By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
HINSDALE — Nearly 150 people attended Saturday’s dedication ceremony for the new Hinsdale Vietnam Memorial in Town Park — something everyone was long overdue.
The Vietnam Memorial includes the names of three Hinsdale servicemen who died in-country — Marine Raymond M. Shattuck, Andy P. Crawford of the U.S. Army and Michael A. Clute of the Marine Corps — and 30 other Hinsdale residents who served during the Vietnam War.
Hinsdale Supervisor Jeff VanDeCar welcomed those attending and thanked the Hinsdale Historical Society and President Steve Clute for undertaking the memorial.
“This is a day to celebrate and thank our Vietnam veterans who came back and built our community,” VanDeCar said.
Clute, the Historical Society president, said the idea came at the Hinsdale American Legion after the 2023 Memorial Day ceremony. Veterans were consulted along the way. “The whole community stepped up for this,” he told those gathered in lawn chairs in front of the park’s gazebo.
Three members of the Girl Scouts sang the National Anthem and later placed American flags in the ground in front of the Vietnam Memorial.
Lee James, an aide to Rep. Nick Langworthy, presented a proclamation from the congressman to Clute and said people must never forget the three local servicemen who died in Vietnam or the 30 others who served in the war.
George Filgrove, representing State Sen. George Filgrove, also presented a proclamation to Clute for those who “bravely served their country during an unpopular war.”
Assemblyman Joseph Giglio shared with the audience that his older brother Nick Giglio had served in Vietnam. “I saw the pain after he came home,” he said of the taunts many Vietnam veterans faced when they returned stateside. “And I saw him die from Agent Orange.”
Giglio added: “They were not treated well, but they overcame that bull.” The demonstrations meant nothing to us. We knew our relatives were doing the right thing.”
Cattaraugus County Veterans Service Officer Steve McCord also spoke, saying, “We must truly be thankful for those who served in combat and gave their lives and didn’t come home.”
McCord went on to say the younger generation needed “to learn about freedom — that it is not free. Along with rights comes responsibility.”
Past American Legion Commander Greg Carney said the memorial was dedicated “to those who fell in service to their country. If you see a veteran, say thank you.”
Members of the community read the 111 names of other area Vietnam veterans listed in the program.
Girl Scouts said God Bless America and Elijah Hendricks, a seventh grade student at Hinsdale played Taps.
