David McTamaney stands at attention as Patty Sofokles performs the national anthem.
By Nancy Peckenham
About 50 people gathered at the Orange County Veterans Memorial on Marine Drive in Newburgh on Thursday morning, Veterans Day, to remember the sacrifices of all who have served in the nation’s armed forces.
Service veterans from World War Two, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf Wars were present for the ceremony that began shortly after 11 am. They represented many of the area veterans groups, including American Legion Post 152, Vietnam Veterans of America Post 537, Catholic War Veterans and the Military Order of Jewish War Veterans 413. The program was organized by the Joint Memorial Day Parade Committee, whose president, Gene Watkins, stayed in the background of the event.
Gene Watkins (l), president of the coalition and Vinny Wood, commander of American Legion Post 152, arrive for the ceremony.
Dave McTamaney, a Vietnam War veteran, served as master of ceremony for the brief remembrance, which began with a singing of “The Star Spangled Banner” by Patty Sofokles.
McTameney pointed out the empty chair that was draped in memory of the POWs and those missing in action and Ian Berkowitz of the Jewish War Veterans tolled a bell 11 times.
Veterans Day, once called Armistice Day, was first created to mark the end of World War One, which ended with a ceasefire on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
Ian Berkowitz tolled the bell for the fallen servicemen and women.
Standing in front of the Veterans Memorial, McTamaney recalled how servicemen from Newburgh lost their lives in the final days of that war. He said that two companies of soldiers from Newburgh formed part of the 107th Infantry Regiment, which lost 38 men who were killed in action in just one day near the end of the war. He recalled as well a Newburgh man, Kenneth Millspaugh, who was killed in the last battle of the war on November 10, 1918.
“Today is meant to honor the living veterans as well as those on the wall,” McTamaney said as he asked for veterans in the crowd to identify themselves as people applauded.
After a playing a taps, Patty Sofokeles led the crowd in “God Bless America” and the brief ceremony ended.
Dave McTamaney called the firefighters heros, too.
Speaking informally, McTamaney nodded at the Newburgh firefighters who brought their trucks and stood at attention beside the memorial. “Not all of our heroes are in the military,” he said, “some of them just drove by,” a reference to a fire truck that was called from the scene to answer a call, its sirens and lights blaring, just moments earlier.
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