Name to be added to Le Roy war memorial
REMEMBERING THE FALLEN: Milton Thompson died when fighterplane crashed near Mansfield, Ohio, in 1952
By MALLORY DIEFENBACH
mdiefenbach@batavianews.com
LE ROY — On Memorial Day, Le
Roy will honor a veteran who had
been left off the Korean War Memo-
rial.
Milton Thompson, a pilot who
served in both World War II and the
Korean War, was first brought to
Le Roy Historian Lynne Belluscio’s
attention by Brian Duddy, a retired
lieutenant colonel from the Air
Force.
Duddy enjoys assembling airplane
models. He was at a model show
when he saw a P-47D Thunderbolt.
After doing some research, he dis-
covered a P-47D with “Le Roy, N.Y.”
on the nose and with it the story of
Milton Thompson.
Before the Korean War, Thomp-
son had fought in World War II. He
had been assigned to the European
theater as a pilot of a Thunderbolt.
Thompson flew a total of 91 missions
against the Luftwaffe.
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On Jan. 10, 1945, Thompson was
seriously wounded while fighting
against the Germans. While dive-
bombing a target in Germany, his
plane was struck by enemy fire and
set aflame. Despite this, Thompson
was able to get behind Allied lines
and was in a hospital an hour later
where 21 pieces of flak were removed
from his right leg, arm and side. He
returned to action a short time after.
Capt. Thompson received 13 Oak
Leaf Clusters for his Air Medal and
wore the Silver Star and Order of the
Purple Heart.
He was sometimes referred to
as the most decorated Genesee
County serviceman and in May,
1945 received his 14th decoration,
according to a Feb. 12, 1952, story in
The Daily News about the death of
Thompson.
After the war, Thompson returned
home where he entered the orna-
mental iron business conducted by
SUBMITTED BY LYNNE BELLUSCIO/LE ROY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
See LE ROY A6 Milton Thompson and other members of the flight crew are shown with his airplane in this undated photograph.
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2 • May 2022 Memorial Day

Edward Smith Robert G. Michalak Thomas M. Perry Alfred Hansen Darcy Puckett Donald Hendershott
Chief Petty Officer SP5 Sp. 5 Corporal Private Corporal Tech
Navy Army Army Marines Army Army
1942-1964 1965 - 1967 1966 - 1968 1942-1943 1976-1979 1943-1944

Gerald & Cecelia Chichester Irving Hansen Jared Cecere Joseph Versage Leo R. Downey Sr.
Tech 4th Grade - Sergeant Sergeant Corporal Private 1st Class Technical Sergeant
Army Army Marines Army Army
1944-1946 1944 2013-2017 1954-1956 1941-1945

Norman Schiller Paul Hansen Spencer M. Worthington Roger D. Gates Lewis Spence Louis Leone
Staff Sergeant PFC Private 1st Class Corporal Petty Officer 1st Class Master Sergeant
Army Air Force Marines Army Army Navy Air Force
1941-1945 1942-1943 1945-1946 1952-1954 1954-1958 1951-1993

Louis Leone Homer Ivison William H. Williams Jr. Walter H. Feeley Donald C. Williams Gordon C. Betties
Staff Sergeant Corporal Sergeant Airman 1st Class Corporal A-1C
Air Force Army Army Air Force Army Air Force
1983-1997 1945 - 1946 1942-1945 1952 - 1954 1945-1947 World War II & Korea

Otis “Bus” Loomis Robert F. Williams Leslie Hansen Leonard Vanelli Angelo A. DiLaura James Cackett
82nd Airborne & Sergeant Private 1st Class Private First Class Private First Class Sergeant
19th Infantry Army Marines Army Army Marine Corps
1936-1950 1943-1945 1942-1943 WWII 1950 - 1952 1960 - 1968

