Oneonta Honors Veterans | News

Veterans, their families and Oneonta residents took time to honor their veterans at the annual Veterans Day ceremony held at Neahwa Park on Friday, November 11.

American Corps Post 259 and VFW Post 1206 in Oneonta, son of the American Corps, held a joint ceremony on Friday at 11am.

Oneonta Mayor Mark Doneck explained why the date and time are important.

“Armistice Day, Remembrance Day and Veterans Day, as they are known around the world, are days of remembrance and days that mark the official end of World War I,” he said. . “It was a war to end all wars.”

Those who signed the treaty that day “promised to end the war,” he said. They pledged this “after seeing the tragic victims that the deaths of Critical Mass have caused,” he said.

Drnek said it was a pity that the pledge had not been followed. “While we honor the men and women who have served our country, we must ensure that veterans returning to civilian life receive the support they need,” he said.

He said one of the best ways to honor veterans is not to go to war. He said it can happen if people show respect for each other. “We should rededicate ourselves to live in peace,” he said.

Post 259 Commander Terry HarkenLeeder spoke of the sacrifices veterans made while and after serving their country.

“Many military and women become law enforcement officers,” he said. “His 25% of law enforcement officers have a military background.”

He told the story of Noah Sharnabeth, who served in the U.S. Army before attending police academy and joining the Elwood, Indiana, police department. He said he saw Theodore Winters painting a giant American flag mural on the side of a building while driving through Elwood on July 31. and Winters thanked him for his service.

“A few hours later he was shot by a fellow driver after a traffic stop,” Harkenrieder said. Winters dedicated this mural to Sharnabeth after hearing of his death.

“Today we salute all the men and women who wear military uniforms for our country,” he said. “Today there are 19 million veterans of hers in the United States, many of them first responders, teachers,” and other occupations. “Veterans are a diverse group,” he said. “They make up every nationality, every religion in the world.”

He said military service “is not for the faint of heart. Suicide rates are 50% higher than the general population.” He encouraged veterans to perform a “buddy check” and encouraged veterans contemplating suicide to call 988. His one in the veterans crisis line.

After the ceremony, a luncheon was held at the Legion Post on Chestnut Street.

Wayne Gregory said there will be a Veterans Appreciation Dinner at 1:00 pm on January 7, where the Corps will dedicate the second floor museum.