Cover of sheet music for this Chapman/Melville composition
ALBION – We continue our survey of musicians in Orleans County with an introduction to Archie Chapman who composed stirring lyrics of encouragement in 1942 for members of the US Army Air Forces serving in World War II with his composition, “Keep on Flying.”
Archibald Samuel Chapman was born in 1893 in the village of St. Faith’s, Norfolk County, in England. He served as a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery, Territorial Forces, in World War 1 and was awarded a British War Medal and a Victory Medal.
He was one of the many immigrants from Norfolk who settled in Orleans County. His sister Emma and her husband Ernest Mayes had been living in Gaines since 1912. Archie came to the US in January 1920. Eliza Ann Spark joined him in August of that year and they were married in Albion on August 31, 1920.
They operated a farm on Allen Road for twenty years. Archie later worked at the Grower’s Cold Storage in Waterport, at Hunt’s Foods Inc. and retired in 1957.
“KEEP ON FLYING”
(We’ll build the ships for you)
Dawn, a new day is breaking, war is now fought in the sky
Caissons now will go a-rolling, guarded by the ships that fly.
We have the men to build them, we have the money too,
So, keep ‘em flying soldier, we’ll roll ‘em out to you.
Chorus
Keep on flying, Keep on flying, up there in the sky
Keep on flying, keep on flying, soldiers keep ‘em high
You do the flying, we’ll do the rest
We’ll build the planes and give you the best.
War, that was forced upon us by an unworthy foe,
Band us all as one together, onward to fight we go.
Danger and death before us, peace and victory too
Just keep ‘em flying soldier, we’ll roll them out to you.
A naturalized citizen, Archie was very invested in his community. He was an Albion village trustee, a member of the Albion Masonic Lodge, the Chamber of Commerce, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Orleans County Democratic Committee and was involved in scouting. He was a past president of the Active Hose Company of the Albion Fire Dept. and of the Orleans County Fair Assn.
He also played in the Albion Sheret Post American Legion Band. Band director, W.J. Melville
composed the music for “Keep on Flying.” The two collaborated on several other compositions: “There’s an Angel Watching Buddy” and “The Sheret Post March.”
In addition to composing verse and lyrics, Archie painted watercolors.
Following their active lives in Albion, Archie and Eliza chose to return to the village of St. Faith’s in Norfolk. According to a Democrat & Chronicle article, they sold their home, furniture and car and set sail to England from Hoboken on July 13, 1962, having visited their daughter and son-in-law in New Jersey. Archie died in Norfolk in 1977 at the age of 83.
The sheet music for “Keep on Flying” is the only Chapman composition in the Orleans County Dept. of History collection. We would welcome any of the others, especially “The Sheret Post March.”
Press Release, Sherburne-Earlville Central School District
Provided photo from Sherburne-Earlville Central School District: Medina won the Albert Whitney Award for the overall championship at the 76th Sherburne Pageant of Bands on Saturday at Sherburne-Earlville. Accepting the award on behalf of the Medina Marching Band include Medina seniors Ryder Jones, Riley Tompkins and drum major Mackenzie McGrath.
Congratulations to Medina High School on winning five major awards during the 76th Sherburne Pageant of Bands, which ran June 5-7.
As the host school, Sherburne-Earlville’s Marching Band and Color Guard started the annual parade with an exhibition march down Main Street to the Sherburne-Earlville Central School District stadium. Twenty-five other schools and a number of clubs and organizations followed the same route to S-E’s new turf field for the 2025 Awards Ceremony.
Medina earned the coveted Albert Whitney (overall), Frank Miller (outstanding band director), Ernie Marano (best overall color guard), Drum Major, and Best in Class AA awards.
Pulaski won the Norman Palmiter Jr. Percussion Award for best overall drumline and was named Best in Class A. Other Best In Class awards went to Bloomfield (B), Marion (C), and Worcester (D), and Mexico Middle School won the Junior High Award for overall achievement.
Award-winners from all three days of the 76th Sherburne Pageant of Bands are below.
Major Awards
Albert Whitney Award (Overall): Medina.
Frank Miller Award (Outstanding Band Director): Medina.
Ernie Marano Award (Best Overall Color Guard): Medina.
Norman Palmiter Jr. Percussion Award (Best Overall Drumline): Pulaski.
