World War II veterans Stanley Rychlicki and Carl Offen placed flags at the base of the monument that displays the names of the Caledonia area soldiers and sailors who gave the ultimate sacrifice in time of war.

   A somber Taps and color guard salute concluded the Veterans Day observance.

   A Veterans Day dinner was held at the American Legion in the evening. American Legion Post 255 Commander Mel Keenan welcomed approximately ninety-five people in attendance. The Cal-Mum elementary students in Mrs. Miller’s computer classes provided thank-you letters for the veterans in attendance.

   Post Chaplain Jim O'Donoghue gave the Invocation and Benediction. Commander Keenan recognized Marine Sergeant Shawn Gianforte, who recently returned home to Caledonia. Shawn joined the Marines right after high school in 1994. In the late 90s, he did tours of duty in Okinawa and Guam as part of a humanitarian effort assisting Kurdish refugees from Iraq. He did tours in Kosovo and Albania plus some time in Liberia.

   His first tour in Iraq, from March to October 2003, was at the beginning of the United States and Allied Forces combat offensive. His six-month stay took him to the city of Mosul where Operation Iraqi Freedom was organizing and insurgents were fiercely resisting.

   In June 2004, Gianforte was redeployed to Iraq, this time as a machine gun section leader to the cities of Haditha and Fallujah, as part "Operation Phantom Fury", a US Marine Corps against the Iraqi insurgency strongholds.

   Vice-Commander Ed Micheaux gave "The Missing Man Toast" to symbolize "the missing man," placed in the dining room was a small round bistro table with a white tablecloth, a single place setting with an inverted wine glass, a salt shaker and a slice of lemon on bread plate with a pile of spilled salt. A small bud vase with a single stem red rose and a red ribbon tied around the vase decorated the table with an American flag with a lit candle and an empty chair. Vice-Commander Micheaux explained the meaning of all the table items. Commander Keenan then led the gathering with a moment of silence while Arnie Rychlicki and Don Pullyblank played "taps".

   Following dinner Commander Keenan introduced the guest speaker for the evening, Robert Louis Rapone. Bob grew up in Mumford and graduated from Cal-Mum in 1965. Now a retired furniture maker, he lives in Hilton, NY with his wife Karen. They have two daughters, Morgan: who recently married Rob Harvey and JoAnne, who is a senior at RIT.

   In August of 1966, Bob joined the United States Army. Following Jump School he Served 2 tours in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade as a Ranger on long range Recon Patrol. While in Vietnam his Unit was awarded numerous Commendations and Citations. Bob is personally the recipient of a long list of Military Awards: He earned the Vietnam Parachute wings with a Combat Jump Star, two Combat Air medals, The Purple Heart and The Bronze Star with Valor.

   Today Bob is still involved with veteran issues as a member of: The Sons of American Revolution, The Vietnam Veterans of America, A Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans, A Life Member and Past Commander of the Hilton/Parma VFW and a member of Matthew Cleary Post 255.

   Bob gave a moving speech on the psychological scars that many veterans and their families endure. These invisible wounds do not end with a cease-fire; they can plaque a family for a lifetime. He encouraged returning veterans to use the many options the Veterans Administration offers.

   Commander Keenan closed the evening with the presentation of American Legion continuous membership pins. 

History of Veteran’s Day

   Veteran’s Day was originally called Armistice Day. It marked November 11, 1918, the day that the Allies and the Germans signed a cease fire, so ending the fighting of World War I. Celebrations took place all over the world.

   The following year, President Woodrow Wilson issued an Armistice Day proclamation that encouraged an annual observance of this day in history. Congress issued a proclamation in 1938 that stated each November 11 "shall be dedicated to the cause of world peace and ... hereafter celebrated and known as Armistice Day." It later became a legal holiday celebrated with observances at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and parades in towns and cities across the country.

   After WWII, veteran’s groups decided to change Armistice Day to Veteran’s Day to better include all veterans of war, not just those from WWI. The first Veteran’s Day observance took place in Kansas City in 1953. By an act of Congress, Armistice Day was officially changed to Veteran’s Day on May 24, 1954. President Eisenhower called on all citizens to observe the day by remembering the sacrifices of all those who fought so gallantly, and through rededication to the task of promoting an enduring peace.