Honoring Heroes in Small Town USA – Greene, NY

Greene, New York, population 1,580.

Another small town with a great memorial park to its residents who have served their country in the Nation’s wars is the town of Greene, NY.  I visited this area several years ago, so while visiting family recently, I went to the center of town and took some more shots and discovered that the park’s first memorial was to the sons of Greene who had fought in the Civil War, “in defense of the Union.”  What a great statement.  To defend the Union.  It’s certainly not a unique sentiment, but rare to hear in today’s polarized society.

The village of Greene has been represented through its sons in every major conflict in which our Nation has been involved.  The park honoring this select group of town heroes is in the center of town, an island all traffic through town must pass around.  The first monument erected in the park was to the soldiers who had fought in the not-so-Civil War, or War Between the States, whichever term you’ve been taught to recognize the period of time in the 19^th Century.  Most of the pictures are self-explanatory, so I’ll let them tell their own stories, and only insert comments where needed … (The red engraved pavers designate a veteran who was killed or died in service.  All other veterans are honored by an engraved gray paver.)

As I was compiling my notes for this memorial park, I realized that I had missed a picture that I wanted, so I took a walk down Genessee Street through the center of town to the memorial park.  Genessee Street becomes a “boulevard” between Canal Street and “the River,” with the memorial park being placed at the east end of the “boulevard,” possibly intending to reflect an overwatch of the river area.  I was treated to a sight that was a pleasure to see and hear … there at the memorial, near the “POW/MIA Commemoration,” was an American Legion member explaining the memorials to a local family.

Isn’t that great?  How often are our children educated on the heroes who have gone before?

Thank You, Greene NY, for honoring your sons and remembering your heroes to another generation.