Yorktown Honors Veterans with Ceremony at Memorials

November 11, 2024 – Veterans groups joined with municipal officials and residents today to commemorate Veterans Day.

The heartfelt ceremony occurred at the Veteran Memorials Circle behind Town Hall, where attendees honored the sacrifices of those who served in all U.S. wars.

Keynote speaker Marine PFC Nils Mockler, an Iwo Jima survivor, shared the harrowing experience of that island invasion and the profound loss of his comrades. He also noted how the war united Americans.

“If I can get across to people who have lived in peace or relative peace all your lives just how this country came together overnight. On December 6, 1941 we had Nazi bunds marching, we had the Ku Klux Klan by the thousands, and on December 8 we were one country. And all the things that women couldn’t do, all of a sudden women were doing them,” said Mockler. “We got together. We fought a tremendous fight against a dangerous foe, and all together we came out on the other side with what everybody here can understand is the greatest, most confused, most wonderful country the world has ever seen.”

Supervisor Ed Lachterman expressed the Town’s gratitude to all veterans.

“I will save my thanks today for those that have defended our flag and signed that blank check for an unknown value—up to and including his or her life—so that we can enjoy freedoms that we have in America. To all our veterans I say thank you, welcome home, mission accomplished and God bless you,” said Supervisor Lachterman.

The morning ceremony occurred next to the newly planted Veteran Memorials Circle. Beginning in September, the Garden Club of Yorktown planted new native species in the circle’s garden beds.

Photo caption: From left to right, American Legion Post 1009 Commander Carl DiLiberto, Marine veteran Nils Mockler and Yorktown Supervisor Ed Lachterman. Photo courtesy of the Town of Yorktown.