WELLSVILLE - At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th
month, Monday, nearly three dozen people gathered in Veterans Memorial Park in
Wellsville to celebrate Veterans Day.
The holiday, founded after the armistice ending World War I
was signed in 1918 took place in the park which was founded in 1947. The park
recognizes the sacrifices of the Wellsville men who perished in World Wat I,
World War II and the Civil War.
American Legion Commander Brent Roberts led off the ceremony
saying, “On Veteran’s Day we honor every man and woman who has ever worn the
uniform of our nation, those who’ve selflessly secured America’s promise
throughout our history.
“That same history teaches us that security doesn’t just
happen. It demands effort, sacrifice, courage and commitment. It requires
generations of men and women, who will go to distant lands to defend countries
they never knew and a people who they never met.
“Today we salute the service of all veterans. And, we keep
in our thoughts and prayers for the fallen, the missing and those who right now
are serving in harm’s way.”
The 23-minute ceremony included comments by Allegany County
American Legion Commander Scott Spillane who read “A Veteran’s Day Tribute” by
Joanna Fuchs, Army veteran Shane Scott of the Elks Club who read a poem by
Marine Colonel John F. Kelly, Town Superintendent Shad Alsworth and Wellsville
Village Mayor Randy Shayler.
Alsworth looked at the statistics, stating, “There are
around 330 million citizens in the United States, 19.6 are veterans. Across the
United States between 1 to 3 percent of the population has served in the
military. In Allegany County our percentage is higher than that. Consistently
across the county 5 to 10 percent of graduates every year go into the military.
Following the speakers, the flag was saluted as the honor
guard and a rifle squad came to attention.
Wreaths were placed at the base of the World War II monument by Spillane
and Don Black for the Legion and Scott for the Elks Club. The ceremony ended
with Taps played by Navy veteran Diane Schwager and a gun salute by the
American Legion.
