Veterans salute in front of the Mt. Adnah memorial.
Garry Visconti, President of the Fulton Veterans Council leads the Memorial Day ceremony.
A Fulton Fire Department fire engine hangs the American flag outside of City Hall.
Veterans of various distinctions listen on during the annual Memorial Day ceremony in Fulton.
2017 Veteran of the Year, Larry Macner.
Father Fuchs opens the ceremony in prayer.
Father Fuchs, Army Veteran of WWII received a gracious thank you from the Fulton Veterans Council.
Sixth graders from FCSD share their winning essays on Fulton’s own Private Carlton W. Barrett.
Members of the Fulton Fire Department and Fulton Police Department participated in the Memorial Day ceremony.
Mayor Ronald Woodward Sr., with the help of several of Fulton’s youth, places the final wreath of remembrance.
Mayor Ronald Woodward Sr. takes a moment to thank our nation’s fallen heroes.
Garry Visconti introduces the children who assisted in placing the wreath of remembrance.
Garry Visconti recognizes a local Iraqui war veteran and his service dog, Bear, who helps with the struggles associated with PTSD.
All guests join hands to conclude the ceremony by singing “God Bless America” in unison.
City officials join hands as the room sings in unison, “God Bless America.”
The American flag waves proudly in the street for the duration of the Memorial Day ceremony in Fulton.
FULTON, NY – For many veterans, to stand in the rain may be but a small inconvenience when compared to the tribulations of battle.
To stand through the rain while honoring their fallen comrades, however, is no inconvenience at all but instead, an honor.
Several veterans of various distinctions representing local veterans services organizations came together this Memorial Day (May 29) to pay tribute to the fallen through a ceremony organized by the Fulton Veterans’ Council.
They paired with elected officials, local law enforcement, and a large number of members of the Fulton community to recognize the many local heroes who lost their life in the name of freedom.
“This was outstanding,” said Garry Visconti, President of the Fulton Veterans’ Council. “I’m really impressed with the turnout considering the weather today. It’s nice to know the rain won’t stop us from honoring our fallen and our veterans.”
Beginning at St. Mary’s Cemetery and continuing on to Mount Adnah’s Cemetery, the Fulton War Memorial, and City Hall across from Veterans’ Park, a remembrance wreath was placed at each location to commemorate the servicemen and women who never made it home.
A flag and red flower were first placed on each wreath, followed by a white flower symbolizing purity and the unselfish courage of all fallen comrades, and then a blue flower as the emblem of eternity, immortalizing the brave deeds of each solider.
14-year-old Anthony Lucas stood alongside the Fulton VFW Firing Squad to play Taps after the 21-gun salute at each of the four locations, the first time in several years there has been a live rendition of the ceremonial bugle.
The group moved inside at City Hall after weathering the rain during the wreath placing ceremonies. Father Moritz Fuchs opened the ceremony with a prayer of which he took the chance to recognize the day’s purpose.
“We honor them because they laid down the lives as they stood for and fought for the freedom we enjoy as citizens of the greatest nation on Earth. Their dying shows us, that freedom is not free. The ones we honor today have found that it cost them their very lives,” he said.
Father Fuchs is a retired Catholic priest and an Army veteran of World War II having served as the sole bodyguard for Robert H. Jackson, chief prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials and U.S. Associate Supreme Court Justice.
During the ceremony, he received a gracious thank you from the Fulton Veterans’ Council.
“We are forever grateful for the knowledge and inspiration you continue to share with us and our community is honored by your military service to the United States of America,” said Donna Kestner, Director of the Oswego County Veterans Service Agency.
Fulton Mayor Ronald Woodward Sr., with the help of several youth in attendance, placed the final wreath to be featured in Veterans’ Park.
“On this special day, I wish to thank our distinguished veterans, their families, and the members of our community who have joined us to pay their respect and say thank you to all those who served our country in order to preserve the rights and privileges we hold so dear. That is what this day is about,” Woodward said.
“On behalf of the members of the Fulton Common Council and the grateful residents of Fulton, I wish all those who served and sacrificed for our freedom, peace, happiness, and love of family on this day of remembrance. God Bless all of you and God Bless America,” he finished.
Mayor Woodward took a moment to recognize the city’s sixth ward councilor, Lawrence Macner who was selected as the 2017 Veteran of the Year and led the annual Memorial Day parade as Grand Marshall.
“He proudly served his country and now he is home serving his community,” he said.
Macner shared some details of his 28-year military career with the United State Air Force and the NY Air National Guard.
He went on to share some of the history regarding Memorial Day, asking for remembrance of those who have already served and support for those who are currently serving.
“I’m hoping that each and every one of you will remember our men and women in uniform in your thoughts and prayers, especially those stationed in harms way. Also, please don’t forget our men and women with the police and fire departments. They’re in harms way also, in a different form, but they’re in harms way every single day,” he said.
Uniquely this year, three sixth grade students were able to share their winning essay submissions on a local character education lesson centered around Fulton’s own hometown war hero, Private Carlton W. Barrett.
Sixth grade teacher at Volney Elementary, Bill Cahill said he was encouraged to use Private Barrett as the focus of an educational program for sixth grade students across the district when he learned of Barrett’s military honors and discovered that other Fulton natives were not familiar with his accomplishments.
“In a few short years, every kid that crosses the stage at Fulton High School will know a little bit about Carlton W. Barrett and will not only have some pride in Fulton’s past but be inspired to take his principles and make a brighter future for our city,” Cahill said.
Barrett remains the only Fulton native to receive a Medal of Honor, the most prestigious personal military decoration for his display of selfless courage while serving with the 18th Regimental Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
Evan Zimmerman of Volney Elementary, Ashley Heller of Volney Elementary, and Megan Acker of Lanigan Elementary all read their essays aloud, sharing with some of the guests what may have been the first time they’ve heard of Fulton’s own war hero.
Visconti is hopeful that continued participation by Fulton’s youth in ceremonies such as this will instill the importance of recognizing our nation’s front line throughout all walks of history.
“Thank you for teaching our children the history of this great country, because that’s really important here,” he said.
A veteran stands soaking wet in the rain to salute during the playing of Taps.
A memorial at Mt. Adnah dedicated to the nation’s fallen.
The VFW Firing Squad performs a 21-gun salute at each of the four locations of the Memorial Day ceremonies.
Veterans salute in front of the Mt. Adnah memorial.
14-year-old Anthony Lucas plays a live Taps rendition for the first time in several years at the Fulton Memorial Day ceremonies.
A sea of umbrellas could be seen at various locations throughout Fulton as the city paused to honor the fallen on Memorial Day.
A police escort guided a motorcade to each of the four locations included in the Memorial Day ceremonies.
Veteran of the Year, Larry Macner places a flower on one of four remembrance wreaths placed throughout Fulton.
St. Mary’s Cemetery was the first location of four to be honored on Memorial Day.
Fulton’s Veterans Park.
Two young children help place a remembrance wreath at the Fulton War Memorial.
