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Coxsackie dedicates World War II memorial

By Dollie Gull

COXSACKIE — It was a solemn occasion, but one about which both veterans and community residents felt strongly, as Howard Hulbert, William E. Tremmel and other members of Coxsackie’s World War II Memorial Committee unveiled granite tributes to Coxsackie’s World War II veterans.

The memorial lists the names of the area’s 473 men and women who served their country during the Second World War, including the names of 13 who died.

A crowd of nearly 700 gathered for the event adjacent to Coxsackie’s First Reformed Church on Mansion Street, while Coxsackie Police Chief Don Meier’s department, aided by New York State troopers, directed traffic.

The land for the memorial was donated by the church.

It was a day when old friends met and youngsters played, and behaved, around the older folk. Members of Coxsackie Cub Scout Pack No. 45, under the leadership of Packmaster Brian Hatch, handed out programs to the crowd, along with members of Girl Scouts of America No. 1722.

The Coxsackie Community Band, under the direction of Sally Sharkey, provided patriotic and inspirational music. Members of various churches in the area served cookies, fruit drinks and water as Color Guards from several organizations, including Coxsackie’s American Legion Post No. 166; Windham’s VFW Post No. 11545; Coxsackie Hose Co. No. 3 and D.M. Steamer Co. No. 2 bore the National Colors.

Presenting an American flag, which was hoisted up a brand new flagpole donated by Post No. 166, was Legion Commander Louis Martin. Hoisting the flag were Capt. Joel Buffardi and Cpl. Ron Earle of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Master of Ceremonies Howard Hulbert, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps on Okinawa during the Second World War, introduced the speakers which included Joseph H. Warren, president of the State Telephone Company; Commander Martin, Jack VanLoan of the Greene County Veterans Service Agency; Coxsackie Town Councilman Aaron Flach for Town Supervisor Alex Betke, who read a proclamation, and Coxsackie Village Mayor John Bull. Flach and Bull praised the World War II Memorial Committee for their work in raising the funding for the memorial.

Veteran honoree William E. (Bill) Tremmel, co-chairman of the World War II Memorial Committee spoke about the effect of that war and how residents, both men and women, served their country during that world wide conflict. He noted with pride the support of veterans by the Veterans Administration and noted, “This is the greatest small town in America!” to the applause of the audience. Looking back over the past 67 years since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Tremmel noted that America’s veterans, particularly those from this area, “served, and they served well.”

He noted how those who remained behind “on the home front” had stepped in to provide the necessary manpower “in a time of war,” and also noted how “more than one child” from Coxsackie families served their country.

Tremmel, who served with the U.S. Marines on Saipan, also spoke with respect of Coxsackie’s 13 servicemen who died during World War II. Those veterans’ names now hold a special place on Coxsackie’s Second World War Memorial.

Unveiling the memorial was Chester VanZandt, another war veteran “Honoree” who served as a Navy storekeeper 2nd class. Other World War II honorees at the ceremony included Louis Pantaleo, who served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps, and J. Walter Quigley, who served as corporal in the U.S. Army. Quigley placed a wreath at the memorial.

The invocation was given by the Rev. John Moyna, pastor of St. Mary’s Church, Coxsackie, and the benediction was given by the Rev. Richard Pruiksma, former paster of Coxsackie’s Second Reformed Church.

Dedication Committee members were Chauncey D. Cole, chairman; Margaret Chaloner, ceremony director; Dianne Ringwald, grounds chairman; Henry Palmer, flagstaff director; Henry Palmer and Jerome Burke, grounds and crowd control, and Hulbert as master of ceremonies.

Members of the Coxsackie World War II Memorial Committee were Jerome and Thomas Burke; James Chapman, now deceased; Margaret Chaloner as treasurer; C.D. Cole, and Hulbert and Tremmel, co-chairmen; Matthew Kennedy, Henry Palmer, Kenneth Porter, J. Walter Quigley; Dianne Ringwald, secretary; Frank Vermilyea and Honorary Member Timothy Hulbert.

Donors include Post No. 166, Michael Anatriello, Bethany Village, Black Horse Farms, Coxsackie’s Hose Co. No. 3 and the Coxsackie-Athens Rotary Club; Coxsackie Memorial Post No. 10986, VFW; Coxsackie Transport, Inc., Coxackie Yacht Club, Dean’s Catskill Valley Mills, Inc., DK Motor Sports; DynaBil Industries, Inc., Aaron and Wayne Flach - WA Properties; Griffin Enterprises, Inc., Hinerland Design Graphics, Halsted Outdoor Supplies; Hoerning Pharmacy, Hudson Valley Italian Restaurant, Inc., Intelligent Technology Sollutions, Inc., SA Carmen Trucking Co., Inc., Lincoln Auction Center, Luxury Oil Express, Mary J. Sundazed Muysic, Max S. Wood Equipment; the National Bank of Coxsackie, Potic Mountain Builders, Quarry Steak House, Red’s Restaurant, John Slenzo, State Telephone Co., The UPS Store; UMH Properties, W.C. Brady’s Sons, and Windham VFW Post No. 1545, along with some 200 private donors.

Coxsackie Transport provided shuttle service to and from the memorial site.

While five air national guard units had expressed interest in participating in a military flyover of the dedication ceremonies, none were able to do so. According to a Dedication Committee spokesman, “Unfortunately, all have been deployed overseas.”

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