Genesee County lists Memorial Day schedule
By BRIAN QUINN
bquinn@batavianews.com
BATAVIA — Memorial Day
Weekend ceremonies in Gen-
esee County will begin May
29 and continue on Memo-
rial Day, May 30, with the last
one scheduled to start at 10:30
a.m., the county Veterans Ser-
vice Agency says.
On May 29, there will be a
ceremony at the Western New
York National Cemetery, 1254
Indian Falls Road, Corfu. It be-
gins at 2 p.m. at the Main Flag
Ceremonies site.
All Memorial Day ceremo-
nies will include full military
honors: wreath laying, rifle sa-
lute and taps. The ceremonies
are as follows:
n 7 a.m., Vietnam Veterans
Memorial at Genesee County
Park, sponsored by the Viet-
nam Veterans of America
Chapter 193;
n 8 a.m., Williams Park (Bat-
avia) World War I Memorial.
This memorial honors the 35
Batavians who gave their lives
in World War I;
n 8:30 a.m., Batavia VA
Medical Center, at the main
flagpole, sponsored by the
VAMC;
n 8:45 a.m. (approximate-
ly), New York State Veterans
Home, at the main flagpole,
sponsored by the Veterans
Home;
n 9:30 a.m., Veterans Plot on
Harvester Avenue, for a me-
morial honoring all war dead
of all wars in Elmwood and St.
Joseph’s Cemeteries;
n 10 a.m., Upton Monu-
ment, a monument honoring
the dead of the Civil War and
all wars since;
n 10:30 a.m., UMMC Jerome
Center, the site of the Genesee
County War Memorial, honor-
ing all war dead from Genesee
County.
At the Jerome Center, the
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570 East Main Street • Batavia, NY 14020
Cell: 585.738.9053
Office: 585.343.6750
Fax: 585.343.8502
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7133 W. Main Road • LeRoy, NY 14482
Main Office: 2112 Empire Blvd • Webster, NY 14580
Memorial Day May 2022 • 3
We Remember Our Fallen Heroes this
Geneseo veterans organizing
Memorial Day parade
By The LCN Staff The parade will form at 10
Geneseo veterans are a.m. on Park Street, next to
making plans for a 2022 Me- the Village Park. The parade
morial Day parade on May 30 will commence at 10:30 a.m.
in the village. and proceed up Main Street
Veterans of Foreign Wars to St. Mary’s Church, where
Post 5005 and American Le- a wreath will be placed at the
gion Post 271 are encourag- Civil War monument.
ing all current and former The parade will then
members of the armed forces proceed back down Main
to march in the parade. For Street for the Village Park
those unable to march, cars for Memorial Day exercises,
will be provide, said Dennis which typically include a
Staley, commander of both performance of the national
the VFW and American Le- anthem by the Geneseo
gion.
See LIVINGSTON A6
MARK GUTMAN/DAILY NEWS FILE PHOTOGRAPH
Batavia residents, Roxanne Hanney and her brother Liam , wave American flags as veterans in
Batavia’s 2021 Memorial Day Parade passes by them on Bank Street.
names of county veterans who n Bergen: Parade starting
have died since the previous 9 a.m. from Buffalo Street to A note about these
Memorial Day will be read and Hickory Park with the cere- Memorial Day events
a flag placed to honor each of mony to take place at Hickory Information for this section
them in front of the memorial. Park at 9:30 a.m.; was compiled in early May while
Memorial services will be n Byron: Parade starting at plans were still being made for
carried out by Veness-Strollo 11 a.m. from Terry Street to Memorial Day observances.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post For updated information,
Byron Cemetery with ceremo- BEN BEAGLE/LIVINGSTON COUNTY NEWS FILE PHOTOGRAPH
1602, Glenn S. Loomis Ameri- check thedailynewsonline.com Geneseo veterans offer a salute during 2019 Memorial Day
ny to take place following the
or thelcn.com. observances in the village.
can Legion Post 332, and parade;
Vietnam Veterans of America n Corfu: Parade at noon
Chapter 193. from Corfu Fire Hall on Route
in the city while the Jerome
Memorial Day parades 33 to the Intermediate School Honoring the Heroes who served to hold our Flag High!
scheduled around the county on Route 77, ceremony to take Center ceremony was going
include: place following the parade; on. He said there will be volun-
e e ks
n Alexander: Parade start-
ing at 10:30 a.m. beginning at
n Elba: Ceremony at Maple
Lawn Cemetery at 10 a.m.;
teers holding signs asking for
quiet during the service. W FUNERAL HOME
the Rec Hall traveling to the Al- n n Le Roy: Parade at “They’re going to be at Bank “An Established Family Friend Since 1919”
and Main (streets) and Bank
exander Village Cemetery (aka 10:30 a.m. from the American 123 N. Main Street
and Washington (Avenue),
Railroad Avenue Cemetery) Legion to Trigon Park with a Warsaw, New York 14569
and along Bank Street,” Joyce
with the ceremony following ceremony at Trigon Park at 11 (585) 786-2200
said.
the parade. a.m. immediately following www.weeksfuneral.com
There will be no parades
n Batavia: Parade starting the parade. BRIAN J. KACZMAREK
or ceremonies for the follow-
at 9:45 a.m. beginning at the Veterans Service Agency Di- Owner
ing places: Alabama, Bethany,
Eastown Plaza, traveling west rector William Joyce said that
Darien, Oakfield, Pavilion,
along Main Street and ending last year, there were problems
at Alva Place; with noise during the parade Pembroke and Stafford. TRI-COUNTY WELDING INC.
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4 • May 2022
Company C battle flag comes home
CIVIL WAR ARTIFACT: Attica Historical Society displays restored piece of NY history
By KORI SCIANDRA
ksciandra@batavianews.com
There were more than 300
men who comprised the 130th
NY Infantry Regiment. From
blacksmiths to bankers, these
men, fathers and husbands
from the Attica area, formed
the birth of Company C in
