Gold Star Honor Roll members Claude Brown, Arnold Farr, Winfield Hall, Starette Ingleson and Edward Smith are veterans who were killed in the wars they fought.
On Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. at the Victory Fire House (Routes 38 and 370), we will honor these veterans and all veterans everywhere with our Veterans Day program. Our heritage of honoring veterans dates back scores of years according to the late Ben Reynolds, Jean and Maude Thompson Butts, Fred Coleman and Harold Jones, all historians, long before an official one was appointed.
Even before so many native sons answered the call in World War II, the town fathers organized many Labor Day parades, flag raisings and Old Home Days. One of our earliest events was a flag-raising and bond sale at the time of World War I when Judge Drummond from Auburn offered the oratory from a stage on Main Street. The earliest Old Home Day was July (always the last Saturday), 1929 and the programs came complete with histories of Victory, ball games, band concerts, church services and suppers.
In 1944, a special church service held at the Federated Church in Victory told of a crowd of more than 200 who heard a sermon on “Our Heroes and Our Heritage” by the Rev. John H. McCombe. The Roll of Honor of men in Victory serving in the armed service was read by Jean G. Butts, general chairman of the dedication of the honor board, placed on Main Street (Route 38) in the front yard of Ed and Helen Raiti, across from the general store. Jack Harte headed the committee which secured the honor board. Following the services, Victory children marched to the cemetery to place flowers on the graves of veterans of former wars.
During the service, a basket of flowers honoring the Victory boys in service, who attended Red Creek Central School, was given by Miss Eleen Garnett, principal. At the time, the oldest member of the church was Cortland Walker, age 92, who was also honored with flowers.
On Sept. 4, 1945 a huge “Field Day” for the Filipinos cause was held on the Butts farm just south of Victory. The crowd of more than 2,000 rallied to “observe the coming of peace” and to hold a “living and lasting memorial” to friend and fellow serviceman, Winfield Hall, who was killed in action near Italy in 1944. Winfield was the only serviceman killed who was a lifelong resident of Victory.
The original wooden plaque had 84 stars on it with four of them gold. Over the years, it weathered and eventually fell apart. Instrumental in the resurrection of the former list of names and securing a new plaque at the fire house in 1987 were Ethel Barnes and town historian, Evelyn Smith Wood. They worked tirelessly to find all the names of service men and women in the town so our plaque could be brought up to date with some 142 names.
It was thought that the Honor Roll would “bring those who have served a bit closer to home and put the names of the men and women into the hearts with a memorial for all to see.”
Ethel, nicknamed the “flag lady” for her promotion of flying and respecting our flag, was honored with a plaque by the Cato LaBuff-Cole American Legion Post No. 911 in 1991 for “her patriotism and untiring efforts on behalf of the armed forces of this nation.” Originally from Conquest and a Gold Star Mother herself, Ethel lost her only child, son Robert S. Barnes, in Vietnam.
Our town forefathers, from Roswell Enos in 1821 to Edward Allanson, James Upton, Harry Murphy, Wallace Manroe, George Pittroff, Edward Hornburg, Walter Richardson Jr., etc. to the present day supervisor, Lucille Craine, have continued our heritage of honoring and supporting our veterans with Old Home Days, flag raisings and a special Veterans Day service.
Over the past several years, we have even had our own dedicated group of veterans and patriots who perform “fly-overs” (at their own expense) during Memorial Day and Veterans Day services, and during local veterans' burials. They are Lauren Dates, Bud Robinson, Terry Lynch, Lee Jackson and Russ Burtch. Thanks to these men for performing true “community service.”
Our Veterans Day Program will be full of speakers, patriotic music and a multi-media slide show that I will present of veterans and patriots from the Red Creek, Westbury, Victory and Cato area.
It is open to all veterans everywhere and to the public. Refreshments will be served, and the Victory History Center will be open for an hour after the program so people may view our history, veterans' pictures and memorabilia table.
Thanks to all veterans for your service to our country. See you at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the Victory Fire House.
Beverly Sayles is the Victory town historian. She may be reached at beverlycs65@gmail.com
Even before so many native sons answered the call in World War II, the town fathers organized many Labor Day parades, flag raisings and Old Home Days. One of our earliest events was a flag-raising and bond sale at the time of World War I when Judge Drummond from Auburn offered the oratory from a stage on Main Street. The earliest Old Home Day was July (always the last Saturday), 1929 and the programs came complete with histories of Victory, ball games, band concerts, church services and suppers.
In 1944, a special church service held at the Federated Church in Victory told of a crowd of more than 200 who heard a sermon on “Our Heroes and Our Heritage” by the Rev. John H. McCombe. The Roll of Honor of men in Victory serving in the armed service was read by Jean G. Butts, general chairman of the dedication of the honor board, placed on Main Street (Route 38) in the front yard of Ed and Helen Raiti, across from the general store. Jack Harte headed the committee which secured the honor board. Following the services, Victory children marched to the cemetery to place flowers on the graves of veterans of former wars.
During the service, a basket of flowers honoring the Victory boys in service, who attended Red Creek Central School, was given by Miss Eleen Garnett, principal. At the time, the oldest member of the church was Cortland Walker, age 92, who was also honored with flowers.
On Sept. 4, 1945 a huge “Field Day” for the Filipinos cause was held on the Butts farm just south of Victory. The crowd of more than 2,000 rallied to “observe the coming of peace” and to hold a “living and lasting memorial” to friend and fellow serviceman, Winfield Hall, who was killed in action near Italy in 1944. Winfield was the only serviceman killed who was a lifelong resident of Victory.
The original wooden plaque had 84 stars on it with four of them gold. Over the years, it weathered and eventually fell apart. Instrumental in the resurrection of the former list of names and securing a new plaque at the fire house in 1987 were Ethel Barnes and town historian, Evelyn Smith Wood. They worked tirelessly to find all the names of service men and women in the town so our plaque could be brought up to date with some 142 names.
It was thought that the Honor Roll would “bring those who have served a bit closer to home and put the names of the men and women into the hearts with a memorial for all to see.”
Ethel, nicknamed the “flag lady” for her promotion of flying and respecting our flag, was honored with a plaque by the Cato LaBuff-Cole American Legion Post No. 911 in 1991 for “her patriotism and untiring efforts on behalf of the armed forces of this nation.” Originally from Conquest and a Gold Star Mother herself, Ethel lost her only child, son Robert S. Barnes, in Vietnam.
Our town forefathers, from Roswell Enos in 1821 to Edward Allanson, James Upton, Harry Murphy, Wallace Manroe, George Pittroff, Edward Hornburg, Walter Richardson Jr., etc. to the present day supervisor, Lucille Craine, have continued our heritage of honoring and supporting our veterans with Old Home Days, flag raisings and a special Veterans Day service.
Over the past several years, we have even had our own dedicated group of veterans and patriots who perform “fly-overs” (at their own expense) during Memorial Day and Veterans Day services, and during local veterans' burials. They are Lauren Dates, Bud Robinson, Terry Lynch, Lee Jackson and Russ Burtch. Thanks to these men for performing true “community service.”
Our Veterans Day Program will be full of speakers, patriotic music and a multi-media slide show that I will present of veterans and patriots from the Red Creek, Westbury, Victory and Cato area.
It is open to all veterans everywhere and to the public. Refreshments will be served, and the Victory History Center will be open for an hour after the program so people may view our history, veterans' pictures and memorabilia table.
Thanks to all veterans for your service to our country. See you at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the Victory Fire House.
Beverly Sayles is the Victory town historian. She may be reached at beverlycs65@gmail.com
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