Busti Memorial Day features parade, speeches...
Memorial Day was marked by parades, and Memorial services across Chautauqua County... including the annual events held in Busti. The Southwestern Middle School Band joined the High School Band in marching into the five-corners, and the Gazebo next to the Busti Cemetery. The Keynote Speech was delievered by the Reverend Roy Fergunson... who first recalled having a long lay-over in Washington, D-C some time ago... and, going to see Arlington National Cemetery with his wife. He recalled thinking of the song "What Did They Die For?. He adds those buried in Arlington are not unlike those veteran's buried there in Busti. Ferguson says they represent those -- like at Arlington -- that made the "ultimate sacrifice" for their nation and families. Ferguson also remembered the father of J-C Mattison... who was the county's first casualty in the war in Iraq. When Charlie Cooper of Jamestown later died in Afghanistan... James Matteson wrote the Cooper family about how he dealt with his loss. He says it helped him to remember the sacrifice made by Christ in 33 AD.
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Three Southwestern Middle Schoolers... 6th Grader Nolan Liffner, 7th Grader Reece Beaver, and 8th grader Dustin Kendrick, read their award winning poems on the subject of what Memorial Day means to them. The Southwestern Bands played the National Anthem for the gathering.
Memorial Day observances held elsewhere in Jamestown-area...
There were other Memorial Day observances across the county... in addition to the one in Busti... where there was a 21-gun salute, and the playing of taps. The annual Memorial Day Parade in downtown Jamestown stepped off late this morning... and concluded at Lakeview Cemetery. The annual service was held at Soldier's Circle. At the Busti--Ellicott Town Line... the annual Parade and service were held at Sunset Hill Cemetery. There was also a Memorial Day ceremony at the Veteran's Memorial Monument at Celoron Park.
Two Pennsylvania men die in fatal ATV Crash in Warren County...
Two men were killed yesterday morning in southern Warren County, Pennsylvania, when their all-terrain vehicle struck a deer and crashed in Triumph Township. State Police in Warren say 54 year-old Frank Gariepy of Tidoute was driving the ATV west on Campbell Hill Road about 7:20 a.m. when he struck the deer, and the vehicle went off the road, and into a field. Troopers say the ATV rolled over several times. Both Gariepy and his passenger, 52 year-old Scott Hart of Slippery Rock, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Watkins thanks those attending Gold Star Rememberance for pledging not to forget...
The 19 service men and women who died in service to the nation were remembered last Saturday morning as heros who made the ultimate sacrifice. Members of the Joseph Dwyer Program choir sang the National Anthem to begin the seventh-annual Gold Star Memorial Rememberance at Veteran's Park in Jamestown. The service is hosted by the local chapter of the Blue Star Mothers -- New York Chapter 4. The Keynote Speaker was U-S Marine Colonel Charles Watkins... who is also a Starflight Helicopter pilot. Watkins has visited several families through the years, who have lost a loved one in service to the nation. He talked about the importance of "never forgetting" those who made the ultimate sacrifice. He says -- by their gathering at the park -- we are "honoring that pledge." Other speakers last Saturday included State Assemblyman Andy Goodell, County Executive George Borrello, Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi... and, Constituent Service Representative Randy Holcomb of retired State Senator Cathy Young's office.