1862 during the Civil War.
Company C was formed
after a Democratic meeting at
Dotys Hall, which was former-
ly on Market Street in Attica.
Rowley P. Taylor and other
members of the Democratic
party were quarreling about
going into a civil war. The
Democratic Party thought it
would just be something simi-
lar to a scrimmage.
“Rowley P. Taylor said, ‘This
is my country and country
comes above anything else,’ ”
said Anita Hayes of the Attica
Historical Society.
Taylor, a Democrat, took
the side of the Republicans.
During a Wyoming County
War Meeting, Rowley was
hired to recruit men from Atti-
ca to create Company C. There
were 42 men in Company C.
Led by Capt. Taylor, Com-
pany C trained in Letchworth
at its “Parade Grounds.” Com-
pany C joined men from Liv-
ingston, Wyoming and Allegh-
eny counties and later went on
to form the 130th NY Infantry
Regiment Company C.
After training, the 130th NY
Infantry Regiment Company
C joined the Army of the Po-
tomac. From there, the men
went to battle.
In Attica, women had hand
sewn a silk battle flag for Com-
pany C to take into battle with
them. The flag was presented
to Taylor on Sept. 9, 1862, at
Portage by Miss Juvenilia O.
Tinker, 16, who was a well-
known opera singer.
Those men fought under
that flag for quite a while.
“Company C was a very
good fighting unit. There was
one general that observed that
(Alford Gibbs). He was a cav-
alry man. At this time, Rowley
P. Taylor had been killed in
action. That general (Gibbs)
announced and changed the
130th NY Infantry Regiment
Company C to a cavalry unit.
They were one of the deadli-
est units. This would be com-
parable to the Green Berets
or the Navy Seals,” said Rick
Montford of the Attica Histori-
cal Society. “The Confederates
did not like them because they
were very maneuverable and
very quick responding.”
Rowley P. Taylor was killed
during the Battle of Deserted
House in January 1863.
The Cavalry Unit became
known as the 19th Calvary and
was a needed unit at the time.
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The Civil War battle flag of Company C of the 130th NY Regiment/1st NY Dragoons is seen before restoration. The restored flag was
to be unveiled during a ceremony for donors on May 20 at the Attica Historical Museum. The event is part of Attica’s Civil War Days,
which continue through May 30.
The federal government want-
ed to name the cavalry unit.
The New York State governor
and Western New York repre-
sentatives would not allow the
federal government to change
the unit’s name.
“These are our boys. We’re
going to call them what we
want. The cavalry unit soon
became known as the 1st NY
Dragoons,” said Montford.
“That was the only time in
American history and United
States Army history that a
unit was changed under those
terms.”
Added Hayes: “They were
the fiercest fighting unit
known to that period. There
was a saying, ‘Dragoons would
load on Sunday and fight all
week. The New York governor
wanted them to be named the
Dragoons. This was the only
84 Avon-Geneseo Rd. Geneseo, NY 14454
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Memorial Day
We Remember Our Fallen Heroes this
time in history an infantry unit
converted to a cavalry unit.”
A few years ago, the Attica
Historical Society experienced
a flood. This resulted in clean-
ing out and reorganizing the
Historical Museum. At that
time, members of the Histori-
cal Society noticed the time-
worn, tattered silk Company C
flag that was folded up inside
a frame.
“The flag was housed in a
frame. You could see the de-
terioration of the flag through
the frame and the board de-
cided it needed to be restored
because of its history,” said
Hayes.
Montford added, “Silk sort
of disintegrates if it lays on top
of each other after 160 years.
It started to dissolve itself. We
sent it to a curator and resto-
ration place. They conserved
Renee Book
Associate Broker, ABR, SFR
585-746-6330
‘ They were the
fiercest fighting unit
known to that period.
There was a saying,
‘Dragoons would load
on Sunday and fight
’
all week.’
ANITA HAYES
Attica Historical Society,
talking about Company C of the
130th NY Infantry Regiment
public as of May 21, the begin-
ning of the village’s Civil War
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ATTICA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Days festival.
Civil War Days will run
through May 30.
The ffinal program is sched-
uled for 2 p.m. May 30 at the
it. The curator also does work preservation of the Civil War
with the Smithsonian and is Battle Flag of Company C of Forest Hill Cemetery Chapel.
Speakers, historians, musi-
well-known.” the 130th NY Regiment/1st NY
The handmade, hand Dragoons were invited to at- cians and members of the
North/South Skirmish Asso-
stitched Company C flag tend a special reception in the
was conserved by the Spicer gallery room at the Historical ciation will be presenters.
For updates and more in-
Conservatory and framed for Museum.
display. The cost of the resto- The conserved flag was to formation, visit the Attica His-
torical Society Facebook page.
ration was more than $20,000 be viewable and open to the
and was paid for with the help
of donations.
The 130th NY Infantry Regi-
ment Company C flag is the
“mother flag” of the 1st NY
Dragoons. The 1st NY Dra- Real Estate Services D HA
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The flag was to be unveiled
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570 East Main St., Batavia, NY 14020
for this special section – at the Office: 585.343.6750
Attica Historical Museum/ Cell: 716-392-3520
Society at 130 Main St., Attica. HowardHanna.com
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 Memorial Day

