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Before heading to the Wreaths Across America ceremony at the
Bath National Cemetery, members of the DAR placed a wreath at the Allegany
County Vietnam Veterans memorial in Belmont. Above DAR Treasurer Mary Lindquist
places the wreath.
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Saturday was Wreaths Across America day, a nationwide event
where volunteers place sponsored wreaths on the graves of veterans in national
cemeteries. Hundreds of volunteers gathered in Bath Saturday at the Veterans
National Cemetery on the grounds of the Bath VA Administration Hospital to
place around 5,000 wreaths on graves. Dating from the Revolutionary War there
are over 17,000 veterans interred there.
Members of the Catharine Schuyler Chapter of the Daughters
of the American Revolution and members of the Allegany County Veterans
Organization before heading to bath laced a wreath at the Allegany County
Vietnam Veterans memorial in Belmont.
DAR Regent Kim Conroy said, “Today, December 14, 2019 is our
National Wreaths Across America Day, where we Remember, Honor and Teach through
the wreath laying ceremonies. ….”Our goal is to place wreaths to honor our
heroes as we are doing here today at this memorial We work to teach others of
the importance of expressing their gratitude for our service member’s sacrifice
every day of the year, to preserve our freedoms.”
“Our chapter has been involved with Wreaths Across America
for the last four years, but this is the first year that the National DAR has
been a corporate sponsor of the event,” she said.
In total the local DAR placed over 200 wreaths sponsored by
local individuals and organizations in the Bath National Cemetery.
The local DAR collaborates with the Allegany County Veterans
Organization (AVCO) providing support during the summer picnic and at other times.
Several members of the ACVO and their wives also participated in Saturday’s
program in Belmont.
Bill Locke of the ACVO commented on the wreath placing,
saying, “We honor veterans every day, so it is fitting that we start here
today.”
Members of the ACVO also attended the wreath laying at the
Bath National Veterans Cemetery.
The county’s Vietnam Memorial was first dedicated to Lt.
Commander Donald E. Thompson who was reported Missing In Action in 1967.
Thompson’s remains were recovered from Vietnam in 1993.
The names of 10 county men who died in Vietnam are inscribed
on the memorial - Gary Coyle, Duane Scott, Charles Dutton, Robert Howden, Max
Nichols, Louis Lane, Henry Pawlick Jr., Donald Pensyl, Michael Reitz and Adrian
Quick Jr. The memorial also contains the names of 15 county men who have died
as a result of the Vietnam War – James Ehrman, William Giannelli, John Robb
Jr., Jan Bastian, Joel Dieter, Paul Hepker, Dennis Mead, David Vossler, David
Mallery, Robert Hunter, Theodore Hanley, Thomas Johnson, Jerry McKay, Lloyd
Kinnicutt and James Clarke.
