USS Croaker gets historic status on Veterans Day
Beneath steel gray skies at a Veterans Day ceremony today remembering the World War II submarine USS Croaker by placing it on the State and National Register of Historic Places, a promise was made to remember returning war veterans.
"It's very important that we send a message that we want to help them not only with health conditions but with jobs," said State Senator Malcolm A. Smith, the presumed State Senate majority leader.
By doing that, it will demonstrate to veterans that the country is not only interested in having them serve in the military, but that they are not forgotten when they return home to find their place in society, the Queens Democrat told the 75 veterans, family members and their friends at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park.
The honor for the Croaker, which sank 11 ships in World War II, including The Nagara, a Japanese warship responsible for sinking the USS Juneau, whose crew included the five Sullivan brothers, Smith said, bespoke society's love for veterans.
At the nearby USS The Sullivans, named in honor of the five deceased brothers from Iowa, taps were played, and on the USS Little Rock, also docked at the park, a third Veterans Day ceremony was conducted.
All of it moved Army Reservist Christian Colosi, a Buffalo resident, who showed up in uniform to pay honor to fallen veterans.
"As you hear the taps going off, you can't help but feel emotional. I've known people who've gone over to Iraq and Afghanistan and come back in coffins," the young man said.
Assigned to the Niagara Falls 277th Quartermaster Reserve unit, Colosi said he anticipates he will be serving in Iraq at this time next year. He said he follows in the footsteps of both his grandfathers and father who served in the military, with the former seeing action in Korea.
At the Croaker ceremony, officials cited Bob Dromerhauser, a park employee and caretaker of the submarine, who devoted the last 3½ years to getting the vessel placed on the register.
Smith also promised veterans whose military service record have been lost that locating the important documents will be a priority. He also noted that President-elect Barack Obama has made a commitment to support veterans.
This afternoon, the 74th and 174th Veterans Association and the Ken-Ton schools will hold an unveiling of the memorial stone dedicated to Lt. Harry E. Crosby, a Kenmore resident and World War I soldier killed in battle in France in 1918. The unveiling will be held at 2 p.m. in the southwest corner of Crosby Field in Kenmore.
Also at 2 p.m., a life-size bronze statue of a World War II Seabee will be dedicated at the U.S. Navy Seabee Memorial, at Fishermen's Park on River Road in North Tonawanda.
Among the other planned Veterans Day events are the following:
-- Two ceremonies being held at VA Western New York Healthcare System facilities in Buffalo and Batavia. The 10 a.m. event will be held near the flag pole at Building 3 on the grounds of the Batavia building, at 222 Richmond Ave., while the 2 p.m. program will be held in Freedom Hall at the Buffalo hospital, 3495 Bailey Ave.
-- An award presentation hosted by the U.S. Postal Service, to honor Randolph Pope, a U.S. Army veteran and 25-year veteran of the Buffalo Processing and Distribution Center. It will be held at 11 a.m. in front of the center, at 1200 William St., Buffalo.
-- An 11:30 a.m. Veterans Day luncheon hosted by Sonitrol Security Systems, at 195 Elm St., at Broadway in downtown Buffalo.
-- A two-pronged salute to veterans at Weinberg Campus in Amherst. An indoor parade and presentation of colors will be held at 1:30 p.m., at the Meadows Apartments, 2650 North Forest Road. A ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. in the Deli, at 2700 North Forest.
-- A 1 p.m. Veterans Day ceremony sponsored by the Cheektowaga Veterans Affairs Committee and held at the All Veterans Monument in Cheektowaga Town Park, on Harlem Road.
-- A Veterans Day observance staged by the 74th/174th Infantry Association, at 11 a.m. in front of the Doughboy Monument, outside the Connecticut Street Armory, 184 Connecticut St.
-- A ceremony honoring veterans, both present and past, at 11 a.m. at Hank Nowak AMVETS Post 45, 3071 Abbott Road, Orchard Park.
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