Elwyn M. Barrett Fred V. Pulvino Harley E. Richley John A. Pickert Jr. Josephine Pulvino Ferge Kenneth E. Stroh
Sergeant Seaman 2 Private 1st Class PFC PFC Nurse T-5
Army Navy Army Marines Army Army
1934-1937 • 1944-1946 1945 - 1946 1951-1953 1943-1946 WW II 1945-1946

Peter John Oles Richard Bruning Ronald P. Konieczny Louis W. VanDurme Roger Kimmel
PFC Corporal SP4 (Medic) Gene Scott S1 Staff Sergeant
Army Army Army Army Navy Army
1948-1950 1954-1956 1969 - 1971 1951 - 1953 1942-1945 1966-1968

Alfred “Chuck” Lippold Charles Arnold George Arnold Paul H. Smith Anthony J. Oppel
Sergeant Sergeant Private 1st Class Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class PFC First Class Charles Longhany
Army Army Army Navy Army Navy
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Special Forces Sergeant MM3 Private First Class Private Guy F. Young
Army Army Navy Army Air Force Army
Army Vietnam War
2014 - Present 1967-1972 1944 - 1946 WWII 1943-1945

Murl Mancuso Ralph D. Parise Jr. Richard Smith Walter D. Buck Clarence J. Hall
Seaman 1st Class Private 1st Class PFC Coc.-1 Inf. WWII Radioman Walter M. Buck Spec.-4
Navy Army 196 Lt. Int. BD Navy Navy Army
Army 1970 - 1974
1944 - 1946 1954-1956 Vietnam - 1966 1946 - 1949 1969
6 • May 2022 Memorial Day

