Thursday, May 26, 2011

Wellsville Set for Memorial Day Ceremonies


Wellsville's annual Memorial Day ceremony is set and ready to go. The ceremony will begin at the War Memorial at the 4th Street Square Monday, May 30 at 9 AM with the Call to Order. Following the opening ceremonies there will be a parade that will proceed to the Springhill Cemetery. Once assembled at the Newlin Memorial Chapel the ceremonies will conclude.

Keynote speaker for this year's Memorial Day observance will be Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam. First Christian Church Pastor Mark Blakeley will handle the ministerial duties. Brief remarks will be offered by WWII Veteran Robert “Brass” Beresford, Memorial Council President Don Brown, Councilwoman Susan Haugh and Councilman Joe Soldano. Wellsville Mayor Joe Surace will offer the welcome and Memorial Council Member Debbie Koffel will be the Master of Ceremonies. Music will be provided by the WHS Band. High School students Irene Kiser, Jake Reed and Nick DaLonzo will read the Gettysburg Address, Flanders Field and the Hollowed Ground Reading. The 21 Gun Salute will be done by members of the Wellsville Police Dept. and buglars Keila Lombardozzi & Miles McGinnis will play taps. Marshals are American Legion Post 70 and VFW Post 5647.

Breakfast will be served to all ceremony participants at the Wellsville VFW Post 5647 from 7 to 8:45 AM. The post is located at 359 Main Street. They will also be serving lunch at the Post following the closing ceremonies. All ceremonies will be held at the Wellsville High School in case of rain but the weatherman promises a beautiful day. The annual Memorial Day Ceremonies are organized by Wellsville's Memorial Council and are second to none.

From the files of the River Museum pictured above is what is believed to be what the 4th Street Memorial first looked like c1900 – 1903. It was originally built as a Civil War Memorial. There have been many changes over the years to the memorial and the ceremonies. One thing that has never changed over the years is the fact that Wellsville honors all veterans that have ever served. The public is encouraged to attend.

ole nib

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nib,
What is going on at Spring Hill? Is it the rain or is thereno staff to mow parts of it ar knee high

************* said...

We were just up there today and we have to agree there are parts that are just about knee deep in grass. We also noticed there is little or no trimmining done recently.

My guess is part of the fault lies with Councilman Soldano demanding the Village Administrator to let the grass cutting go for a couple of weeks and put the three Street Dept. guys on patching pot holes when the weather permits. If Saracco did that it only leaves one guy to take care of the cemetery. If there are burials there's even less time to cut grass & trim.

With the recession there is no summer help being furnished by the County this year. That doesn't help, especially at this time of the year. With politicians pushing to have something else done and no extra help, Spring Hill won't look too good this Memorial Day.



nib

Anonymous said...

No Nib, they have not patched holes for 3 weeks. That has nothing to do with it.They cut grass downtown all week. Saracco was asked by Mayor Surace on WED. what the grass looked like at the cemetary, Saracco said he did not know he never checked. This is just part of the letting things go and blaming it on excuse after excuse.

Anonymous said...

Soldano said let the grass go for a couple of days, not weeksn he meant the grass downtown. They still have not patched holes since the last council meeting. Mike Lombardozzi is responsable for the grass he has a worker up there everyday to help him. Saracco needs to get out of his office once in a while. Come on Nib, you know nothing has been getting done lately. Fact of the matter Surace came back on Wed. he should have saw that the grass was cut up there.

Anonymous said...

Mike Lombardozzi has a worker help him everyday. He never does any work downtown. There is no excuse for the grass up there. Patch holes that's funny they have not patched forever. Maybe you will see how a real village is run in 6 months when Surace and Saracco are out of here. I hope whoever gets Mayor has this attitude, just do the opposite of Surace, you will be fine.

Anonymous said...

The reason the grass at the cemetery is high, is because Saracco never sent the street guys up there to help Mike Lombardozzi and Spencer Kidder. He always sends them up there every year to make it look good for Memorial Day, but he didn't send them, he had them cut grass downtown all week. The potholes are getting deeper and deeper. Also you can't blame it on summer help, is does not come till the end of June, if we get it. But like the song says, Blame It On The Rain.

Anonymous said...

Mowing & weeding, one would think this would fall on the less problematic end of things. Not surprised at what I'm reading. I hope the next leadership figure understands the job description & responsibilities involved. Some problems I read about aren't so complex. Finding solutions just requires the administration to pay attention to what's going on instead of worrying about being photographed & giving newspaper quotes that usually don't make much sense.

Anonymous said...

Amen, 6 months can't come fast enough for Village residents.

mike lombardozzi said...

I would like to clear some things up with some facts.The mower was at the city garage all winter for repair.I did not get it back until May 12 and I was useing the street departments mower for a couple hours a day when the street dept. would come and get the mower to cut downtown.I do not have someone there all week he works 20 hours a week!Then on May 17 I called to see about getting some help with the pouring of footers for headstones and was told no help would be sent that they were to busy pathing potholes and cutting grass in town.So instead of a cement truck with 4 yards of concrete I had to resort to 60 pound bags, 198 to be exact, 6 tons, 4 skids and mix by hand.On monday May 23 my help showed up with a bad back and has not been there since. Leaveing only myself to put in 16 footers. Dig form and pour.I completed the footers plus 4 internments by May 25. Then on May 26 was my birthday which is a day I was told I had to take it off. I offered to work that day, was told no, and no extra hours could be worked.In the 22 years I have worked for the City/Village this is the only year that all employees have not been at the cemetery. Last year when I was Off due to wrist surgery, there was 5 men, 2 mowers, and 3 trimmers running during the week before Memorial Day.The work load has not changed.I also was not pleased with the condition of the cemetery, but 1 man can not do the work of 5!If there is a way, I am open for suggestions.I will continue to do the best I can with what I have.

Anonymous said...

E agree with you Mike, Surace and Saracco should resign. They know you need help every Memorial Day getting it ready. Patching holes my a--, they never patched all of May. If you don't care, and this is the job you are going to do as a Lameduck Mayor get the fu-- out now, and take Saracco with you.

Anonymous said...

Mike has a good work ethic, they need to quit screwing him for awhile.

Anonymous said...

They have been screwing Mike for couple of years now. If anyone in their right mind can say that what all they have done to Mike isn't personal,they are just flat out crazy. They keep crying there is no money in this town. People, you all would be blown away at the amount of money they spent to have that house sit up there empty.It's a stab in the back when they have Christmas parties and don't invite Mike, or when the rest of the employees get someting for the holiday's and Mike has got nothing the past several years. It's a shame how they have been treating him and are still treating him.

Anonymous said...

Whenever the fulltime emplyees have gotten a christmas bonus, so has Mike. Get real if they got it,he got it, check the record.

Anonymous said...

For the record, nothing to do with the "Bonus" checks, on a more PERSONAL note.