Drum Major Award: 1, Medina; 2, Naples.
Junior High Award (Overall Achievement): Mexico Middle School.
Best In Class: Medina (AA); Pulaski (A); Bloomfield (B); Marion (C); Worcester (D).
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 8 June 2025 at 4:28 pm
Photo by Ginny Kropf: County Legislator John Fitzak, left, and United Way director Nyla Gaylord accept a check for $30,000 from Loren Kelly with Spectrum, prior to Friday’s golf tournament at Shelridge Country Club. The check is a grant to support the county’s Digital Literacy Initiative, in which United Way has been deeply involved.
MEDINA – In spite of a wet, dreary start, the annual golf tournament at Shelridge Country Club on Friday morning to benefit United Way of Orleans County went off without a hitch. The event is a major fundraiser for United Way and helps the agency’s efforts to support nearly a dozen and a half non-profit agencies in Orleans County.
In all the years of the tournament’s history, it has never been canceled due to rain, said Dean Bellack, who has chaired the event for the past six years.
Club manager Brett Decker pointed out a row of new golf carts and told golfers the course is ready and the rain is gone. He said 116 golfers were signed up to golf.
A highlight of the welcoming ceremonies was presentation of a check from Spectrum for Orleans County’s Digital Literacy Initiative, in which United Way has been deeply involved. The check, presented by Loren Kelly, director of government affairs for Spectrum, was one of the largest awarded by the company. It was accepted by Gaylord and Orleans County Legislator John Fitzak.
“We are grateful to Spectrum for this donation,” Fitzak announced on behalf of the county legislators.
The digital literacy efforts include free tech help and computer classes where participants can develop new and refresh on old skills. There is help available for using a computer, cell phone, tablet, smart watch, and how to use the internet safely. Click here for more information.
Bellack added a massive thank-you to everyone who participated, donated raffle baskets and sponsored the event.
“The annual golf tournament was another huge success, thanks to the incredible support from our community,” Bellack said. “It’s always a great feeling knowing we’re raising money for such worthwhile charities in Orleans County.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 June 2025 at 3:41 pm
Photos courtesy of Holley-Kendall Marching Band
The Holley-Kendall Marching Band competed in the Class A competition on Saturday at the Sherburne Pageant of Bands in central New York.
Sherburne-Earlville High School is the host school for the oldest pageant of bands in New York state, now in its 76th year.
Holley-Kendall performed their 2025 Spring Show titled “Nightmare on Main Street,” which features music from Beetlejuice, Halloween and Ghostbusters.
The band took home the following awards: Marching Band – 2nd place; Color Guard – 3rd place; Drumline Cadence – 2nd place.
This is the second year Holley-Kendall competed at Sherburne. Holley-Kendall was one of five bands in the Class A division. There were 25 marching bands in all at the competition.
The Holley-Kendall Marching Band will close out their season with two final performances at the Holley-Kendall marching Band Showcase on June 12 at Hawk Stadium and the Albion Strawberry Festival on June 14.
Pictured from left include Isla Schultz and Kylee Dann – Color Guard captains; Isabella Emery – Drum Major; Madison Hults and Owen Schultz – Assistant Drum Majors.
Press Release, Orleans Renaissance Group – Blue Thursdays
MEDINA – Blue Thursdays, the incredibly popular summer music series in Medina, is back for another run in 2025 with eight of the most outstanding blues bands in WNY.
The free summer blues concerts take place Thursday evenings, June 19 through Aug. 7 at the State Street Park Pavilion in Medina. The event attracts several hundred to Medina each week.
The Print Shop of Medina is the sole underwriter of the event, partnering with the ORG/Orleans Renaissance Group, Inc./medinaalive.com in booking and coordinating top regional blues talent from the Buffalo/Niagara area.
Headlining the much-anticipated opening night of the series is local favorite, the Dave Viterna Group. Viterna, a Medina native, has been performing across WNY for decades. That performance is set for June 19 at 6 p.m.
The artists booked for the event are highly acclaimed, award-winning blues bands from the Buffalo/Niagara area.
“We continue to book top-tier, sensational talent that people may not have had a chance to see locally,” said Chris Busch of ORG. “Many of these artists are hall-of-famers, nationally renowned and award-winning musicians, songwriters and recording artists. They have been performing for decades with some of the greatest names in the business and we’re excited to bring bands of this caliber to Medina.”