We Remember Our Fallen Heroes this

PARADE PLANNED IN LEICESTER

Le Roy
From A1
his late father.
Thompson stayed in the Air
Force Air National Guard dur-
ing the Korean War. He was
assigned to the 136th Fighter
Squadron in Niagara Falls.
Thompson was 30 when
his fighter plane crashed and
burned near Mansfield, Ohio,
while on an afternoon flight
from Eglin Air Base in Florida
to Selfridge Air Force Base in
Mount Clemens, Mich., on
Feb. 11, 1952. He attempted
an emergency landing after
his engine stopped working
at 8,000 feet. However, the
plane exploded and crashed
in flames.
The pilot’s last message
was; “I can’t see. Smoke and
fire in the cockpit,” according
to a Feb. 12, 1952, story in The
Milton Thompson
Daily News.
Other members of the flight
of four F-47 Thunderbolts said
they saw Thompson jettison
his cockpit canopy, but he was
apparently too low to bail out,
the article said.
The four planes were re-
turning from gunnery practice
in Florida. A reserve officer,
Thompson was recalled to
active duty in March 1951 with
the squadron based at Niagara
Falls. A native of Irondequoit,
Thompson had resided in
Le Roy for 30 years and was
a graduate of Le Roy High
School.
Thompson received his
wings at Napier Field, Dothan,
Ala., on Nov. 13, 1943, after
having entered service in
January of that year.
Thompson was the young-
est of five children of Mrs.
Margaret Roberts Thompson
and T. Arthur Thompson.
Born in Irondequoit on
Sept. 9, 1921, Thompson
spent the principal part of his
life in Le Roy. He was a mem-
ber of Botts-Fiorito American
Legion Post, Percy Luttrell
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post,
and the Le Roy Presbyterian
Church.
Thompson is buried in
MacPaleah Cemetery in Le
Roy.
A ceremony to honor
Thompson’s name being
added to the Korean War
monument at Trigon Park is
planned for after the Le Roy’s
Memorial Day parade. The
ceremony is expected about
11 a.m. The parade will gather
at 10 a.m. at Botts Fiorito
American Legion Post 576, 53
West Main St., before making
its way down Main Street.
BROTHER WAS KILLED
Robert Thompson, an older
brother of the captain, also
met death while serving with
the armed forces. He was a
private with a paratrooper
division in the European The-
ater during World War II. He
was taken prisoner and held
nearly a year before he made
his escape. While returning
to the American lines he was
killed by artillery fire on Dec.
7, 1943, according to the Daily
News archives.
Livingston
From A3
School Band, a reading of
General Logan’s Memorial
Day Order, a reading of the
Gettysburg Address, and a
keynote speaker.
The village has been with-
out a Memorial Day parade
for the past two years due to
the ongoing COVID-19 pan-
demic.
In 2021, members of each
veterans organization con-
ducted remembrance ex-
ercises at Temple Hill Cem-
etery, St. Mary’s Cemetery,
the Civil War Memorial in
front of St. Mary’s Church, at
the war memorial in the Vil-
lage Park, and later in Grove-
land. Small groups of fam-
ily and community members
observed the ceremonies.
Leicester American Legion
Post 1007 will host a Memorial
Day parade and a ceremony
and gun salte in the Town of
Leicester Cemetery.
The cemetery observance
will begin at 10 a.m. followed
by the parade, which will fol-
low a Route along Main Street
and conclude in Leicester Vil-
lage Park.
The Legion has been con-
ducting Memorial Day exer-
cises and hosting a parade.
This year’s parade will be
the first since the pandemic.
WCCS BAND TO PERFORM
The Wayland-Cohocton
High School Marching Band
will be part of several Memo-
rial Day ceremonies. The
band will perform at 9 a.m. in
Cohocton, 11 a.m. in Wayland
and noon in Springwater.

How Memorial Day and Veterans Day differ

Facts about Memorial Day
Each year on the last Monday
of May, Americans celebrate
Memorial Day. Memorial Day is
a federal holiday that honors and
mourns American military person-
nel who died while performing
their duties in service to the Unit-
ed States Armed Forces.
Here are some facts:
n Freed slaves played a role BEN BEAGLE/LIVINGSTON COUNTY NEWS FILE PHOTO
in the establishment of Memorial A gun squad fires a volley in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Geneseo,
Day. According to History.com, as
the war drew to a close, hundreds during a 2021 Memorial Day commemoration by Veterans of
of Union soldiers who were be- Foreign Wars Post 5005 and American Legion Post 271.
ing held as prisoners of war died
and were buried in a mass grave
in a Confederate prison camp in
South Carolina. After the Confed-
erate surrender, more than 1,000
now-freed slaves honored those
recently deceased Union soldiers Real Estate Services
during a ceremony in which they Ask me about the 100% Money Back Guarantee!
sang hymns and distributed flow- AR
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ers. The ceremony was dedicated DAVID ADAMS

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to the fallen soldiers and served

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as a precursor to what is now cel- 570 East Main Street • Batavia, NY 14020
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ebrated as Memorial Day.

