On this Memorial Day in 2019, Skellie was remembered and honored by the people of his hometown of Mina during the Sacrifices of Heroes service.

Also honored during the memorial service at the gazebo in Findley Lake was U.S. Navy Telegrapher First Class Maurice Albert Rouse, who was killed at age 32 in Okinawa, Japan on March 26, 1945.

“This is the essence of what we are here for today,” said Mina Town Supervisor Rebecca Brumagin. “I don’t think we can overstate the importance of remembering our veterans, especially the Gold Star Veterans and their families. This year we are pleased to recognize a congressional Medal of Honor veteran from our town.”

Brumagin introduced Mary Norcross, the Mina town historian and president of the Findley Lake and Mina Historical Society, who related the stories of Skellie and Rouse.

Children parade with flags and balloons during Monday’s Findley Lake Memorial service. Photos by David Prenatt

Norcross noted that there have only been 3,522 Congressional Medals of Honor ever awarded. Also, she noted that being identified as a Gold Star Veteran honors not only the veteran, but also the family of the deceased.

“The families left behind have paid a high cost,” she said.

Norcross said that in the process of the Historical Society’s research they have found five more Gold Star Veterans from the Civil War who will be featured at next year’s Memorial Day service.

In telling the story of Skellie’s heroism, Norcross noted that his leg was amputated as a result of his wounds. Although Skellie had two children, one died in infancy and the other bore no offspring.

Therefore, Skellie had no direct descendants to remember him, Norcross said. However, he had several nieces and nephews whose families continue to honor his memory. Some of those family members were present at this service, she said.

“We thank them for keeping Ebenezer’s memory alive,” she said.

In her account of Rouse’s death, Norcross said that he left a wife and two young daughters, Carol and Sally, who were 6 years old and 4 years old, respectively. Both of those women were present at the memorial service and received flowers from the town in honor of their father.

Rouse, who had been in the Navy since 1934, was aboard the USS Halligan when it struck a mine as it patrolled the waters off Okinawa in preparation for invasion.

“The ship was reduced to rubble and more than half of the crew were lost, including Maurice,” Norcross said.

Also during the service, Cindy Ott Young of the Historical Society, read off the names of the veterans from the town who have died in the past year. They are Roger Eugene Cooper, Robert A. Fergus, John T. Molk and Eugene L. Stebbins.

Brumagin also paid special tribute to Charles Raven who died in December 2018. She noted that Raven had played “Taps” at 340 veteran funerals in the last five years of his life, as well as at Arlington National Cemetery.

Chautauqua County legislator Martin Proctor greeted the people assembled for the service. He also gave special tribute to his predecessor, David Himelien, who passed away in April.

The children present were called forward and took part in a parade while Taylor Beckwith sang “This Land is Your Land.”

Beckwith also sang “God Bless the USA” at the end of the program, during which all veterans present were asked to come forward and receive a flag honoring them for their service.