The 2025 Blue Thursdays big line-up includes:
June 19 – legendary guitarist and recording artist Dave Viterna with the Dave Viterna Group.
June 26 – Jony James, a Buffalo-born, Chicago raised guitarist, songwriter & recording artist, who is often compared to Stevie Ray Vaughn and a true Buffalo icon!
July 3 – Growlers Blues Band, one of the top bands in Buffalo, awarded “best traditional blues band.”
July 10 – Grosh, featuring the phenomenal award-winning guitarist, songwriter & recording artist, Grace Lougen.
July 17 – Pat Harrington Trio, featuring Pat Harrington, lead guitarist with Grammy Nominated and Multi-Blues Music Award winning band Victor Wainwright & The Train.
July 24 – High Horse, recording artists and legendary classic rock/blues from Buffalo.
July 31 – Rusty Fisher Band – high energy blues with a dose of Jimi from legendary guitarist Rusty Fisher.
August 7 – The Thurman Brothers Band from Niagara Falls, presenting “an evening with” featuring the timeless music of the Allman Brothers.
New this year, all shows will feature professional sound provided by Sal Licata of Sound Factor.
“We’re very excited at add Sal’s services to BT this year. Every show is going to sound incredible. It’s really going to elevate the experience.”
All the concerts are free and open to the public. Shows run from 6 to 8 p.m. There are no rain dates.
A wide variety of food and beverages will be available on site, including Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza, Greenlief’s On The Go, Oakley’s Ice Cream, Stone Hollow Bakery, NOLA Concessions, Blue Groove Coffee. Beverages are provided by Northridge Distillery and Schulze Vineyard & Winery. Additional vendors may be added at a later date.
“The public should start arriving at 5:30 or before, get a great spot on the lawn and grab a bite to eat,” said Mike Fuller of the Print Shop. “These gigs are a fantastic summer evening of food, drink and the best blues music in WNY – an excellent way to start the weekend.”
Event updates, any cancellations and venue information will be posted at “Blue Thursdays Medina” Facebook page. The Print Shop, in partnership with the Orleans Renaissance Group/medinaalive.com produces the series.
Photos courtesy of KeyBank: Volunteers from KeyBank spread mulch, planted flowers and did other landscaping work at Butts Park in Medina near the Luke Nelson Skate Park and the new basketball courts.
Press Release, KeyBank
MEDINA/ALBION – KeyBank hosted its 34th annual Neighbors Make the Difference Day on Wednesday. Bank employees in Orleans County worked on projects at Butts Park in Medina and Bullard Park in Albion.
From 1 to 5 p.m., hundreds of teammates in Western New York spent time volunteering with community organizations in the region.
KeyBank employees helped clean and beautify the Luke Nelson Skate Park in Medina and Bullard Park in Albion by weeding, spreading mulch, planting flowers and picking up garbage.
They joined thousands of KeyBank teammates nationwide in receiving paid time off to volunteer at more than 550 projects in the neighborhoods where they live and work. In 2025, Neighbors Make the Difference Day coincided with KeyBank’s year-long bicentennial which celebrates the bank’s two centuries of service and enduring commitment to clients, teammates and communities.
Neighbors Make the Difference Day launched in 1991, with a group of KeyBank employees in Alaska who volunteered for service projects. By 1993, KeyBank extended the concept to many of the communities it served, making it an official day of employee volunteerism. Now, Neighbors Make the Difference Day is a hallmark program and leading corporate volunteerism effort in America, showcasing KeyBank’s commitment to communities.
The KeyBank employees are shown at Butts Park in Medina.
Provided photo: Assemblyman Steve Hawley helps unload a vehicle with electronic items to be recycled.
BATAVIA – Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) is thrilled to announce his annual free electronic device collection and recycling event, once again teaming up with the fantastic folks at Sunnking. This is your chance to make a real difference and keep our neighborhoods clean!
Collection day will be Saturday, June 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the parking lot at 5130 E Main Street Rd. in Batavia. Attendees can access the required pre-registration form here.
“Recycling is a small but impactful way we can help keep our communities clean, and I’m grateful to the good people at Sunnking Sustainable Solutions for partnering with me for another year of work,” Hawley said. “Anything from cell phones to computers to TVs can be recycled, so please, register today and help keep our communities clean!”