Veterans and community members gather in 2021 outside of the United Memorial Medical Center’s
Jerome Center for the annual Memorial Day ceremony.
Metro Creative Connection
Memorial Day and Veter-
ans Day each honor the mili-
tary, though the two holidays
are not the same.
Memorial Day, which is
celebrated annually on the
last Monday in May, honors
the brave men and women
who lost their lives while
serving in the American
military. Many communities
host memorial ceremonies
honoring their fallen soldiers
on Memorial Day, ensuring
such soldiers’ bravery and
sacrifices are never forgot-
ten.
While many people now
view Memorial Day weekend
as the unofficial start of sum-
mer, the weekend should not
be celebrated without also
pausing to reflect on and
recognize the military per-
sonnel who lost their lives in
defense of freedom and the
American way of life.
Veterans Day is celebrated
annually on Nov. 11 and rec-
ognizes all men and women
who have served in the
military. Veterans Day co-
incides with Remembrance
Day, which is a celebrated
by the Commonwealth of
MARK GUTMAN/DAILY NEWS
Nations, an association of
53 member states with con-
nections to the British Em-
pire. Though Veterans Day
and Remembrance Day are
each celebrated on Nov. 11,
the latter recognizes armed
forces members who died
in the line of duty, making
it more similar to Memorial
Day than Veterans Day. It’s
not uncommon for people
to recognize fallen soldiers
on Veterans Day, but many
use the holiday to express
their appreciation to existing
veterans.
n Confederate soldiers were Cell: 585.721.2155
honored, too. History.com notes Office: 585.343.6750
that, in 1866, the Georgia-based davidadams@howardhanna.com
Ladies Memorial Association- HowardHanna.com
pushed for a day to honor fallen
Confederate soldiers. These
efforts are believed to have in-
fluenced Gen. John A. Logan. In
1868, Logan, a Civil War veteran
who was serving as commander-
in-chief of a group of Union vet-
erans, ordered the decoration of
Union graves with flowers on May
30. 84 Avon-Geneseo Rd. Geneseo, NY 14454
n Memorial Day did not be-
come an official federal holiday Cell: 585-747-2108
until 1971. This is the same year Office: 585-243-2643
the holiday was officially desig-
nated as taking place on the last
Fax: 585-243-1838 Marie Beikirch
marie@abcolerealestate.com Lic. R.E. Salesperson
Monday in May. www.abcolerealestate.com
585-747-2108

