Orleans Correctional Facility dedicates new memorial
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The Orleans Correctional Facility dedicated a new memorial today in honor of 13 employees who died while they were active employees at the medium-security men’s prison. This photo shows the honor guard from the neighboring Albion Correctional Facility, retiring the colors at the conclusion of today’s service at the prison on Gaines Basin Road.
The employees’ union and the Employee Benefit Fund Committee provided the funding for the memorial. The monument reads: “We dedicate this memorial to all security staff from Orleans Correctional Facility Council 82 who have died while in faithful service. You will always be remembered in our hearts.”
There are granite blocks with the names of the honored employees, including David Stanton. He was 34 when he was killed in a motorcycle accident about 31 years ago.
His brother Greg Stanton of Medina appreciates the new memorial.
“I think it’s really nice they did this,” he said.
The following are recognized at the memorial: C.O. David Stanton, who died on April 13, 1987; C.O. Ricky Smith, Feb. 24, 1988; C.O. David Garrow, Aug. 19, 1992; C.O. Craig Nebelecky, June 1, 1993; C.O. Randy Wendt, Oct. 25, 1993; C.O. Patrick Moran, Feb. 10, 1996; C.O. Joel Eisenstein, Sept. 14, 1998; C.O. James Crowley, Aug. 25, 2001; KBS Bonnie Costich, May 4, 2002; S.C. II Cora Persons, Jan. 28, 2008; C.O. Kenneth Bulls, Dec. 22, 2011; C.O. Duane Catanesi, Jan. 1, 2014; C.O. Josef Young, Jan. 24, 2015; and C.O. Michael Duffy, Nov. 22, 2016.
Warren Cornelius, an employee at Orleans Correctional, rang a bell when each name was read.
Family and friends of those recognized at the memorial look over the granite blocks and the monument.
Karen Crowley, superintendent of Orleans Correctional Facility, listens to the Emerald Society Pipe Band. She also welcomed the crowd for the memorial dedication.
“They will never be forgotten,” she said about the employees who are recognized at the memorial.
Corrections officers and staff at the prison stand at attention while the pipe band played “Taps.”
NYS Corrections Emerald Society Pipe Band, left, performed during the dedication.
Two corrections officers carry a wreath that was placed at the memorial
Lonnie Froman, a retired corrections officer and singer for the Who Dats band, sang the national anthem.
There was a 21-gun salute from the Attica Honor Guard.
The honor guards from the Albion and Attica correctional facilities both attended the dedication ceremony.
