In the town of Victory, we pause this morning to remember our loved ones on Memorial Day. Flags placed by the Red Creek Peterson-Hall Legion Post No. 436 are already flying to signify our Veterans' graves in the Victory Union Cemetery. Shortly after 9 a.m., the Cato LaBuff-Cole Legion Post No. 911 will march into the cemetery with its color guard and firing squad for services. It will be just one stop of many they have already made this morning, starting at 8 a.m. and continuing until noon.

Today we honor all of our Veterans; our World War I Veterans are Warren Bacon, Michael Brazer, Grace Coleman, John Dates, Warner Dates, Seward Longyear, Benjamin Reynolds, Bert Reynolds Jr., Leo Reynolds, Verner Timerson, William Van Alstine, and Joseph Winfield.

Our World War II Veterans are Maynard Bacon, Merrill Barnes, Richard Beames, Theodore Beames, George Blanchard, Clayton Bowen, Horace Bowen, Benjamin Brane, Charles Brane, Claude Brown #- killed in the war, Gerald Butts, Claude Coleman, Stanley Conner, Clifford Cook, Donald Cook, Elton Daratt, Ross Daratt, Melvin Dutcher, Arnold Farr - killed in the war, Kenneth Finck, Dayton Follett, Joy Follett, Alan Foster, Harold Foster, William Foster, Harlan Greene, Winfield Hall - killed in the war, Bernard Horn, Robert Horn, Warren Horn, Paul Houghtaling, Jack Hunsinger, Norris Jones, Norris Kelley, Almond Knapp, Erving Lees, Richard Lees, Thaddeus Littlefield, Donald Mack, William Martin, Jack McCombe, Frederick O'Bryan, Harold O'Bryan, Norman O'Bryan, Raymond O'Bryan, Rolland O'Bryan, Kenneth Parsons, Norris Patchen, Alfred Pierce, Elmer Pierce, Frank Pierce, Hilda Porter, Loren Porter, Concetto (Ed) Raiti, Archie Ranney, Harold Reynolds, Kenneth Reynolds, Merle Richardson, Robert Short, Wesley Shoudy, Betty Smith O'Bryan, Everett Smith, Guy Smith, Paul Smith, Howard Soule, Gene Stratton, Leslie Tanner, William Thompson #- killed in the war, Warren Upton, Clare Van Wie, Harvey Van Wie Sr., Homer Walker, Robert Wands, Calvin Weldon, Harold White, Melvin White, Stanley Whiting, Albert Wicks, Wesley Wilcox, Donald Wilkinson, Richard Wood, Fred York, George York and John York.

These men were the original 85 names on the list when the village of Victory raised the flagpole at the intersection of Route 38 and Old State Road in September 1942 during a patriotic ceremony honoring the “Victory and Vicinity” men who were serving their country. There are many more World War II Veterans in Victory who served after the original accounting.

Our Veterans during the Korean War are Gordon Bacon, Francis Houghtaling, Richard Martin, Ralph Porter, Dale Quimby and Charles Viele.

Viet Nam Era Veterans are William DePew, James Elmer, Steven Hall, Robert Ingham, Edward Smith, Eugene Van Deusen, Garth Van Deusen, Ronald Van Deusen, Deborah Van Wie, Harvey Van Wie Jr., Jeffrey Van Wie and Wayne Van Wie.

Desert Storm Veterans are Glen Abrams, Gary Cooper Jr., Deborah Ford, Dennis Ford, Todd Harper, James Morley Jr., Victor Neal, Charles Rotach Jr., Patrick Scutt and Judy Van Wie.

We know many veterans of all wars have moved into the Town of Victory from other areas and we salute and honor their sacrifice to our country. Although some of these veterans may not have always lived in Victory, many have family connections to Victory, went to Red Creek Central School with their Victory friends, and so we honor them today. I apologize if I have left anyone out.

Please call me at 730-3183 so I can update my records if I missed you.

Currently serving in Iraq is Michael Van Wie, Jeffrey Van Wie's son.

The Van Wie family has a long history of service to our country. Harvey Van Wie Sr. was in Army Air Corp. in World War I serving four years and seven months with General Patton. Harvey Van Wie Jr. is now Colonel Van Wie and is currently serving in his 37th year. His wife, Judy, is in her 30th year and is a Chief Master Sergeant. Harvey Jr.'s sister, Deborah Van Wie, retired after nearly 22 years of service. The family's total amount of service to our country, including Jeff's and Wayne's years, adds up to well over 100 years. We thank them for their dedication and loyalty to our nation.

Thanks to the Red Creek Peterson-Hall Legion Post No. 436 and Cato LaBuff-Cole Post No. 911 for continuing their tradition of placing flags and holding services on Memorial Day for northern Cayuga County Veterans.

Beverly Sayles grew up in the town of Victory and writes about its history.