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Let us never forget our solemn pledge
We must believe in our ability to work together to solve our toughest problems
O
n Memorial Day, 1945,
the war in Europe had
ended but the fighting
in the Pacific continued. Lt.
Gen. Lucian Truscott voiced
remarks at the Sicily-Rome
American Cemetery at Net-
tuno, Italy. Turning his back
on the assembled VIP’s he
faced the rows upon rows of
headstones and apologized to
the 20,000 fallen Americans
who had been laid to rest far
from home. He was quoted
as saying, “All over the world
our soldiers sleep beneath the
crosses. It is a challenge to us
– all allied nations – to ensure
that they do not and have not
died in vain.”
Fast forward to Memorial
Day 2022, and the familiar
voices of brothers in arms
begin to call one another on
the phone.
People usually think of
reconnecting with former
military buddies as a joyous
happening. However, for
this Memorial Day, the topic
of conversation was not an
armistice, a promotion, or
even a daughter’s wedding or
new addition to a home, it was
about the latest in a string of
suicides that silence the voice
of our brothers but brought
renewed connections from
other familiar voices. One des-
perately said, “Sir, I needed
to call someone who could
understand this.”
Everyone in the greatest
generation understood war.
At home they experienced
rationing, schoolchildren
collected scrap metal, and
We Salute You!
www.leroyhearthandhome.com
7149 West Main Rd.
LeRoy, NY
585.502.0139
84 Avon-Geneseo Rd. Geneseo, NY 14454
Cell: 585-750-3320
Office: 585-243-2643
Fax: 585-243-1838
alanscole@abcolerealestate.com
www.abcolerealestate.com
J. Leonard McAndrew
Funeral Home, LLC
2 Bogue Avenue | Batavia
343-6158
Ronald P. Konieczny II
Director, Proprietor
In Remembrance Of My Father,
Ronald Konieczny
www.mcandrewfuneralhomes.net
Remembering Our
Nation’s Heroes
COMMENTARY
JOSEPH
REAGAN
women took up factory jobs
while overseas the troops
endured combat and were
witness to some of the largest
and most brutal atrocities in
the modern age. When the war
was over, they followed the
lead of Lt. Gen Truscott and
committed their lives to en-
sure that they “have not died
in vain.” The shared sacrifice
of a generation united them
and helped them solve tough
problems.
In subsequent wars, such as
the Korean and Vietnam era,
veterans did not experience
the same level of understand-
ing and thus either turned
their voice inward or used
their voice to fight for one an-
other on subjects that varied
from Agent Orange, PTSD,
and other once-silent condi-
tions.
The War on Terror intro-
duced a unique time in our
nation’s collective history as
acts of war played out in real-
time on our media devices.
Although only one percent of
Americans served post 9/11,
it seems 100 percent of the
country used their voice to
Thank You
Veterans!
Alan S. Cole
Lic. R.E. Salesperson
585-750-3320
Memorial Day
We Remember Our Fallen Heroes this
express their opinions of this
shared history as it unfolded.
For Korea and Vietnam
veterans, war was not a shared
experience and therefore
various voices having vari-
ous opinions helped further
the national conversation
regarding the treatment of
veterans leading to safer and
more thoughtful approaches.
Unlike the veterans of Korea
and Vietnam, the veterans of
the last several decades did
not return home to the voices
of dissent that could be ad-
dressed directly, instead, they
returned to a polite nation
that creates media of dissent
and very little opportunity for
honest, open dialog.
This new era of media,
learning, and personal dis-
cussions bring rise to the
question, “Do people really
remember why we hold our
veterans in a place of honor?”
For years, voices saying
meaningless phrases like “the
enemy gets a vote” or “there’s
nothing you could have done”
were meant to comfort those
of us who have held the heavy
responsibility of leading
troops in combat.
However, many people
seem to lack the understand-
ing that our hearts have been
forever scarred by the invis-
ible wounds of war, scarred
by guilt and grief, and by the
longing for forgiveness that
will never come. Even if for-
giveness was offered, it would
be hard to accept as no mere
84 Avon Geneseo Rd.,
Geneseo, NY 14454
Cell: 585-737-7420
Office: 585-243-2643
Fax: 585-243-1838
jdw3175@rochester.rr.com
www.abcolerealestate.com
Always Mary Schillinger-Cooke
Licensed RE Salesperson
Remember C (585) 943-5896
11 Megan Drive Geneseo
(585) 371-5054
Greater Rochester • www.kb.com
2000 Winton Rd. S., Rochester, NY, 14618
Eash office is independently owned and operated.
words can undo a life experi-
ence and because of this, we
often feel isolated, misunder-
stood, and undervalued there-
fore our voices remain silent.
As conversations with the
voice on the other end of the
phone come to its inevitable
conclusion, I am reminded
that to remain silent is a
betrayal of my obligation to
those who made the ultimate
sacrifice.
As Horace Bushnell once
said, the best thing for us to
do is to remember “what they
have put it on us to do for
the dear common country
to which they sold their life.”
As we gather as one nation
this Memorial Day, my hope
is that instead of directing
shallow words of gratitude at
each other, we do as Lt. Gen.
Truscott did and direct our
gratitude directly towards
those who made the ultimate
sacrifice.
In both our words and
actions, let us all commit our-
selves to serve the country to
which they gave their lives.
While there is still much
work to be done, the gen-
eration of veterans from this
century have access to vast
resources, life-saving technol-
ogy, and increased informa-
tion. This same generation of
veterans is just now starting to
define our post-service legacy
and like our grandparents,
return home with a deep
commitment to service, and
a desire to address the many
John Wallin
Assoc. Broker
585-737-7420
problems that we face.
One such issue needing
to be addressed is helping
veterans find purpose in their
post-service lives.
Truscott’s apology to the
dead are not empty words, but
a strong voice reminding us
that we have an obligation to
choose resilience and purpose
when faced with guilt or grief.
As an example, Gold Star Fam-
ilies, who have experienced
tremendous loss, continue
to serve their communities
to maintain the legacy of the
loved one they lost.
I often recall a colleague of
mine responding to the ques-
tion “why do you do so much
to help veterans?” he simply
held up his finger, choking
back tears he responded, “for
the one I couldn’t save.”
By choosing to use his voice
to advocate for other veterans,
he not only helped them find
their purpose – he found his
own.
It’s often said that for those
who have served “every day is
Memorial Day,” a tradition-
ally silent observance in the
Veteran’s mind that can best
be described as an impos-
sible trinity made up of an
overwhelming sense of guilt,
grief, and grit. Usually, a mo-
ment of silence on this day
is a welcomed and solemn
way to honor the voices from
our past, but for myself, after
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DOREEN GRAHAM
Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
570 East Main Street • Batavia, NY 14020
Cell: 585.329.0734
Office: 585.343.6750 • Fax: 585.343.8502
doreengraham@howardhanna.com
HowardHanna.com
C.B. Beach & Son
Mortuary, Inc.
1903 - 2022
Celebrating 119 years
4 - 6 Main Street
Corfu, N.Y. 14036
Phone: 585-599-4520
The Fourth
Generation Serving
Our Community.
May 2022 • 7
losing three former soldiers
to suicide in the past few
months, silence is no longer
an option and the freedom to
use our voice is the greatest
gift that our veterans have to
offer this Memorial Day.
Resources
If you or someone you know is
in suicidal crisis, call 911 or go
to an emergency room. If you’re
feeling lonely, isolated, depressed
or stressed, there are many local
resources available. Among them:
n If you are struggling, reach out
to NY Project HOPE at 1-844-863-
9314 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.,
seven days per week. The emotional
support line is free, confidential and
anonymous.
n The National Suicide Preven-
tion Lifeline may be reached by call-
ing 1-800-273-8255. The hotline is
available 24 hours a day. The nation-
al Crisis Text Line can be reached by
texting “Got5” to 741-741.
n The Veteran’s Crisis Line
1-800-273-8255 and pressing “1.”
n To view resources for service
members, veterans, and their fami-
lies, please visit learn.wreathsacros-
samerica.org/veteranresources.
Joseph Reagan is director of military
and veterans outreach for Wreaths
Across America. He has almost 20
years experience working with leaders
within government, non-profit, and
Fortune 500 companies to develop
sustainable strategies supporting
national security, and veterans’ health.
He served on active duty as an officer
in the U.S. Army including two tours to
Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain
Division. He is the recipient of multiple
awards and decorations including the
Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
A Tribute
To Our
Heroes
8 • May 2022 Memorial Day

