 W. Commander, post-1767, and I would like to thank the City of Oneski, the RVA, and our post for putting this Memorial Day parade on. And I would like to thank our service members who are now serving this great country of ours and all the veterans who have served. Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Bob Lamorne, VFWO post-1767 commander. And I would like to welcome everyone back to our annual Memorial Day ceremony to honor our fallen veterans. This day is made possible because the joint efforts of this post working with the RVA, the Regular Veterans Association, the City of Oneski, the Oneski Police Department, the Fire Department, along with the public works and our volunteers who without all their help this day would not be possible. A special thanks you to the City of Oneski, Knights of Columbus, and Levine's Field Reparator and the RVA for the donation they had made towards the flags on Main Street and of course public works for hanging them. Now I would like to introduce our guests seated here with me today. Our first distinguished guest speaker, Mike Antoniat, RVA commander Mike Crete, VFWO quartermaster Craig Levine, VFWO chaplain Tim O'Brien, and the Oneski City Manager Elaine Wang. The Honorable Oneski Mayor Christine Laugh, we also welcome special guests, State of Vermont treasurer and Oneski resident Mike Picard, and Daisy Burbedo, State Representative for Oneski. Everyone please stand and we move your hats for the playing of our national by the Oneski school band on the direction of Randy Argre. Thank you. I would like to welcome the Girl Scouts to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God in the visible liberty, justice for all. Thank you. I now ask the VFWO quartermaster Craig Levine filling in for the RVA chaplain to come forward and offer a prayer. Please remove your hats. Please bow your head. On this day forever consecrated to our heroic dead we are assembled once again to express sincere reverence. This monument represents the resting place of our many departed comrades who served in our country's war. Wherever the body of comrades lie the ground is forever hallowed. Our presence here is solemn commemoration of all these men and women as an expression of our tribute to their devotion to duty, to their courage and to their patriotism. They have made us their debtors for it is because of them our flag of our country still flies over the land of the free. Amen. In our respect to our departed comrades I want this best way pay tribute to the 5,237 Vermonters who died fighting in the civil war. Our 27 Vermonters who died fighting in the spanish-american war. Our 642 Vermonters who died in World War I. 1233 Vermonters who died in World War II. Our 42 Vermonters who died in the korean war. Our 100 Vermonters who died in the vietnam war. And 42 Vermonters who died in the war on terror. In doing so we offer a solemn tribute to all veterans wherever they may rest. Will the Honorable Mayor of Onissi, Christine Law, please come forward and praise the read. In remembrance of all Wenuski veterans both living and dead we place this wreath as a symbol of our remembrance. Thank you Mayor. I would like to invite three members of the Vermont National Guard to place the flower to honor our fallen veterans. I place the symbol of purity. May each future generation emulate the unselfish courage of all the men and women who fought for our freedom. In memory of the heroic dead who have fallen in defense of the United States of America I place this tribute of our devotion and everlasting remembrance. I place the symbol of vigilance, perseverance and justice. Thank you and thank you for serving. I hope I get this name right. Would Major James Lankowski make his presentation? The flag of this country there to defend may its glorious colors wave over them. Ladies and gentlemen it is great with great honor that I introduced our guest speaker Mike Antoniak. Sergeant First Class Antoniak is a retired combat veteran with over 21 years of service. 15 of the 21 years were active duty. He served in various military our installation across the world to include Germany, Bosnia, Croatia, Alaska, Louisiana, Kuwait and Texas. Sergeant First Class Antoniak probably served this country in combat which includes tours in Bosnia, Herzgavenia and Iraq. His last assignment was as a platoon sergeant for the Task Force Red Leg which was assigned to the 16th military brigade airborne in Iraq. He has attended many military leadership schools such as the primary leadership development course based in advanced non-commissioning officers leading ship course. He is employed at Northwest Tactical Center where he teaches public safety and fire service and holds a bachelor degree from Johnson State College and a master degree in career and technical education. Sergeant First Class Antoniak has served this country in many ways as a coach mentor, pool director and has been a member of the Wunewski fire department for 20 years earning his way from a fire fire to first assistant fire chief. Among his awards and citations from the military he has been recognized as a firefighter of the year and decorated with a life-saving award. Sergeant First Class Mike