| Issue #33, November 10, 2006 |
Heroes
Our Neighbors, Our Veterans, March in Downtown Southampton
By Debbie Tuma
On a day that looked more like spring than a November morning, crowds of people lined Job’s Lane in Southampton for the annual Veteran’s Day Parade last Saturday. The parade contingents consisted of several local groups, including the Korean War Vets, the Southampton American Legion, the Vietnam Vets, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Village of Southampton Commission on Veterans Patriotic Events.
The parade started at the First Presbyterian Church, and worked its way down Jobs Lane, past all the stores, and past Agawam Park, to the steps of the Southampton Cultural Center, where Bill Frankenbach, Chairman of the Village of Southampton Commission on Veteran’s Patriotic Events, was the Master of Ceremonies. Although this parade is traditionally short, it also included marching music by the Southampton High School Band, and it was friendly, as the marchers waved to their families and friends along the way.
Mark and Cathy Roman of Hampton Bays were standing along the parade route with their three children, waving flags. “In light of the continuing war in Iraq, this is an especially meaningful parade today, because we’re all thinking about our soldiers over there, and praying for their safe return,” said Cathy Roman. “We like to bring our family out for the parades in Southampton because they’re always well done.”
Some people had brought their dogs, who wore red, white and blue scarves around their necks, and several people carried and waved flags. When the whole procession reached the steps of the Southampton Cultural Center, about 80 people stood on the sidelines, or sat on the curb to watch the program here.
Bill Frankenbach welcomed everyone to this glorious, warmer than usual day, and after the Pledge of Allegiance, Julie Van Nostrand sang the National Anthem, in her strong, proud voice. Reverend William Johnson, of the First Presbyterian Church of Southampton, gave the invocation.
Frankenbach said, “Countless Americans stormed the beaches of Normandy, standing as a shining example to defend our grateful nation. Today’s armed forces continue this legacy. Today every race serves in harm’s way, from the shores of the Philippines to the deserts of Iraq, to give us hope that lasting peace is within our reach. We are proud of their dedication and commitment.” He urged people to “pray for the troops abroad, their families at home, and those who lead them.”
Frankenbach also paid tribute to the service of former New York State Assemblyman John Behan, of Montauk, who served in Vietnam and lost both legs in battle there. Behan has also served as a former Director of the NYS Veteran’s Administration.
Southampton Village Mayor Mark Epley than gave a special proclamation to Jessie Schneider, a young man from Southampton who recently served in the Iraq War. As a 1999 graduate of Southampton High School, he joined the Army Reserve in 2003, and then took a leave of absence from college to join a Marines unit serving in Iraq.
“For eight months, he traveled the most dangerous roads in Iraq,” said Epley. “Jessie was promoted to Sergeant, and he returned in 2005, after receiving a special medal.”
The guest speaker of the ceremony was Retired Commander J.T. Shannon, who served in the navy in Vietnam in 1970, and later served in the Persian Gulf in the 1980s, and later served in Southwest Asia in 1985. He now serves on the faculty of the Defense Acquisition University, outside Washington, D.C. Shannon said that as a native of Butte, Montana, he got to Southampton, originally by dating and later marrying the Homecoming Queen of the Class of 1968 from Southampton High School.
Quoting President George Washington, Shannon said, “If we want peace, we have to recognize that at all times, we’re prepared for war.” He said in the history of this country, the longest we’ve had peace at one time was for 29 years. Shannon explained that the seal on the Bureau of Vets Affairs is the eagle, representing freedom. He talked about the importance of recognizing the sacrifices that families at home need to make for their loved ones who serve our country.
“During my many years in the service, my wife had to move our family about 13 times in 20 years,” he explained. “My definition of sacrifice includes those who stayed at home, and made order out of chaos.”
Shannon also pointed out that veterans are becoming an “endangered species,” saying that in the 2000 census, there were 26.4 million vets, which decreased to 24.79 million by the end of 2004. He attributed this decrease to the end of the Cold War, when the Berlin Wall came down, and the troops buildup lessened.
Throughout the speeches during this ceremony, music was also played by the Christian Men’s Harmony Chorus. Following the service, the crowd went inside the Southampton Cultural Center for refreshments, including a large patriotic cake made by James Jondreau, a member of the Village of Southampton Commission on Veterans Patriotic Events.
Two veterans who served on the Intrepid during World War II, Felix Novelli of Southampton, and Thomas Bryant, who hails from South Carolina, were talking about the dilemma their ship now faces, being stuck in the mud.
“The reason it got stuck in the mud, is the people who own the ship refused to pay the money to dredge it deeper, so the ship’s propeller got stuck in the mud,” said Novelli. “All they have to do is get a siphon under the propeller, and the pressure will get the mud out,” he said. The two men recalled many adventures spent aboard the Intrepid during their years in the service.
“Our ship was the most targeted ship in the fleet, which got hit the most, and survived five kamikaze hits,” said Novelli. “We were first hit off the Marshall Islands, then in the Leyte Gulf, but it was a challenge back then when we were kids, and danger seemed like nothing to us at first. But as we saw the blood start to flow, the reality set it and it was pretty scary. We think about our experiences every Veteran’s Day, and we’re glad we can be here to share this today.”
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