Alphonso Nigro C. Neal Nehrbass Don Yaxley Sr. Francis B. Matusak James Carney Jason Esten
Master Sergeant NCO Tech Sergeant Airman 2nd Class Sargent Chief Petty Officer
Army Army Army Air Force Marines Navy
1934-1953 1954-1963 1943-1945 1951-1955 2006-2010 2000-2021

William M. Brown Arthur Mackowiak Gary Chichester Paul F. Gaylord Roger J. Grazioplene William Chichester
Corporal Private 1st Class PFC Sergeant Staff Sergeant PFC
Air Force Army Army Air Force Army Army
1951 - 1954 1954-1958 1967-1969 1968-1972 1968-1970 1945-1946

Chris Mahoney Donald Stegman Robert Mahoney Ronald DiSalvo Angelo A. Fasano
Specialist 5E5 Corporal Sergeant Corporal Corporal
Army National Guard Army Army Army Marines
1963-1969 1943-1945 1953-1955 1952-1954 1944-1946

Donald F. Klein Douglas W. Susat Frank Minuto Genaro A. Fasano Gordon R. Amidon James DiLaura
Petty Officer 3rd Class F1 USS Renville Private 1st Class PFC PFC Hosp. Apprentice 1st Class
Navy Navy Army Army Marine Corps Navy
1945 - 1946 1944 - 1946 WWII WWI 1944 - 1946 1943 - 1946

James G. Fasano Jim Calkins Joe DiLaura Sr. Patrick A. Fasano Patsy Cesarano Russell Hart
SPC/4 Sergeant Petty Officer 1st Class Staff Sergeant Corporal Petty Officer 3rd Class
Army Army “Big Red One” Navy Army Army Navy
1956-1958 1965-1971 1940 - 1959 1943 - 1946 1953 - 1955 1957-1961