story and photos
by Christopher R. Martin
The Brockport Area Vets Club, the American Legion Post #379, the American Legion Auxiliary #379 and the Sons of the American Legion welcomed local elected officials and the community at large when they called their Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony to order at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 27.
Patricia Connors, American Legion Auxiliary, was the Mistress of Ceremonies. When she addressed the crowd, she shared her own heartfelt story about the military and how when some return home, they find facing life and the demons forced upon them end in veterans taking their own life. Her nephew succumbed to his in 2018 leaving many USMC brothers and sisters as well as his blood family behind.
Sharon Chaplain, one of the vets present, conducted the American Legion ceremony. The floral wreath was placed at the base of the American Flag flying proudly overhead while members of the Brockport Fire District looked on.
Roy Heise, President of the Brockport Area Vets Club, was the keynote speaker. He spoke of veterans from the town lost overseas during various wars and conflicts, and he spoke intimately of a classmate lost in Vietnam; George Marks, Jr. He told the story of how George, as a Navy Corpsman, was responsible for saving many lives before being taken from his family while serving his country.
Flags waved in the breeze, rifles were fired, the Brockport High School Band played patriotic music, and people bowed their heads as Veteran Jack Tangen gave the Benediction.
Several community members came out to share part of their day. The veterans and community members appreciated each other while all remembered the fallen.
