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SHERIDAN — A group of youngsters waved small American flags in the brisk breeze as veterans gathered in reverence of Veterans Day for a ceremony at the Sheridan VFW Post 6390. Congressman Brian Higgins presented the post with a flag that had flown over the nation’s Capitol, along with a certificate of authenticity. “It’s a time where we pause in our solitude, and collectively, to recognize the great sacrifices of the American veteran that guarantee the freedoms that we enjoy today and also in promoting freedom throughout the world,” Higgins said. “The thing that strikes me most about veterans is that they are very humble, that they are very solemn — that they carry their duty, on behalf of all of us, in a way that is memorable and provides a great example for how we should conduct ourselves as Americans.” “Taps” played as attendees, many in uniform, saluted the new flag, raised to the top of the new flagpole, followed by a firing squad. Veterans from the VA Hospital were brought to the VFW on Wednesday, where a Veterans Day breakfast was also held, to take in the ceremony and the fresh air. Among the speakers at the ceremony were Sheridan Town Supervisor John Walker and Second Ward Councilman Kevin Muldowney, in the absence of Sen. Cathy Young, and Disabled American Veterans Charles Tinley Post Chaplain Sandra Tapasto offered a prayer. “Sheridan has a long history of public service in the armed forces,” Walker said before the ceremony. “The town is well over 200 years old and both men and women from the town have fought and served their country very honorably over all these years.” Judge Adams of Forestville, one of the last surviving members of the WWII Submariners — the last in the Chautauqua County — addressed the crowd briefly. He expressed his appreciation for the Sheridan VFW and the Forestville J. Carter Knapp American Legion Post 953, and for the soldiers currently serving. Inside the VFW after the ceremony, Adams reminisced with his neighbors and fellow veterans Richard Mosier, member of Legion Post 953, and Donald Spears. Adams, Mosier and Spears all live on Pearl Street in Forestville and see each other often, sometimes venturing to the post office together to pick up their mail and socialize. “His uncle and I were classmates in Silver Creek High School Class of 1939,” Adams said, gesturing to Spears. “1939?!” Spears exclaimed. “That’s the year I was born!” The group shared in a laugh and joked about run-ins with SPs (Shore Patrol) and MPs (Military Patrol) during their service, their hijinks nearly landing some “in the hoosegow.” The table turned to Adams and listened intently as he recalled his days as a Submariner, which he described as “98 percent boring and 2 percent terrifying.” “It was crowded and smelly — stank!” Adams said. Fifty-two days was the Submariners’ shortest run, with 60 days the longest. “Did you have to surface every night to recharge?” Mosier asked Adams. “Uh-huh,” Adams affirmed. “That was the tricky part — being in enemy territory, you had to surface to recharge the battery. You had to expose yourself, you know, to the elements,” Mosier explained. “They were looking for guys like him.” “We hated bright moonlight because they made us visible,” Adams said. “(The Submariners) were a foolish lot because we didn’t know how dangerous it was — but we stayed in after we found out!” Mosier said he feels celebrating Veterans Day is imperative, the importance increasing more with each year. “As we get older, it means a lot more to us than when we were younger,” Mosier said. Comments on this story may be sent to adiodato@observertoday.com

 

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