A most fitting and beautiful Memorial service was held last Sunday afternoon when friends and loved ones filled the Afton Presbyterian Church [Chenango Co., NY] to overflowing to pay their last respect to Lt. Burnard L. Page, son of Mr. and Mrs. Erford Page, who gave his life for his country, November 11, 1944, while flying a Superfortress over Nanking, China. The Memorial service was sponsored by Clifford Homes Post of the American Legion of Afton. The church altar was banked with a profusion of floral offerings testifying to the love and esteem for one who gave his all on the altar of sacrifice for his country. A picture of Lieut. Page in uniform was placed among the flowers. Members of Clifford Holmes Post, the Legion Auxiliary and about 60 veterans of World War II attended in a body. Standing out among the numbers of the afternoon's program was the Tribute of Honor from the Legion Auxiliary most beautifully given by Mrs. Whit Y. MacHugh. It follows:
"As representative of Clifford Holmes Unit No. 923 of the American legion Auxiliary, I am greatly privileged to pay tribute with them to the heroic conduct and glorious memory of Lieut. Burnard Lewis Page, pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces. The membership of the American legion Auxiliary is composed of the mothers, sisters and wives of the men of the American Legion. I proudly bring this tribute for these women, whose sons and daughters were playmates, the classmates, the companions, the friends and the comrades of this heroic young soldier. Only a brief time--a few days ago, he lived, worked, played, loved and then went into battle with our children. He was loved, honored, respected by them, by their families and by the entire community. With all it swiftness, it awfulness and overpowering disaster came the war. Quickly in its wake was heard the great command of duty for God and Country. Burnard with his continued loyalty to the folk among whom he lived and to his God and his country responded to the call. Choosing the Air Service he became a pilot on a Superfortress in which great ship he answered the call of the "Great Commander of Armies." On November 11th, 1944 over Nanking China, he entered into 'His Eternal and His Everlasting Glory.' We of the American legion Auxiliary would honor our loved friend and our sons' comrade who has been summoned to a world of peace. None of us owned this life that has gone. It came and filled us with happiness for awhile. Then he left us to go into the 'bright blue yonder,' left us here and went on along. He was loved here. Love is a kindly service and grief its accolade. Now we would pay him tribute: What better act of veneration could we bestow upon that boy whom we have honored, than by a high resolve to so live, that when our final summons comes, we shall have accomplished at least one thing, however small, that will make this world better for having lived in it. Burnard will always be remembered by the world for the great sacrifice he made for us and for his country. He will live on in our hearts because we knew him to be a man. That is the challenge to each of us--He left us the duty of carrying to this ultimate goal the final battles for peace and that liberty shall endure. Walk proudly in his memory by cherishing the ideals for which he fought so gallantly and died so courageously."
"He who hath given his life
He is immortal,
He strove to win the heights
But death opened the portal."
"In his short span of life,
Glory has crowned him.
Eternal, glorious youth
Forever around him."
"We who have loved him so,
Will always remember him
As sunny June
Not black December"
"Great manly, boyish heart,
That gave so gladly,
We would not mar you joy
By weeping sadly."
"Courage you had to go--
Can we have less courage
To work, to wait
And to do our best?"
Burnard--
"When God's great reveille
Shall call us too
May each of us
Be found worthy of you.
His soul to him who gave it rose;
God lead it to its long repose
its glorious rest.
And though this Warrior's sun
Has set, It's light shall linger around us yet--
Bright, radiant, blest--forever blest"
Chaplain Lynn L. Loomis gave the tribute from the Legion and Rev. Webb spoke briefly. Special solo numbers were given by Mrs. Robert Parker, who is guest at the home of her brother-in-law and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Parker.
George W. Lockwood, whose death occurred Thursday morning, November 29, was born February 27, 1881 at Rock Rift, N.Y., the son of Alexander and Martha Palmer Lockwood. His home was made for some time near Masonville, N.Y. [Delaware Co., NY] from where he moved to Nineveh [Broome Co., NY] in 1900. On May 26, 1904 he was united in marriage with Miss Emma M. Johnson. From the union there were four children: Raymond, of Afton, Harold F. Lockwood, whose death occurred in 1927; Mrs. George Hansen and Mrs. Jason Hansen, both of Nineveh Junction. Funeral services, directed by Tabor Funeral Home were conducted from the Nineveh Presbyterian Church Sunday afternoon, December 2nd with Rev. Clifford E. Webb officiating. Burial was at Nineveh. His death is mourned by a host of friends and those bound to him by ties of family relationship. We remember his fine amiability and integrity of character and deeply regret the necessity of his passing. His many friends extend deepest sympathy to the bereaved. [died 1945]
Anna Stone, wife of Irving McNitt, passed away on the afternoon of March 28, 1944, at her home in Arkport [Steuben Co., NY]. Mrs. McNitt has been an invalid for the past twenty-four years, and has been critically ill for the last few months. Mrs. McNitt was born in the town of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] on the Stone Homestead in the east part of the town on September 9, 1877, the daughter of Charles M. and Ada Stone. She was graduated from Oxford Academy, class of 1895, after which she taught school for a few years, later taking an art course at Cazenovia Seminary. On October 16, 1901, she was married to Irving McNitt. Mr. and Mrs. McNitt made their home in Oxford until about five years ago when they moved to Arkport. Mrs. McNitt was a member of the Oxford Baptist church and was a fine Christian woman, always active in church work as long as her health permitted. She is survived by her husband and a daughter Ada McNitt Cornue, of Arkport. Funeral services will be held at the Seymour Funeral Home Friday afternoon, March 31, at 2 o'clock, Rev. F.L. Anderson officiating. Burial will be made in Riverview cemetery [Oxford, NY].
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