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 8 June 2025 at 7:52 am
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Renee Hemby of Albion, new events coordinator at the Medina Railroad Museum, points to one of her favorite exhibits.
MEDINA – Railroad buffs can look forward to a varied schedule of events at the Medina Railroad Museum, with the hiring of Renee Hemby of Albion as the new events coordinator.
Hemby has a background as a wedding planner and a passion for big events.
Hemby studied criminal justice at Genesee Community College, and after her own wedding, she started selling wedding décor, signs, floral arrangements and arbors, then went to work at Vizcarra Vineyards. When she saw the position at Medina Railroad Museum advertised on the Internet, she thought it sounded interesting.
She is excited to be planning some new events at the museum, including a music series outside, featuring blues and country and food trucks. She is also looking into story hours for children on Saturday afternoons.
These new events will complement the old favorites, such as the return of Day Out With Thomas, wine trains, fall foliage rides and the ever-popular Polar Express.
After a two-year absence, Day Out With Thomas will return for two weekends on Sept. 17, 18, 20 and 21.
Fall foliage train rides will be scheduled every weekend in October, with several wine trains on Oct. 12.
Hemby is hopeful the museum can restore a café car it owns in order to rent it for private parties and showers.
The museum owns three first-class dining cars, which always sell out first. Ticket information is available on Medina Railroad Museum’s website.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 June 2025 at 8:58 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers
HOLLEY – Blake Thaureaux, 3, of Ogden and her brother Conor Russo rides ponies brought to Holley today by Giddy Up Go Pony Rides in Bergen. It was among many activities during today’s JuneFest.
There were about 50 vendors along the canal park path, including several serving up food and cold beverages. Many crafters exhibited creative works.
Celtic Spirit performed at playground pavilion beginning at 12:30 p.m.
A Celtic Spirit musician plays during the afternoon concert. JuneFest concluded with a concert by Beggars Will Ride from 6 to 8 p.m. at Public Square.
Jaxson Deyager, 9, of Le Roy made it pretty far up the 28 ½ foot high climbing wall brought to Holley by Adventures in Climbing from Ontario, NY.
Former Holley Mayor John Kenney, left, and Holley Historian Raymond Santoro relax outside the Murray-Holley museum. The site at a former railroad depot is open noon to 3 p.m. on Saturdays up until November.
Photo courtesy of Rainey Losee: Orly the Ox, the Orleans County bicentennial mascot, visited the festival grounds and got a ride on one of the ponies.
Photos by Natalie Baron: Boys from Carlton Clippers team enthusiastically posed for the camera during today’s parade down Route 98.
By Natalie Baron, Orleans Hub intern
CARLTON – The Town of Carlton today hosted its third annual Home Town Days. A parade at noon worked its way down Route 98, from Park Avenue to the Carlton Fire Co. Recreation Hall.
Festival events after the parade included a children’s saw dust treasure hunt, a free wagon ride, and performances by the bands Stony Creek and Coupe De’ Villes. One vendor sold pictures formed from sea glass shells and stones from Lake Ontario. Other vendors sold wooden flowers, shiny rocks and frisbees.
Coupe De’ Villes jammed out to an audience that indulged in the many food offerings at the festival.
Community members, including Garrett and Tanner Rinas, collected tossed candy.
A colorful float promoted the tiki-themed restaurant Gilligan’s Galley, which is located at Point Breeze.
The Carlton Fire Company Inc. brought out fire trucks for the parade.
Children played at the saw dust treasure hunt.
Residents were happy to be part of the parade down Route 98.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 June 2025 at 9:42 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Kendall Town Board members on Thursday joined state officials for the ground-breaking of a $17 million sewer project in Kendall and Hamlin. They are shown at Lake View Park on Thompson Drive, where the project will start and then head east to Hamlin covering about 15 miles of sewer pipe. From left include Orleans County Legislator John Fitzak; Mark Mistretta, WNY regional director for NYS Parks; Tim Walsh, DEC Region 8 Director; Kendall Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata; and Town Board members Barb Flow, David Bentley and David Gaudioso.
KENDALL – The Town of Kendall celebrated the start of a $17 million sewer project on Thursday, a project that was delayed a few years after initial bids exceeded the budget.
