veterans

Press release:

The Veterans Outreach Club is excited to announce that the ceremony for the opening of the Pembroke Veterans’ Wall of Honor will be held on November 21st. The Veterans’ Wall of Honor is open to those that attended Pembroke Schools through high school or left early to serve in the military. Each veteran or current military member will have an individualized plaque with his/her name, branch of service, branch insignia, and year of graduation. The plaques were designed by club members and are made here at school.

The Opening Ceremony will be held on November 21st at 1:00 pm in the High School Auditorium. This is a communitywide event and all are encouraged to attend. This is going to be a celebration of our very own heroes who have served our country. There will be an array of speakers ranging from current and former military, local and state politicians, and members of the Veterans Outreach Club. Also, being invited to attend are the Honor Guard, Patriot Guard, representatives of the local fire and police departments, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. Other interested local groups are welcome to attend as well.

The ceremony will also have an important and solemn commemoration in honor of Clarence J. Hall. C. Jay was a Pembroke graduate from the class of 1967. In 1969, he was drafted to serve in the conflict in Vietnam. While engaged in a firefight, C. Jay acted with great courage and was credited with saving the lives of several of his comrades. C. Jay exposed himself to hostile fire from the enemy and placed a devastating volume of suppressive rounds upon the aggressors' emplacements, allowing his comrades to take cover. While maneuvering to a more advantageous firing position, C. Jay was mortally wounded. For his unquestionable valor, while engaged in military operations, Specialist Four Hall was awarded the Silver Star. The Silver Star is America’s third-highest award for valor. C. Jay is the brother of Sandy Hall, a long-time math teacher at Pembroke. Sandy will be in attendance for the honoring of her brother. Pembroke members of the military from the Vietnam Era are being contacted to help in this commemoration. 

After the ceremony, veterans will be invited to see the Hall of Honor for the first time, then all other attendees will make their way through the Wall of Honor hallway. A reception in the gymnasium will immediately follow. We hope to see you all there. Thank you for your support. For questions or contributions, please contact Veterans Outreach Club Supervisor - Matt Moscato - wallofhonor@pembrokecsd.org or  585-599-4525 ext. 1107 or my cell phone # 716-353-5768.       

Press release:

Applications are now being accepted with anticipated move-in capability for December 6 for Liberty Square Apartments on East Main Street, Batavia.

Liberty Square is a 28-unit program located at 554 East Main Street, Batavia, NY, that will serve homeless or unstably housed Veterans with disabilities in a Permanent Supportive Housing environment. The 28 units are integrated into a 55-unit, general occupancy community, being developed in partnership with Home Leasing, LLC. The project consists of a 4-story, fully accessible building with a secure entry system, a welcoming community room, discrete staff offices, to include specific space for Eagle Star Housing staff, in-door bike storage, laundry facilities, fitness center, available laptops, raised garden beds, a fenced playground, and on-site parking.

Liberty Square Apartments includes a fully equipped kitchen with a range, refrigerator, microwave, wall-mounted TV, local TV channels with cable available, and in-unit storage. Heat, air conditioning, hot water, trash removal, and electricity are all included in the rent, and on-site laundry facilities are available at no cost to the tenant. Off-street parking is available. Tenants have access to a community room, bike storage, exercise equipment, and a computer lab. There are eight studio apartments and 20 one-bedroom apartments available. Tenant pays 30% of their income as rent and a stipend covers the rest. No security deposit is required.

Applications are now being accepted with an anticipated move-in capability for December 6, 2021. To qualify, you must have served in the Military, be in a housing crisis, and have an identified disability or case management need. Must meet eligibility and income requirements associated with the Low-Income Housing Tax credit program. Staff will aid in completing a housing application to make this determination.

Eagle Star Housing is a not-for-profit organization in New York State that provides housing services for homeless veterans under the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative. They have a 16-bed transitional housing program for homeless veterans in East Pembroke as well as other programs for homeless veterans in Central and Western New York.

Eagle Star has provided more than 960 homeless veterans with over 81,000 nights of safe housing since opening its doors in 2012.

Applications for the Supportive Housing apartments are available at the Eagle Star Housing website:

www.eaglestarhousing.com/supportive-apartment-programs/. 

Eagle Star Housing is made possible with the generous donations of community members. If you would like to donate today please visit our website: https://eaglestarhousing.com/donate/

Article and photos by Glenn Adams

The Honor Guard was established to provide Military Honors in funeral services for veterans from any of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Western New York National Cemetery Honor Guard for Genesee County is looking for volunteers to help with that important task.

