ELDRED, NY — They came to honor. From a babe in arms and pre-school children to nonagenarians, nearly 150 townspeople set aside a few minutes to pay tribute to those who have defended our freedom on Veterans Day.

One of the participants was Andrew Kisela, 94, a Navy veteran of World War Two. He served in the Pacific Ocean Theater on the aircraft carrier USS Hornet and spent some of his service time in Guam. When asked about his specific duties while in service, he responded with a smile “I did what I was told to do.”

Members of Tusten, Highland, Lumberland VFW Post 6427 and American Legion Post 1363 conducted the service. Prayers were led by local ministers Nancy Vonderhorst of Pond Eddy United Methodist Church, Father Joselin Berkmans of St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church and Susan Storms of the Eldred Congregational Church.

Vonderhorst reminded the assembly that freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. Berkmans prayed for healing for all who have been wounded physically, mentally and spiritually during wartime. And Storms recognized every veteran as an ordinary and yet extraordinary human being, a person who offered some of life’s most vital years in the service of our country and who sacrificed many ambitions so that others would not have to sacrifice theirs.

Honorable Antonio Delgado of the 19th Congressional District was a guest at the observance, and concluded his remarks with a quote from President Ronald Reagan who paid tribute to the devotion and gallantry with which all veterans ennobled their nation as they become champions of a noble cause.

The service was held at Heroes Park in Eldred. This year’s observance also marked the 101st anniversary of the end of World War One.