The town was able to secure more funding from the state to allow a 15-mile-loing sewer district to go forward serving 330 residences in the two towns with most of the sewer pipe going in Kendall.
The project starts at Thompson Drive and heads east along the shoreline in Kendall, and then includes part of Hamlin, covering an area just south of the Hamlin Beach State Park.
Kendall Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata said the sewer project is a first for the 10 towns in Orleans County. He recalled when the lake waters were so high they chewed away many feet of the shoreline in 2017 and 2019, threatening residents’ property. He thanked the state for increasing its contribution to the project when the initial bids came in far above projections.
Kendall was able to tap more than $12 million in the State’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI), up from the initial award of $9 million. Kendall also was awarded a $1,763,835 state grant through the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act.
“This is a blue ribbon project,” Kendall Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata said during the ground-breaking celebration on Thursday. “I am very honored. This is one of the largest REDI projects in the state.”
Kendall has created five water districts during Cammarata’s tenure as town supervisor, but he said the sewer district was by far the most challenging to line up the funding and work out all the details.
Tim Walsh, DEC Region 8 Director, said the state has worked with lakeshore communtiies with the permitting process for solutions that make ecological sense, protecting the environment and property.
Two contractors are lined up and ready to start work on the project which serves about 270 residences in Kendall and about 30 in Hamlin.
Blue Heron Construction Co. LLC will be paid $8,326,480 to install low-pressure sewer collection system from Thompson Drive to Troutburg Cottages. The company will install will install grinder pumps, lateral connections and abandon septic tanks at each residence.
Rochester Pipeline Inc. is the low bidder at $5,380,730 to construct three sewer pump stations, and install sewer force main and gravity sewer from Troutburg Cottages to the sewer connection point in Hamlin. The three sewer pump stations will be near Lomond Shores/West Kendall Road, Troutburg Cottages and Hamlin Beach State Park entrance off Moscow Road.
The entire project should be done by late 2026. The transmission lines and pump stations are scheduled to go in this year, with the connections to the houses next year.
The project costs include paying for the connections to the homes and the grinder-pump stations for each residence. The work also includes decommissioning the septic systems and filling in those areas with dirt. Residents will have to pay to have electricians put in the electricity connections.
Powerful waves from Lake Ontario took out chunks of land, including this spot on Ed Shores Road shown on May 7, 2017.
Cammarata recalled when Lake Ontario water levels were high in 2017 and 2019, eroding the shoreline. Residents and National Guard soldiers tried desperately to save property with sandbags and Aqua-Dams. The highway department, firefighters and Ladies Auxiliary all teamed in a valiant effort to help the shoreline residents, Cammarata said.
“Something needed to change to prevent the destruction of our town,” he said.
The National Guard from Rochester helped stack sandbags in Kendall on May 7, 2017.
The new sewer system is designed to allow for sewer expansion in the future, said Jason Ebbs and Jacob Bower, engineers from LaBella Associates.
Cammarata and Town Board members said they will continue to look for ways to expand infrastructure in the town, including additional water districts.
From left include Jacob Bower, project engineer for Labella Asssociates; Jason Ebbs, project manager for LaBella; Eric Maxon, Kendall highway superintendent; Kendall Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata; and Town Board members Barb Flow, David Bentley and David Gaudioso.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 June 2025 at 8:44 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: A farmer gets a field ready on Harrison Road in Shelby on Wednesday for planting season.
Another air-quality advisory has been issued today for Orleans County, Western New York and the counties along the southern shore of Lake Ontario.
The National Weather Service said air quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 100 for Fine Particulates.
The State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects. People who may be especially sensitive to the air quality include the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease.
The high today will be 76 followed by highs of 74 on Sunday, 76 on Monday, 72 on Tuesday and 75 on Wednesday.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 7 June 2025 at 8:02 am
Group honors soldiers who died during War on Terror
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Runners and their support staff on the New York Run for the Fallen pose in front of the Canal Culvert in Ridgeway with David and Carol Cook (holding son Trevor’s Honor and Remember flag at left) and Carol’s sister. Trevor Cook was killed on July 6, 2011 during a training mission with the Marine Corps. Sgt. Cook was a crew chief for a UH-1Y helicopter.
Many people have not heard about the New York Run for the Fallen, but this week, a handful of runners dedicated to honoring New York military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, left their mark on Orleans County.
