SMETHPORT – Veterans from across the area were recognized
Saturday during two separate Veterans Day dinners in Smethport and
Crosby.

In Smethport, state Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, attended
the annual Veterans Day Dinner at the Smethport American Legion,
and provided the DVD, “A Tribute to World War II Veterans,” which
was shown on the legion’s new movie screen.

Produced by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the DVD
called World War II “one of the great triumphs over tyranny.” Of
the 1,000,000 Pennsylvanians to serve in the war, 30,000 lost their
lives, according to the DVD. In an interview, one veteran, speaking
for his generation, said, “We thought it was our responsibility to
get involved and bring the war to a conclusion.”

Causer said after seeing this DVD, “I say ‘thank you’ to the
veterans for all you did for us.”

Legion Commander Seth Digel read an Ogden Nash poem that was
written shortly after World War II.

In an update of post activities, Digel noted that Garvin Dille
and Clair Cochran are the recipients recognition for 50 years
continuous membership in the Bucktail Post #138.

Digel thanked all the volunteers who helped plan the visit of
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall in Hamlin Lake Park on
June 1-5. He quoted Rob Roberts, the driver and caretaker of the
Moving Wall, as saying, “Of all the hundreds of places the wall has
been, Smethport ranks in the top five when it came to events,
community spirit and organization.”

Gerry Ford, commander of Post #138 Sons of the American Legion,
spoke about that group’s activities. One of their events was
assisting with the wall. Ford, in his second year as SAL commander
and organizer of the Ride of Pride, which escorted the wall from
Marienville to Smethport, said the Pennsylvania State Police
estimated there were 3,400 motorcycles in the Ride. Ford who was
one of those motorcyclists, called the Ride, “the greatest thrill
of my life.”

The SAL have also cleaned two local cemeteries, donated to
ABATE, Christian Community Service Food Bank, and purchased
veterans’ flags for cemeteries.

Digel presented Dave Ford, a Legion past-commander and chairman
of the Moving Wall Steering Committee, with an embroidered Vietnam
baseball-style hat. Ford is a U.S. Navy veteran of that war.

C. Russell Johnson served as master of ceremonies for the event.
He recognized the veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam,
Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, Enduring
Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and the Iraqi War.

Mel Bauer, Howard McCollough, and Digel conducted the Post
Everlasting Ceremony honoring the John Brown, Ronald Cochran,
Edward Cornelius and Gerald Gallant, all of whom have died within
the past year.

In Crosby, nine World War II veterans who are members of the
John Berg American Legion Post #976 were recognized during the
annual dinner at the post.

Post Commander “Chuck” Lathrop presented plaques to Cino Faes,
Ed Spittler, Bill Zylinski, Bill Kisko, Ken Raszmann, Dessie
Lininger, Ron Reinard, Glen Minnier and Walt Nelson.

“Bud” Carlson, post vice-commander, offered brief comments prior
to the memorial rifle salute and the playing of “Taps” by Kevin
Smith and Jeremy Freer of the Smethport Area High School band.
Carlson explained the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans
Day.

“On Memorial Day, we honor our fallen comrades who died in the
service to their country, particulary from wounds sustained in
battle,” he noted. “Veterans Day is set aside to thank and honor
living veterans who have served in wars or peacetime and to show
our appreciation for their contributions to our national security.
To be a veteran is to know the price of freedom.”

Carlson also asked the more than 70 people in attendance to pray
for our MIA’s and POW’s until all are accounted for or return
home.

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Rick Buccholz of the New York
Air National Guard’s 107th Refueling Wing at Niagara Falls, N.Y.,
was the guest speaker. He presented a short outline of World War II
from Germany’s invasion of Poland, which started the war in 1939,
through the surrender of Japan in 1945 after the U.S. dropped an
atomic bomb on Hiroshima and a hydrogen bomb on Nagasaki.

Buchholz told about the partitioning of Germany and Japan after
the war and the establishment of the United Nations, which was a
hope of minimizing future world conflicts.

In World War II, Buchholz said, “Americans put down their
shovels, left their factories, to face the uncertainties of war in
lands they had never seen.”

On Dec. 20, Buchholz will mark 32 years in the military. After
two years active duty with the Air Force, he spent one year with
the Air National Guard in Pittsburgh, followed by 29 years with the
New York Air National Guard.

Ron Zetwick conducted the MIA/POW ceremony.