The National Cemetery, located in Pembroke, has become the final resting place for over 600 veterans so far this year. Opened late last year, it provides a place where loved ones can say their final farewells, and thereafter, visit the grave as often as they desire.

They average about 3 funerals a day there, Monday through Friday, and occasionally have one on Saturday. An Honor Guard is there in the summer heat, wintery blasts, and everything in between, honoring those who have given at least a part of their lives for their country.

I witnessed my first funeral there last week. The Honor Guard was on hand to do their part in making a difficult time a little easier for family and friends. John Case was there then, an ex-Marine He was laid to rest his father, who had served in the Air Force. The ritual flag folding, gun salutes, taps, and expressions of gratitude for his father’s service from a grateful nation, lent an air of gravity to the proceedings.

The Genesee County detail, which takes the Monday services, is made up of 47 volunteers, although the numbers dwindle as snowbirds leave for the south each fall, and other commitments take volunteers away from week to week. Tuesday’s Honor Guard is from Orleans County, Wednesday, from Wyoming County, Thursday from Erie County, and Friday’s Honor Guard is made up of Vets from the various surrounding counties served by the Cemetery. Carl Hyde, a Navy Veteran and in charge of the Genesee County Guard, tells me that the last Monday of each month is a service for unclaimed Vets.

But they need help from Veterans in the area who can give a little time to help the families of their fellow soldiers. Who can help out? Anyone with an honorable discharge from the military is eligible. You don’t need to be a part of any Veteran’s organization. There is no requirement for attendance each week. Some vets are only available once or twice a month. Right now they’re stretched pretty thin on some days, for the south is calling some for the winter, and none are getting any younger.

For more information on how you can help, stop by the Batavia American Legion, 8969 Alexander Rd on Saturday, October 9th from 1-4 pm or call Carl Hyde at 585.356.2658. If you are from another county, he can put you in touch with a person from your county to contact.

Friends, family, and admirers gathered at the Batavia VA on Wednesday to join Sydney Cole, a World War II hero and former German POW, in celebration of his 107th birthday.

Cole served in the U.S. Army Air Corps among his honors for his military service he received the Air Medal, a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, and a POW Medal.

Cole was a forward aerial observer for the 776th Field Artillery Battalion when his aircraft was hit by enemy fire and disabled. In an attempt to bail out from the plane, his co-pilot became entangled with his headset.  Cole helped his co-pilot parachute to safety but by the time Cole could then jump from the plane himself, he was already behind enemy lines. He was fired on by German troops and sustained multiple gunshot wounds.  

When Cole landed he remembered that his dog tags indicated his religion on them. Knowing that he would be sent to a concentration camp and likely killed if the Germans found out he was Jewish he threw his tags as far into the woods as possible.  

As a prisoner, Capt. Cole commanded 150 enlisted prisoners.  Despite his ill-treated wounds and diminished body weight of only 95 pounds, Cole was instrumental in maintaining high levels of discipline and morale among the enlisted men and served as an inspiration and an example of American military conduct while in enemy custody. 

He was assigned to a POW camp run by the Hitler Youth where many of the prisoners were killed.  He was interrogated, beaten, and locked in a cellar of rotten potatoes.  He was fed soup made of grass and potatoes and wasn’t allowed to shower or shave. 

For more on Cole's story, click here.

Photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service

At Stan's Harley-Davidson on Wednesday, members of Genesee County ABATE, along with representatives of veterans organizations in Genesee County, presented a $3,000 donation to Doug Titus, treasurer of the Disabled American Veterans van program.

The money was raised by ABATE in early June on a ride, which required a donation to join, that took members from the posts of VFWs and American Legions in the region, where they picked up donations. There was also a 50/50 raffle and the ABATE kicked in the last few dollars to round the donation up to $3,000.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley is announcing his annual Patriot Trip to Washington, D.C., taking place from Sept. 16 to 19, where veterans and their family members are hosted on a tour throughout the area to visit several historical sites and landmarks.

This year’s tour will feature stops at war memorials throughout the D.C. area including Arlington National Cemetery. The first day includes a stop at the site of the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. Previous tours have included stops at the White House, the Capitol Building, Mt. Vernon, the Annapolis Naval Academy and various museums.

Participation in the trip is open to all military veterans and their family members and will cost $475 per person (includes all food, accommodation, travel, and other expenses). Those interested in participating in this year’s trip are encouraged to reach out to Assemblyman Hawley’s district office at (585) 589-5780.