Antoniak was born and raised in Wunewski and after he graduated from Wunewski High School he joined the U.S. Army. Sergeant First Class Antoniak is a member of this Wunewski BFW post and his wife Candy his daughter's ashris serving in the Vermont Air Guard and purely resides in Wunewski. Stage two technology hi thank you for all being here today it's an honor to stand in front of you and speak about something that means dearly to me something in my heart remember our nation's fallen memorial day isn't just about honored veterans it's about honored those who lost their lives on the battlefield memorial day the day as we come together as a country and honor remember our service men and women who answered America's call to service and paid the ultimate sacrifice today we honor all who unselfishly sacrificed for our great country the men and women who have given their lives and service to our nation are indisputably heroes when the country called when the country called they served honorably and faithfully this is commendable in the nation where so few of our citizens have worn the uniform and accepted the inherent risk that we all accept as being when we raise our hands as soldiers remember our fallen we lost 42 personnel from Vermont during our combat war on terrorism during our deployment in Iraq in 2004 we had four soldiers who didn't return home making their loved ones gold star families three soldiers were killed in combat one died while preparing for combat in Kuwait these soldiers were killed in action while serving Iraq 2004 with task force red leg the Vermont Army National Guard while assigned to the 95th MB battalion we remember one of those soldiers William Normandy who died March 15 2004 in Kuwait it was an early morning combat training and we heard a call for medic he died in the early more now hours after his fellow soldiers beautifully worked to save his life before he went to Iraq on March 7th he sent a home a letter home to his mom from Fort Dickson of Jersey explaining it was his dedication to to as operation going into Operation Iraqi Freedom and he knew it was his duty Doris Normandy said he wanted to do it so he could help the U.S. stay free he underlined those words U.S. free Sergeant Normandy was born in Burleson Vermont and graduated just Colchester High School he worked for Barrie Town School as a bus driver and all his school bus kids called Mr. Bill that's just one of our citizen soldiers that died for our country he left behind two young daughters 19 years ago they were 13 17 at that time we also remember Sergeant Jamie Gray who was killed in action at the age of 29 and he was from East Montpelier he was a country boy who grew up in the hills of Vermont Sergeant Gray grew up learning to hunt fish no mobile the typical Vermont things he loved protecting people he was proud of what he did uh Sergeant Gray was killed by a roadside bomb on June 7th and he was also out of the Vermont National Guard out of Wilson Vermont he was a car mechanic in civilian life his fellow soldiers remember Gray as a man who was quick to help and quick to inspire and quick to lead Sergeant Gray's mission that morning was as a combat mp to escort a convoy to the town of Karsh and this was early on in the war this was in 2004 the fuel that was being delivered during that convoy supplied Baghdad with fuel to keep it up and running this was one of the missions that his platoon was tasked on a daily basis the next two Sergeant Allen B and Sergeant Kevin Sheehan were killed in the mortar attack on at Camp Kalzoo in Iraq again a base that we visited on many occasions the two were members of Vermont National Guard and they were the first two killed by hostile fire since at least the Korean War a member of the Vermont National Guard for about 12 years Sergeant Sheehan was from Milton Vermont and volunteered to go Iraq when his unit was mobilized he was killed May 25th when his unit was attacked by an escort they're in intelligence uh detail at that time 19 years ago 36 year old left behind a wife and two children they were ages three and six Sergeant Allen Bean was from Bidport Vermont he's a good old country boy again loved the country life he had an old rusty old pickup truck you know a six pack to be a country music he loved it all young man he was just an all-american guy his death means whenever when he deployed his wife his girlfriend was pregnant at the time unfortunately when we deployed Iraq um his wife had the baby he left behind his girlfriend said he left behind a legacy they gave me a special gift being Bean's mother of his child she said I get to look at him every day and remember when a good band he is Bean was part of the same group squad that was going through an intelligence uh detail at Camp Kauzu he was killed they were both killed in the mortar attack and Sergeant Bean was remembering as someone who did did the right thing and always thought about his fellow brothers and sisters uh his nickname was AJ or Beaner and he worked on a horse farm before joining the army who would have known 19 years later on May 27th the same day I gave a eulogy in Baghdad I'm I'm talking in front of you guys today very special day today so on Memorial