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Veterans’ picnic an opportunity to learn

Rep. Elise Stefanik of the 21st Congressional District awards a congressional citation to Gilbert Wendt, 103, a World War II veteran of the Army Air Corps of Gloversville, at the fourth annual veterans picnic at Pine Tree Rifle Club in Gloversville on Saturday. (The Leader-Herald/Eric Retzlaff)

JOHNSTOWN — Michael McMahon said he learned a lot from Vietnam medical corpsmen.

McMahon, a retired Navy chief corpsman, was the keynote speaker for the fourth annual veterans’ picnic Saturday at Pine Tree Rifle Club.

He said the Vietnam corpsmen taught him a lot about “what they learned in the jungles of Southeast Asia giving different types of medical care and how to stay alive on the battlefield.”

One corpsman, who already had too many Purple Hearts, simply advised him to “keep your head down,” said McMahon, mayor of Ames and Montgomery County commissioner of social services.

At least 230 veterans, spouses and friends were treated to a feast to commemorate their military service.

Girls Scouts, from left, Athena Riach, Autumn Ryan and Aleia Christiano help serve veterans at the fourth annual veterans picnic at Pine Tree Rifle Club in Gloversville on Saturday. (The Leader-Herald/Eric Retzlaff)

“Every year we try to get the veterans together to thank them,” said state Assemblyman Robert Smullen and retired Marine Corps colonel. “If you love your liberty, think veterans.”

Smullen, who took over coordination of the picnic from retired Assemblyman Marc Butler, lauded the Pine Tree Rifle Club for hosting the event and scores of other sponsors.

Probably the oldest veteran at the picnic, Gilbert Wendt, 103, of Gloversville received an Assembly commendation from Smullen and a congressional citation from Rep. Elise Stefanik of the 21st Congressional District.

Stefanik told the veterans, “I bring greetings from President Trump. He is so proud every day to be a strong voice for our vets.”

Mario Cristaldi of Broadalbin American Legion Post 337 spoke about the symbolism of a table the legion had set up for the missing in action and prisoners of war, such as “white” for the purity of their intentions to serve their country, a “rose” for family and loved ones awaiting their return, and “salt” for the families’ tears shed.

Broadalbin American Legion Post 337 set a symbolic table honoring veterans missing in action or prisoners of war at the fourth annual veterans picnic at Pine Tree Rifle Club in Gloversville on Saturday. (The Leader-Herald/Eric Retzlaff)

“The picnic is a very nice tribute to all the veterans and all of the veterans who never made it back,” said former Marine Lisa Washburn of Gloversville.

“I’m always in awe of being invited here,” said another Marine veteran, Ron Royal of Wells.

“I am proud to be among them,” said Ted Hart of Gloversville, who served with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.

Boy Scout Troop 32 of Tribes Hills, Scout Venture Crew 53 of Pine Tree, Troop 7 of Gloversville and Girl Scout Troop 2142 of Gloversville helped out with serving and cleanup. Troop 32 made the presentation of the colors and led the pledge of allegiance.

The Rev. R.W. Williams, who gave the invocation and benediction, told a story about a serviceman who was concealed in a cave in the Pacific and prayed that advancing enemy forces would not find him. They overlooked that cave because a spider had spun a web over the entrance, as if it were a “brick wall.”

McKenna Dow of Girl Scout Troop 2142 of Gloversville hands a thank you card for veterans to state Assemblyman Robert Smullen, coordinator of the fourth annual veterans picnic at Pine Tree Rifle Club in Gloversville on Saturday. (The Leader-Herald/Eric Retzlaff)

The minister, who is chaplain at Mountain Valley Hospice, said afterward that he never tells a story he hasn’t done his best to verify.

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