“The Patriot Trip has been an important way of giving back to our veterans for years now, so after having to cancel last year’s trip, I’m elated to be able to resume the trips this year,” said Hawley. “This year will be our 14th trip, so I encourage all interested veterans to reach out to my office and join us on a trip to remember!”

Save Our Seniors and the SOS Air-Band serenaded residents of the NYS Veterans Home on Sunday with sounds of the 1950s as part of Flag Day Weekend.

The group was escorted to the event by The Rolling Patriots and the Patriot Guard Riders.

Photos by Lee Hoffman.

Debbie Coon and Duane Coon talk with Fred Henry about his motorcycle outside the VA Hospital in Batavia.

Henry, from Indian Falls, who served 21 years in the Army, was one of a few dozen members of Genesee County ABATE who rode their bikes to the VA Center today to great the veterans there to help celebrate during Flag Day weekend.

Debbie reminded Duane, who served in the Navy from 1971 to 1975, that his motorcycle used to be the same color.

Press release:

The Avenue of Flags is something National cemeteries display during Memorial Day. National cemeteries can either put small flags up at each marker or display an Avenue of Flags for Memorial Day. 

The Western New York National Cemetery has been recently approved to display the Avenue of Flags annually from Armed Forces Day (Third Saturday in May) to the Saturday after Veterans Day (Nov. 11).

Each flag that is flown along the Avenue has either draped a veteran's casket or accompanied a veteran's urn to their final resting place. These are known as interment flags.

Each flag has been presented to the next of kin of the veteran on behalf of the President of the United States and the branch of service the veteran served. Families donate their veterans interment flags to fly along the Avenue to represent their service and sacrifice to the country.     

The WNYNC Memorial Council is responsible for the maintenance of the flags as well as collecting the donated flags. The WNYNC Memorial Council is a newly developed council, begun within the last year to support the WNYNC.  

Photos by Howard Owens.

Here are photos from the Memorial Day Ceremonies at the Veterans Hospital, the NYS Vets Home, the Upton Monument, and the War Memorial at Jerome Center.

Councilman Bob Bialkowski shared this Memorial Day photo of the front of his house. Bialkowski has organized today's Memorial Day Parade in Batavia, which starts in Eastown Plaza at 9:45 a.m.

Other events in the county today: 

• Alexander: Ceremony in the Alexander Village Cemetery at 11 a.m.
• Bergen: Ceremony at 9:30 a.m. in Hickory Park.
• Byron: Ceremony in the Byron Cemetery at 11 a.m.
• Corfu: Parade at noon from the Corfu Fire Hall to the Intermediate School. Ceremony to follow.
• Elba: Ceremony at Maple Lawn Cemetery at 10 a.m.  
• Le Roy: Parade at 10:30 a.m. starting at the American Legion Hall and ending at Trigon Park with a ceremony to follow.
• Memorial services at the VA Center at 8:30 a.m., the NYS Vets Home at 8:45 a.m., Harvester Avenue at 9:30 a.m., Upton Monument at 10 a.m., the War Memorial at Jerome Center at 10:30  a.m., Glenn S. Loomis Grave, Elmwood Cemetery, 11:30 a.m., Hanson Brothers Grave, Grandview, at noon.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley, a member of the Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, is sounding off about a directive from Governor Andrew Cuomo through the Office of Government Services.

It would split half-staff flag dedications on Memorial Day weekend between essential workers who passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic and fallen veterans, as flags would be lowered to half-staff Sunday for essential workers, and Monday for veterans. 

A veteran himself, Hawley feels that while those who passed during the COVID-19 should be honored and remembered, it is incredibly disrespectful to service members who have passed and their families to diminish their remembrance in this way. 

“Honoring one group of people should never come at the cost of diminishing the honor of another, especially when we’re talking about people that fought and died so that we can live free and peaceful lives,” Hawley said.

“This directive, by the governor, was issued in incredibly poor taste, and is an insult to all of the New Yorkers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the liberty of our countrymen and people throughout the globe.

"To say this slighting of our nation’s fallen heroes is a disgrace would be an understatement, and I implore the governor to see that this directive is reversed immediately.”

With the help of Kiwanis members in the region, the Kiwanis Club of Batavia has put together 40 care packages for veterans in our community. 

Members of the Kiwanis Club dropped off the "Kare Packages" at the Veterans Services Office yesterday.