Day our beautiful flag there's a um there's a tradition on Memorial Day it's it's raised a half-staff in the morning and that noon um it goes up to full staff the half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation at noon their memory is raised by the living who resolved not to let their sacrifice be in vain but to rise up in their stead continue to fight for liberty so many mothers wives husbands fathers extended family and friends do their duty every day to ensure their loved one is remembered they carry on the understanding that they had a life of service and understand the potential of the death as a sacrifice for our sake of freedom these men and women left behind carrying on a soldier's message raising up their memory like an unfurled flag today we also honor the families of those lost for they burden only that we cannot comprehend I would remiss if I did not mention two Winooski boys were among the six that were wounded that day in Iraq when Sergeant Sheehan and Sergeant Bean lost their life as I was bringing them down to the medical tent one of them said hey coach he used to coach them after Winooski he said I tried everything I tried saving their life you know it just it's just I could not do that he said Gray and Sergeant Bean were standing in front of us and shielded us from most of the blast now I'm sorry I tried everything to save him those are two American heroes these men were ordinary people until they heard the call of duty and they answer that they left their families they left their friends their homes their civilian jobs they left the families and in their lives behind and they did it not the recognition of fame just for the honor of serving our country it's true today is Memorial Day and we honor the fallen although I think it's important to talk briefly about our living veterans the service comes out of a place of honor that these veterans hold within themselves their bravery their fidelity their compassion and dedication to make what they do and what they have given up even moving the selfless drive shared among veterans is truly the greatest form of love whether it's in one of love's country a love of one's people or love of what is right this powerful act of love is what drives good to be fought for some people talk about your life like there's only one way to do it to die a hero that is something that should be honored to die for your nation but we often we often ignore the other way to give you life the darker way the soldier who comes back but doesn't really come back at all we prop up our heroes and we ignore those who struggle every day what what they did or what they had to see and what they had to do those who lost something of themselves so for this veterans day I like to honor those soldiers the ones who lost themselves in conflicts though still quietly struggling with a new life and those who have lost themselves in that struggle so if you know a veteran please reach out for help if needed there's many avenues provided for us and let us together help break that horrific cycle of roughly 22 veterans that take their lives every day therefore on this day we honor pay tribute to all veterans especially the ones who have fallen because it's for their sacrifice and dedication of our nation's 23 million veterans and over two million service members we are forever grateful to all the veterans here today I sincerely thank you for your service and your sacrifice I share the pride you feel and being able to say you have served the greatest the greatest world in the nation thank you for choosing to honor fallen service members today and showing your support for our heroes of past and present may god bless you and this great nation we call the United States of America thank you thank you very much mike I will now ask the vfw chaplain tim o'bran to read the names of our fallen comrades of onisky as each name is read the bell we're told and tap truly will be played by the burglar burglar and the flag will be lowered to half staff tim I will now read the names of the members that have passed William buzier passed at 5105 making him our oldest veteran bill was a pow in world war two and an active member of this post and the dav gary ucon marinas mona wasi asia ali this concludes our official program we thank you all for attending the onisky memorial day ceremony the city of onisky the bfw and the rba would like to invite you to a barbecue please allow our first responders in the onisky high school band to get in the front of the line to thank them for all days for all their service thank you I'm really excited that we've been able to bring back the memorial day parade after a four-year hiatus starting with the pandemic as you can see this is an event not only to honor those who have served um and given their lives for our country including actual wanouski residents but it's an opportunity to bring our entire community together you know folks from different neighborhoods age ranges all kinds of different backgrounds are able to come together and enjoy a free meal um get to know each other and spend some time thinking about what we are thankful for and and the liberties that we have thanks to those who serve