, we have a great military. It’s all volunteer. But it is important if we are going to save our democracy and our country. We have to have it.
“We have a great democracy. We just completed another election day three days ago. I am an optimist and have never been more optimistic for the future of our great country – the greatest country in the world, the United States of America. Here in our community, I certainly applaud our American Legion and the VFW for being active organizations that never forget those who have served. Never. In closing on this Veterans Day 2022, God bless our troops. God bless our country’s democracy. God bless each and every one of you. It is another great to be a proud American. Thank you.”
Great applause sounded as Mayor McDougall concluded his address, and Master of Ceremonies Michael Websters extended gratitude to Mayor McDougall for his address.
The honor guard salute was then conducted by the VFW and American Legion combined firing detail, led by Sgt at Arms Karl Beck. Taps was performed by GHS senior Jack Schroeder and the echo by student Malique Zeller following the firing detail’s third volley.
The benediction was led by VFW Post 6338 Auxiliary Chaplain Ruth Mead, who concluded the prayer by saying: “And may we thank each and every veteran for their selfless sacrifice. Amen.”
Closing remarks were made by Master of Ceremonies Michel Webster, who said the following: “In closing, this is from the Veterans Affairs Veterans Day website: “Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military – in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served – not only those who died – have sacrificed and done their duty.” Today, we came together to remember all of those who have served and are serving in our Armed Services.
“This is from the Computing Corner webpages, directed to Richard Fest, Jr., who became an airman in the U.S. Air Force: “As citizens of the United States, we have many freedoms people of other countries do not have. Sadly, many soldiers paid for our freedom with their own lives. As U.S. citizens, we owe much gratitude to those who have fought for us and our country. Because we treasure the peace and freedom we have, we should thank each and every U.S. military man and woman, both past and present, for admiringly fighting for and maintaining our freedoms, and show our appreciation for giving up so much of their lives so we can have so much of our own.”
“I thank you all for being here today,” Mr. Webster said. “We beat the storm, and I’m glad to see that there are so many people here.”
Gratitude was extended to all who participated and to all who attended the ceremony. Everyone was invited to go to the VFW Hall, 100 W. Main St., Gouverneur, for a free luncheon to include Hamburger Mac and Tomato Soup, Hot Meatball Subs, Dessert, and refreshments. All were encouraged to thank the veterans in the community for their service and sacrifices, for our freedom. “We know there are a lot of them here,” Mr. Webster said. “Thank you for being here. Thank you.”