2007 News

May 25, 2007

Bucks County Commissioners Kick Off Memorial Day Weekend with World War I Fountain Ceremony of Remembrance
Four Recent Bucks County Deaths Underscore the Event’s Significance

The Board of Bucks County Commissioners joined a contingent of Armed Forces veterans this morning to recognize Memorial Day. During the ceremony, which took place at the corner of Broad and Main Sts. just outside the Bucks County Courthouse, Commissioner Chairman Charles H. Martin activated the county’s historic World War I Memorial Fountain.

Before the water flowed from the fountain that originally was installed on May 30, 1922, Martin and commissioner colleagues James F. Cawley, Esq. and Sandra A. Miller reflected on the significance of Memorial Day, a holiday that has particular relevance to all Bucks Countians in light of the recent deaths of Marine 1st Lieutenant Travis Manion, Army 1st Lieutenant Colby Umbrell and Army Sgt. Allen James Dunckley.

“All of us here know the debt we owe to our veterans, and it’s most appropriate that we have all the events that are going to be throughout the county during this Memorial Day weekend,” said Commissioner Martin. “We are turning the water on to honor all veterans.”

Cawley followed Martin to the microphone by announcing the death of a fourth Bucks County soldier in the last month, Army Private 1st Class Robert Dembowski, Jr., of Churchville.

“We do not want this important day to pass without recognizing those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the preservation of our way of life, and in the preservation of our great democracy,” said Commissioner Cawley. “This event is made even more special, and even more important, with the very unfortunate news that, yesterday, Bucks County lost its fourth son (during calendar year 2007) in Iraq, (Dembowski, Jr., a 2005 graduate of Council Rock High School). That, I think, brings into very special focus the importance of recognizing Memorial Day.”

Commissioner Miller spoke about the artificial poppy flower, which became a symbol of Memorial Day nearly a century ago. The flowers were sold by a woman named Moina Michael to benefit orphans of World War I.

“We cherish, too, the Poppy red,” Miller recited from a Michael verse. “That grows on fields, where valor led, it seems to signal to the skies, that blood of heroes never dies.”

Bob Larrisey, commander of Chalfont VFW Post 3258, was introduced by county Director of Military Affairs Dan Fraley. Commander Larrisey offered brief remarks about the significance of honoring all U.S. Armed Forces personnel. “The World War I monument represents the sacrifices made by departed comrades,” Larrisey told the assemblage. “Our presence here is in solemn commemoration of all these men and women - an expression of our tribute to their devotion to duty, to their courage and patriotism.”

Fraley expressed enormous grief upon receiving the news of Dembowski’s passing. “I received a tearful phone call from somebody who knows this young man. Unfortunately, with my job, I see the ugly side of what happens in Iraq and our young men from other wars. We can’t lose sight that the commissioners are fighting for a National Veterans Cemetery in Bucks County. We need to make sure that, when these young men leave their high schools, they can be buried here.”

As a constant reminder of the sacrifice and loss of American heroes in all our nation’s wars, the World War I Memorial Fountain will be in operation from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on weekdays until Veterans Day, which will be celebrated on Nov. 11 this year.