Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks placing a wreath for Monroe County	Monroe County American Legion Commander Don Linborg addressing the attendees at the War Memorial	Monroe County Auxiliary President Marylyn Carpenter (from Auxiliary Unit 942) placing the Auxiliary wreath
Monroe County Veteran's Day Services

Pearl Harbor Day Observance

Members of Post 942 observing the ceremony; we had 15 members attend the service this year.	Wreath donated by Webster's Kittelberger Florist	Monroe County American Legion's Sergeant of the Color Guard Ed Penrose; this was his last event before retiring after 13 years of service

Webster Middle School Flag Retirement Ceremony

The Principal of Ross J. Willink Middle School, Joseph Morgan invited the American Legion to retire the school's tattered American flag during the week that followed Veterans Day. This was to be a lesson in flag etiquette as well as why Veteran Day is observed. Legionnaire Mel Ott spoke to the students about the history of Veterans Day and gave a short dissertation on how to handle and display the American flag; students responded with questions about flag etiquette for everyday situations as well as for unique situations.


Legionnaires Don Linborg, Son of the Legion Brandon Nugent and his grandfather Legionnaire Mel Ott prepare to retire the colors.	Installing the new American Flag.	Brandon holding the retired flag as the students salute with their right hand over their heart while Taps is being played.

Veterans Projects

updated 10-1-07

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SENATOR NOZZOLIO ANNOUNCES BILL TO ESTABLISH VETERANS’ CEMETERY SIGNED INTO LAW

The following information on the veterans cemetery has been copied from Senator Nozzolio's website:

Albany - State Senator Michael Nozzolio (R-Fayette) and State Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle (D-Irondequoit) have announced that their joint legislation to establish a Veterans' cemetery at the former Sampson Naval and Air Force Base in Seneca County has been signed into New York State law by Governor Spitzer. The legislation was adopted by the Legislature last month. "This is a great day for all veterans, who are America's true heroes," said Senator Nozzolio. "After years of hard work, I am extremely pleased that the Veterans' cemetery will now be a reality. This cemetery will be a lasting tribute and place of honor where our veterans will be appropriately remembered."

"We owe our military veterans a great debt of gratitude for their service," Assemblyman Morelle said. "They sacrifice so much, and risk so much, on our behalf, and this is one small measure of our respect for them. I thank my colleagues in the Legislature for their support, and especially thank Senator Nozzolio for his commitment to making this a reality." Senator Nozzolio has committed over $500,000 in New York State funding in an effort to create a Veterans cemetery as the final resting place for our military heroes. The legislation approved by the Legislature will allow Seneca County to take authority over land that has been designated for the Veterans cemetery. The site of the proposed cemetery, the Sampson United States Naval and Air Force Base, served as a naval training station during World War II and was later used as an Air Force Basic Training Center. Constructed in 1942, Sampson trained over 400,000 naval recruits during its years of operation. Sailors trained at Sampson fought and participated in every major battle of World War II. During the Korean War the property was converted to the Sampson Air Force Base and over 300,000 airmen received their basic training there from 1950 until 1956. The Sampson Memorial Naval Museum and Air Force Museum are currently located at the site. Creation of a veterans' cemetery on the former Sampson Naval and Air Force base has been one of the highest legislative priorities for many veterans 'groups throughout New York State. Over the years, New York State Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Korean Vets, New York State Council of Veterans Organizations, the Sampson WW-2 Navy Veterans and Sampson Air Force Veterans have all advocated on behalf of the development of a cemetery at Sampson. All honorably discharged veterans, their spouses and dependent children will be eligible for burial at the proposed cemetery. The guidelines for the cemetery will be based on federal veteran cemetery standards. This will include opening and closing of the graves, perpetual upkeep and maintenance, government headstone or marker, burial flag and presidential certificate. Nozzolio and Morelle agreed that the location of the cemetery is particularly fitting. "It is especially rewarding to know that this site, where young men and women once trained to defend our nation, will now serve as a placed of eternal honor and rest," Morelle said. "I'm proud that upstate New York is home to such an historic site." "With the adoption of this critical legislation, we will now be able to take the necessary steps to construct the Veterans' cemetery. The Sampson site is a place of hallowed ground, where over three-quarters of a million Americans were trained to defend and preserve our freedom. These Americans trained at Sampson to serve the country they loved and the cemetery will forever honor their memory," concluded Nozzolio.

Don Linborg, Veterans Advisory Board Member

Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery Future Resting Place for American Military Veterans

Sampson Naval / Air Force Base overlooking Seneca Lake	State Senator Nozzolio describing the layout of the proposed cemetery location and the existing park.	Map of proposed veterans cemetery and adjacent park property

Sampson Memorial Museum	Abandon fire house that might be used as the cemetery Chapel	View of Seneca Lake as seen from the museum

Post 942 and Local News

Veterans Projects

updated 10-1-07

SENATOR NOZZOLIO ANNOUNCES BILL TO ESTABLISH VETERANS’ CEMETERY SIGNED INTO LAW