Key contributions came from Kiwanis members Joe Van Cura, owner of Mission Coffee in Rochester, and Dave DiFranco, director of VPAC (Veterans-Plus Assistance Corp.).

Photo: Heather Henders, Lt. Gov. of the Genesee Division of Kiwanis, Bill Joyce, veterans services officer, Stefano Napolitano, VP of Batavia Kiwanis, and Peter Guppenberger, Kiwanis past president.

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley is railing against the Assembly Majority after they tabled a bill he sponsored during a Ways and Means Committee meeting that would have exempted veterans over the age of 85 from paying state income taxes (A.5033).

Notably, this bill was rejected even after the Majority passed a budget that gives more than $2 billion in assistance to illegal immigrants in the form of direct payments.

The cost to the state in lost revenue from excluding veterans over 85 years old from state income taxes is estimated to be about $6 million, just over 1/4th of 1 percent (.0000283) of the state’s record high $212 billion budget. 

“The decision by the Majority to refuse to take this small step to show appreciation for our most elderly veterans even after giving billions to people who broke the law to come to this country is shameful, and representative of our state’s misguided priorities as a whole,” Hawley said.

“We are failing those who have risked their lives for our freedoms, and helping those who have disrespected our nation’s rule of law. It seems, year after year, the Majority places the well-being of lawbreakers above that of working people, and apparently even our veterans, even when they need our help more than ever during these unprecedented times.”

Press release:

Assemblyman Steve Hawley was joined today at the Genesee County Veterans Service Agency by Senator Ed Rath, Genesee County Legislator Gary Maha, Genesee County Veterans Services Director Bill Joyce, and Chris Kreiger and Lynn Magistrale of WNY Heroes, the organization that operates the Dwyer program in Genesee County, to discuss funding of the Joseph P. Dwyer Veteran Peer Support Program and the impact the program has on local veterans. 

The final enacted budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year included $4,505,000 for the Dwyer Program across New York State, with $185,000 allocated for Niagara County, $185,000 for Monroe County, and $185,000 for Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming counties. This funding was secured even as Governor Cuomo proposed eliminating it entirely in his executive budget proposal.

“As a member of the Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and being a veteran myself, I am proud to have secured this funding for our service members after yet another attempt by the governor to eliminate it from our state budget,” Hawley said. “This funding saves lives, and operating programs such as the Dwyer program is the least we can do for those that risk their lives to defend our liberties.”

"I was pleased that the Dwyer Program funding was included in the final 2021-22 budget,” Senator Rath said. “The services that the Dwyer Program provides to our veteran community are critical. The State has continuously tried to cut or delay this funding, so I am happy that it was included in full."

“We are honored to take care of veterans and assist their families,” said Chris Kreiger, president of WNY Heroes and Iraq War veteran. “Our programs are about providing a hand up, not a handout. It takes more strength to ask for help and even more strength to accept it.

"Here at WNYHeroes, we are no different than you, the veteran. We don’t dress in fancy clothing, we don’t drive fancy cars, we simply just want nothing more than to provide support while sustaining your dignity at the same time.”

A small group of protesters gathered outside the VA Medical Center grounds in Batavia this morning to express their objections to ongoing visitor restrictions put in place to prevent the spread in the hospital of COVID-19.

Initially, the protesters were on the VA grounds and they were asked to leave. Later, after this video was shot, a caller reported to dispatch that they were blocking traffic, but when a Batavia police officer arrived he said they were not blocking traffic.

Here is a statement from a spokesman for the VA:

VAWNYHS is re-establishing scheduled visitations based upon recently revised Veteran Health Affairs and CDC guidelines for Community Living Centers.   

Families of nursing home Veterans at the Batavia Community Living Center are being contacted to schedule visits with their loved ones during which two family members will be able to visit a patient at a time. In special circumstances, up to six family members may visit a veteran resident if deemed clinically appropriate. Visits need to be scheduled with staff and no drop-in visitations will be allowed.

We fully understand the family members' desire to physically reconnect with their loved ones in the Community Living Center after a year of virtual visits via telephone and FaceTime conversations. The VA will continue to safeguard our beloved veterans and work closely with families to have a coordinated, safe experience for the veteran and family members.

The Western New York National Cemetery is open and accepting donations of interment flags for their Avenue of Flags program. This is a stunning presentation of flags lining the lanes of the National Cemetery.

