Dozens of residents gathered at the Veterans Memorial Park in Otisville on Nov. 11 to pay tribute to veterans who served the United States in both peace and war.
Mike Phillips, commander of Mount Hope Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 5497, recalled the history and purpose of Veterans Day at the annual event.
“One hundred and six years ago, in 1918, in the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, World War I ended by the signing of an agreement called an armistice,” Phillips said.
Bob Edwards, from American Legion Post 1079, said at the service: “Veterans Day is not only a date on the calendar. It is a solemn promise that we remember all veterans.”
Longtime Otisville resident and veteran Leo Ortiz told The Epoch Times about being injured in Korea in the 1960s as a combat engineer and the journey of his recovery.
At 17, Ortiz followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the military and was soon sent to the Korean demilitarized zone as a young combat engineer.
One day, while clearing mines on a mission, Ortiz accidentally stepped on one, which exploded and cost him his right leg. He spent eight months in a hospital in Japan before returning home.
“In my first year, I was in depression, using drugs and alcohol,” Ortiz said. “Finally, I woke up one day, looked at myself in the mirror, and said, ‘Leo, you are killing yourself.'”
He said he decided that he didn’t want to live that way for the rest of his life.
“So I started working to get better,” said Ortiz, who later worked as a bus driver for the Metropolitan Transportation Agency for 37 years.
Over the years, Ortiz suffered more war-related illnesses, including prostate cancer induced by exposure to the chemical herbicide Agent Orange in Korea. Still, he maintained a positive outlook on life, according to his wife, Frances Ortiz, a retired nurse who has cared for him for all of these years.
“He has got the biggest heart. He loves his veterans, and he loves his family,” Frances Ortiz said. “He will do anything for me, and I for him.”
Jorge Fermin, another veteran and Otisville resident, told The Epoch Times that his military experience taught him discipline and cultivated a deeper sense of patriotism.
In 2012, at age 27, Fermin followed a family member’s footsteps by joining the United States Marine Corps and spent most of his four years of full-time service at Camp Pendleton in California.
“I like their uniform, their history, and just the character that they present when they are out in the public eye,” Fermin said of U.S. Marines. “I had a good time and built a lot of camaraderie.
“It made me more patriotic. A lot of people take our country for granted and don’t appreciate what we have. The freedoms that we have in this country, you won’t get anywhere else.”
Afterward, Fermin served another four years in active reserve before leaving the military to raise a growing family. He now works as an inventory manager.
Town Supervisor Paul Rickard told The Epoch Times: “It is easy to forget the people who lost their lives fighting for our country and what we believe in. I think it is important to just take that pause to remember and thank them for all they’ve done for us.”
The town started the annual Veterans Day service tradition in 2013.
“We gather here not only to reflect on the sacrifices made but also to express our deep gratitude for many veterans who have faced unimaginable challenges, some of which they carry with them every day,” town councilwoman Amanda Davis said at the ceremony.
Otisville Mayor Brian Carey, who started co-hosting the service with the town last year, said at the event: “Dear veterans, those of us who have not served will never fully understand the sacrifices that you’ve made.
“We see you, we recognize your humanity, and we send you love that is gentle, patient, and healing, with blessings and gratitude.”
Roger Fredenburg and Frederick “Rick” Baker, two local veterans who recently died, were also recognized at the ceremony.