The New York Run for the Fallen is a 10-day journey encompassing more than 500 miles of remembrance, unity and purpose. The relay foot run wants to honor every New York military service member who died while serving or as a result of serving during the War on Terror since Oct. 12, 2000.
Family and friends of David and Carol Cook of Lyndonville gathered with participants of the New York Run for the Fallen on the towpath over Culvert Road to welcome two runners Thursday afternoon. This was one of the memorial stops along the 500-mile run from Buffalo to New Yor City. The ceremony on the culvert honored the Cook’s son Trevor, a Marine killed in a training accident on July 6, 2011 when he was 25.
Volunteer runners in groups of up to 20, along with a support crew, will stop at two- to six-mile intervals at a pre-placed marker along the towpath, where they will call out the name, rank, branch of military and date of death of each fallen service member from the nearby area. Family members, friends and patriots are welcome to be at the stops, where they may be presented with an Honor and Remember flag with their loved one’s name on it.
Such was the case for David and Carol Cook of Lyndonville. The Cook’s son Trevor was killed in a training accident in 2006, while serving in the Marines in California. The service honoring their son took place on the culvert at Culvert Road, east of Medina.
Each memorial stop along the way includes a reading, in which it is explained, “We run for them all, honoring their service and sacrifice and remembering that each gave up a future so we could have ours.”
“It’s nice they remembered Trevor,” David said.
Left – Photo by Robin Boyle: Runners on the first leg of the New York Run for the Fallen stopped for a break at Marshall Road bridge Thursday afternoon. From left are Kevin Travey of Lockport, Jacina Ramirez of Buffalo, Brian Carol of Rochester, Jeff Tracy of Lockport, Lori and Joe Jablonski of Buffalo, Nancy Weber of Syracuse, Alton Lewis of Buffalo, Beth Harvey of Tennessee, Cayna Mangine of Oneida, Ryan Milton of Saratoga Springs, Tara Evans of Knoxboro and Cory Mangine of Oneida. Right – Photo by Ginny Kropf: Two members of the team on the New York Run for the Fallen hold an Honor and Remember flag with Trevor Cook’s name, which was presented to his parents on the towpath Thursday afternoon.
Lori Jablonski of Buffalo, organizer of the local event, learned about Trevor from a friend of hers in Lyndonville and contacted David and Carol. Lori and her husband Joe lost their son Jason to leukemia while he was in the military.
This year is the 10th anniversary for the New York Run for the Fallen, which began with an opening ceremony at 7 a.m. Thursday at Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park Memorial Garden. The 10 runners who started the day departed for Medina at 8 a.m., with several ceremonies in Erie County and Niagara County. Arriving at the Marshall Road bridge, they held another ceremony, then continued to Culvert Road.
Curt Follman, standing at left, and Kelly Follman (seated) welcome runners on the New York Run for the Fallen to their home on Wilson Road Extension, Waterport. Standing next to Curt is Kelly’s mom, Jeanne Crane.
Following the ceremony there, the entire group of runners and their accompanying crew left the canal bank and headed to the home of Curt and Kelly Follman of Waterport, where they had been invited to have supper and spend the night.
The Follmans had learned about the Run for the Fallen from Brian Carl, president of the WNY Parent Club, whom they met at a parents’ meeting at Annapolis. Four of the Follmans’ seven children are in the military, including a daughter at the Naval Academy, so they were eager to support the runners.
Also invited to dine with the runners were a Gold Star family from Cambria.
Enjoying supper at the Follman home Thursday night are, clockwise from left, Bruce Schmidt, his sister Heather Schmidt Maitland and Scott Maitland with Lori Jablonski, organizer of the New York Run for the Fallen. Bruce and Heather’s older brother died on a training mission while serving in Kuwait.
The first Run for the Fallen took place in 2008 when runners went from California to Arlington National Cemetery.
“That spawned other events across the country, including New York state in 2016,” said Ryan Milton of Saratoga Springs, who has taken part in the run all 10 years.
The group resumed their trek at 8 a.m. Friday, starting at Allens Bridge Road and concluding the day in Fairport. Their journey will end June 14 at the Intrepid Museum in New York City.
Photos courtesy of Natasha Wasuck: A runner carries an American flag as he heads towards Main Street in Albion on Friday morning.
The group poses for a photo on Friday morning near the Main Street lift bridge.