We will recognize Armistice Day Nov. 11, which officially became a holiday in the United States in 1926, and a national holiday 12 years later. On June 1, 1954, the name was changed to Veteran's Day to honor all U.S. veterans.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, with its auxiliaries, includes 2.3 million members in approximately 8,400 posts worldwide. Its mission is to “honor the dead by helping the living” through veterans' service, community service, national security and a strong national defense.
It's the oldest of all the major veterans' organizations in the country, and traces its roots back to 1899, when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service. Many arrived home wounded or sick with no medical care or veterans' pension for them, and they were left to care for themselves.
The Thurston-Schram-Reynolds Post 8137 was organized on Jan. 16, 1966, in Montezuma. On March 13, 1966, a mustering in ceremony was held with attendees from Montezuma and surrounding towns. There were 37 chartering members which eventually grew to more than 300. Warren Garner, formerly of Montezuma, is credited with organizing the post started here, as well helping out in Cato and King Ferry. A World War II veteran who served in Germany, Warren, age 86, now lives in Florida where he helped establish a VFW and American Legion Post there.
Relatives of the serviceman, for whom the post was named, were present at the organizing ceremony in 1966 to receive gold star pins. Pfc. Hiram E. Thurston, age 22 was killed in action in Eastern France on Feb. 3, 1945. He had been in the service for nearly three years, and had been oversees since November 1943. Pfc. Thurston was born in Montezuma on Jan. 5, 1923 and attended Port Byron Central School. He worked at Romulus Ordinance Depot before entering the Army on March 8, 1943.
Sgt. Donald J. Schram was killed in action during the battle of Brenner Pass in Italy on Oct. 7, 1944. He was born in Marcellus on Feb. 22, 1918, and graduated from Weedsport High School in 1937. He was employed as a guard at the Seneca Ordinance Depot in Romulus when he entered the Army in March 1942. He was one of two brothers in the war, serving along with Harold Schram, who also was in the Army. He left behind his wife, Helen and son, Donald J. Jr. of Montezuma.
John Arthur Reynolds, Jr. enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1946, and underwent his recruit training at Parris Island, S.C. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Reynolds of Baldwin Road in Montezuma, received word that their son was killed in Korea in September 1951.
When the VFW first formed, they held meetings in the Town Hall, but soon after forming they began raising money to purchase the former Red and White Store owned and operated for 40 years by Leslie and Frances Mae (Thurston) Jones. Mae, as she was fondly known by everyone in town, also operated the town's post office from the store for 15 years. Leslie was a World War I veteran and their son, Leon, a World War II veteran, was a charter member of the Montezuma VFW Post. Later the post raised money to add a hall addition to the existing building.
As World War II veterans die, membership levels are threatened, and other organizations affiliated with the local post have sprung up to continue to hold the post together in the community. In the 1970s, a Sons of Veterans Post was active which eventually evolved into the Dads of Foreign Service Veterans open to any family member who has served oversees. In November 2002, veterans from the area officially chartered the first AMVets Post in Cayuga County. The following year the AMVets Post 513 was named for Cayuga County's only Congressional Medal of Honor, Robert E. Stryker from Throop who was killed in Vietnam. Similar to the VFW and American Legion organizations, AMVets is open to anyone honorably discharged from the military or presently serving in the military.
Throughout the years Post 8137 and their active Ladies Auxiliary which formed in 1967, have sponsored a variety of projects aimed at helping veterans and their families as well as the betterment of the local community. In this critical time, we can reflect on the important part the veterans organizations play in helping the men and women who have served our country and given their lives to preserve our freedom.
Cheryl Longyear is historian for the Town of Montezuma. She can be reached at 776-8632 or e-mailed at montezumahistorian@tds.net
It's the oldest of all the major veterans' organizations in the country, and traces its roots back to 1899, when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service. Many arrived home wounded or sick with no medical care or veterans' pension for them, and they were left to care for themselves.
The Thurston-Schram-Reynolds Post 8137 was organized on Jan. 16, 1966, in Montezuma. On March 13, 1966, a mustering in ceremony was held with attendees from Montezuma and surrounding towns. There were 37 chartering members which eventually grew to more than 300. Warren Garner, formerly of Montezuma, is credited with organizing the post started here, as well helping out in Cato and King Ferry. A World War II veteran who served in Germany, Warren, age 86, now lives in Florida where he helped establish a VFW and American Legion Post there.
Relatives of the serviceman, for whom the post was named, were present at the organizing ceremony in 1966 to receive gold star pins. Pfc. Hiram E. Thurston, age 22 was killed in action in Eastern France on Feb. 3, 1945. He had been in the service for nearly three years, and had been oversees since November 1943. Pfc. Thurston was born in Montezuma on Jan. 5, 1923 and attended Port Byron Central School. He worked at Romulus Ordinance Depot before entering the Army on March 8, 1943.
Sgt. Donald J. Schram was killed in action during the battle of Brenner Pass in Italy on Oct. 7, 1944. He was born in Marcellus on Feb. 22, 1918, and graduated from Weedsport High School in 1937. He was employed as a guard at the Seneca Ordinance Depot in Romulus when he entered the Army in March 1942. He was one of two brothers in the war, serving along with Harold Schram, who also was in the Army. He left behind his wife, Helen and son, Donald J. Jr. of Montezuma.
John Arthur Reynolds, Jr. enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1946, and underwent his recruit training at Parris Island, S.C. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Reynolds of Baldwin Road in Montezuma, received word that their son was killed in Korea in September 1951.
When the VFW first formed, they held meetings in the Town Hall, but soon after forming they began raising money to purchase the former Red and White Store owned and operated for 40 years by Leslie and Frances Mae (Thurston) Jones. Mae, as she was fondly known by everyone in town, also operated the town's post office from the store for 15 years. Leslie was a World War I veteran and their son, Leon, a World War II veteran, was a charter member of the Montezuma VFW Post. Later the post raised money to add a hall addition to the existing building.
As World War II veterans die, membership levels are threatened, and other organizations affiliated with the local post have sprung up to continue to hold the post together in the community. In the 1970s, a Sons of Veterans Post was active which eventually evolved into the Dads of Foreign Service Veterans open to any family member who has served oversees. In November 2002, veterans from the area officially chartered the first AMVets Post in Cayuga County. The following year the AMVets Post 513 was named for Cayuga County's only Congressional Medal of Honor, Robert E. Stryker from Throop who was killed in Vietnam. Similar to the VFW and American Legion organizations, AMVets is open to anyone honorably discharged from the military or presently serving in the military.
Throughout the years Post 8137 and their active Ladies Auxiliary which formed in 1967, have sponsored a variety of projects aimed at helping veterans and their families as well as the betterment of the local community. In this critical time, we can reflect on the important part the veterans organizations play in helping the men and women who have served our country and given their lives to preserve our freedom.
Cheryl Longyear is historian for the Town of Montezuma. She can be reached at 776-8632 or e-mailed at montezumahistorian@tds.net
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.