To donate your interment flag to be flown in memory and in honor of your loved one or more information contact us at (585) 344-4295 or info@bataviafuneralhomes.com

Of the 143 national cemeteries in the United States, only three are participating in the Avenue of Flags program, including our own Western New York National Cemetery. Each flag is donated by the family and friends of those entitled to military honors and are flown in tribute to their loved ones and honor of those entering the cemetery.

Our funeral homes would be honored to take care of each donation and bring them to the National Cemetery, where they will stand guard for our nation’s veterans on their last journey. Only interment flags are permitted, no store-bought flags are accepted.

Press release:

American Warrior Festival, in partnership with parent company Strength In Numbers Entertainment, is proud to announce the launch of their national virtual event series -- with roots in Genesee County -- in their ongoing efforts to support our country’s veterans and those currently serving in the United States Armed Forces.

The entertainment organization is making its return after the unprecedented circumstances of last year, which caused the team to pause on some of their most anticipated live events.

American Warrior Festival’s spring virtual events are currently open for registration and end on March 25th with more events to follow. All are welcome to register to attend virtually and can participate at their own pace.

“Obviously, we were forced to hit the pause button just like everyone else when the pandemic hit; however, we found that the hiatus allowed us to rebuild and refocus on our mission, and we created an even better experience for our veterans and their families," says Dan Clor, American Warrior Festival founder and owner, Marine Corps veteran, and host of The American Warrior Festival Podcast. With this new virtual platform, we are now able to reach more veterans, and further spread our message."

Clor is partnering with The Firing Pin, an indoor shooting range in Bergen, for the virtual events in Genesee County.

Virtual Event Series Details

2021 AWF Medal of Honor Marksmanship Competition 

You can register and enter your score anytime between now and March 25th.

What You Will Do

To begin the drill, draw at the sound of the shot timer/verbal command/other signal and engage the target 10 times within the 10-second time standard. The objective is to score as many points as possible within the allotted time. Any ties resulting from points in a competition setting are broken by referring to the individual time; the next tiebreaker goes to the fastest engagement of the target.

Once you complete the drill:

1. Post your video in the “Discussion” area of the Facebook event page.

2. Enter your score into the leaderboard.

3. All participants who have completed the drill and entered their time into the system will be entered into a prize drawing to be held on Medal of Honor Day, March 25th, 2021. You will also receive a 2021 American Warrior Festival Medal of Honor T-shirt for completing the event.

For full details and to sign up for the event, click here.

2021 AWF Medal of Honor Virtual Run

National Medal of Honor Day is observed every year on March 25th and is dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients.

“Each branch of the U.S. military awards the Medal of Honor to those who have distinguished themselves ‘conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity’ above and beyond the call of duty,” according to the Department of Veterans Affairs official website.

In this time of social distancing, get in shape, connect with your friends and family through weekly trainings and compete for the best final times! Share your photos on social media to enter our weekly raffle for prizes.

Details:

1. Signup for the Virtual 5K, 10-miler, Fun Run/Walk or join a team.

2. All times are tracked through the leaderboard to add to the competitive fun.

3. Registration includes a T-Shirt, Medal, 10-percent off gifts and apparel in our merchant store, and partially as a donation to the Veterans Suicide Prevention Organization.

4. Includes a six-week virtual training course led by an experienced trainer and veteran.

To purchase tickets for the Ruck Run, click here.

“Our sponsors and team make this all possible. The tremendous support from local and national organizations, private businesses, individuals, ticket sales, concessions, and merchandise all go to help our veterans,” adds Clor. “This is just the beginning; get ready for more great news to come!”

A VA study on mental health concluded that, on average, 20 Veterans commit suicide a day and that the suicide rate is highest among veterans between 18 to 29. The American Warrior Festival and Strength In Numbers Entertainment mission is to help support organizations working toward veteran suicide prevention.

Help us defeat these horrific statistics through donations, participation, and sharing with others. It’s important to get our message out there, especially during these difficult times.

Partial proceeds from registration for each event go to veteran organizations such as The War Fighter Community Foundation, Mission 22, and Broken Warriors Angels.

For more information on how you can help support our veterans, please email Dan Clor at:  DanClor@strengthinnumbersent.com.

About American Warrior Festival

American Warrior Festival provides entertainment for the brave men and women who have served and are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces and gives them access to veteran support resources through our nonprofit partners. For more information visit: https://americanwarriorfestival.com/.

About Strength In Numbers Entertainment

Strength In Numbers Entertainment is a concert and event company that creates and promotes events, tours featuring heavy, edgier bands and artists spanning across multiple genres. For more information visit: https://strengthinnumbersent.com/.