Latest news with #OrleansCounty
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Heeding the call at Western New York National Cemetery
PEMBROKE — With rainy 46-degree weather Friday, members of the Orleans County honor guard gathered at the Western New York National Cemetery to honor one of their own. Among the four providing a rifle salute were Niagara County Army veterans Kathy Kindle of Middleport and Ricci Hoffer of Newfane. For all who provide this solemn service, it is a high honor done with great pride. Jim Freas of Medina, the officer-in-charge of the Orleans County honor guard, said he is involved because 'I expect somebody to do it for me.' 'It's the last thing these guys can do for their brothers,' said Linda Freas, Jim's wife. 'Every year it's fewer and fewer of them.' The call to honor is ongoing. Every day, the Western New York National Cemetery lays veterans to rest. 'The National Cemetery Association thinks of Memorial Day as our Super Bowl,' said Jim Metcalfe, an Army vet and director of the Western New York National Cemetery who has overseen 19 national cemeteries. 'We have to be perfect,' Metcalfe said. 'There can't be a weed. People roll in and see the manicured lawn, and the tree rings, and the marble. It is overwhelming for them.' Laying someone to rest at the national cemetery is called a committal service, rather than a funeral, Metcalfe said. 'Our duty here is to render military honors to the veteran. It's not a place for a showing or ceremony,' he said. 'When we have a committal service, the next of kin will receive a burial flag, a presidential memorial certificate, the honor guard, the rifle volley, playing of taps, and two members from the veteran's branch of service will be present to fold and present the flag to the family.' A eulogy or prayer by someone of the family's choosing can be included. 'I think when the rifle volley goes off and they hear taps play, most families find it difficult to hold it in,' Metcalfe said. 'Now the country is giving back and providing this beautiful place for them for eternity.' Honor guard members are volunteers, both veteran and non-veteran, representing all branches of the military. At committal services, the honor guard usually includes one bugler, seven shooters, and a commander. Erie, Wyoming, Genesee, and Orleans counties have honor guards who have committed to serve a day each week at the cemetery. When guard groups are large enough, members are able to rotate through. Since Niagara County has yet to form an honor guard, all counties alternate on Fridays. 'What stays with me is the number of unclaimed veterans with no families,' said Mike Harmer of Medina, a Navy vet. Kindle has tried to find members for a Niagara County honor guard by speaking about it at monthly countywide meetings of the American Legion. She said many local legion posts have their own honor guard. 'Some days, we have a local funeral at the post, and we can't come to the national cemetery,' Kindle said. 'When you look at the faces of the families, you see how much it means to them,' said honor guard member John Follman of Waterport, who served in the Air Force and National Guard. On Friday, Follman presented the family of the deceased with three brass shells from the honor guard's M1 Garand rifle salute. The shells stand for duty, honor, and sacrifice, he said. Petty Officer Robin Johnson, who represented the Navy in honor of the deceased Friday, said participating is a way to tip his hat to those who have served. 'Either during taps or the presentation of the flag, that's when people start choking up,' Johnson said. Brad Nudd of Medina is not a veteran, but he serves on the Orleans County honor guard as a bugler in memory of his father who did military service. Nudd said his involvement is in tribute to his father, and all who sacrificed for this country. As a new cemetery will be created in 2021, Metcalfe said outreach is underway to help families understand the services available to them. He said the Pembroke cemetery has done 600 interments a year, but several thousand are typical at other national cemeteries. Veterans who have resided elsewhere can be buried in Western New York, and Metcalfe said a lot of snowbirds come back here. 'People don't know what to expect here,' Metcalfe said. 'We work with them all. We're a time-of-need service. There's no pre-registration. You can't reserve a spot. A burial can be arranged in an hour.' The national cemetery offers traditional burial, and for cremations, both in-ground burials and a columbarium building with niches are available. Metcalfe said all veterans have the benefit of a gravesite, opening and closing of the site, a burial lining, a headstone and marker, and perpetual care. He encourages families to go to and choose the benefits section to learn more.
Fox News
21-05-2025
- Fox News
Louisiana attorney general expects more arrests in New Orleans jail escape investigation
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill believes an investigation into how 10 inmates escaped a New Orleans jail will lead to arrests of more people on the inside, she told "Fox & Friends" on Wednesday morning. Murrill said that authorities are continuing to investigate how exactly the 10 inmates were able to escape and added that she expects more arrests of those on the inside who might have assisted. "There certainly will be more consequences from this event. We just have to be methodical in the investigation," she said. Authorities said Tuesday that one jail employee, Sterling Williams, was arrested and accused of helping the inmates escape. Murrill also said that despite the time that has passed since 10 inmates escaped from the Orleans County Correctional Facility on Friday morning, law enforcement continues to follow up on credible leads and believes the remaining five escapees are still in the area. "I've notified neighboring state officials that they could have headed in that direction, but my gut says that they're probably staying close to home unless they have significant resources somewhere else," Murrill said. "You're just unlikely to go somewhere where you have zero support and help, most of these, if not all of these individuals grew up in New Orleans." So far, all the recaptured inmates have been found in New Orleans. "They were young children, really, during the time of Hurricane Katrina," said Murrill. "Their resources are here, so I really expect that they are staying around here and the longer this goes on, the more dependent they are on trying to find people to help them. There's a pretty large reward out, and I'm confident that we're going to collect them all. "It's a process, and there are a lot of people involved in the process, but they've been effective, and they are gathering people up." Louisiana State Police (LSP) announced 19-year-old Corey Boyd's capture Tuesday night, saying that he was found in New Orleans. On Wednesday morning, an updated LSP Facebook post said Boyd was "transported to a secure state correctional facility outside of the area" and that he has been charged with simple escape. Boyd was one of two men captured on surveillance footage in the French Quarter of New Orleans on Friday morning, just hours after the brazen breakout. He is accused of killing a man named Brandon Fees during a car burglary in 2024 and was in jail awaiting trial on charges of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery and threatening a public official before the escape. Boyd's arrest was Tuesday's second major development in the case that has captured nationwide attention. Earlier in the day, police arrested 33-year-old Williams, an employee of the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, and charged him with 10 counts of principal to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office. He was assessed a $1.1 million bond, $100,000 for each charge, according to Murrill's office. According to an arrest affidavit, Williams claims he was coerced into participating via violent threats. "LBI Agents were assigned to review information in attempt to determine if anyone, from the OPSO staff or outside personnel, assisted in the escape. During a mirandized interview with Williams, he explained to Agents that he turned the water off from the outside pipe walk area on the exterior of cell 6 under direction of a light skinned black male with tattoos on his face, whom he named as 'Massey,' formally known as Antoine Massey, who threatened to shank him if he did not turn the water off," the affidavit said. According to Fox 8, Massey has a history of escaping from custody. "There isn't an ounce of this man's history that doesn't say 'escape,'" Matt Dennis of ASAP Electronic Monitors, which provides ankle monitoring services, told the outlet. "He had no intention of wearing an ankle monitor." The five men who remain on the run are: Fox News Digital reached out to the Louisiana State Police, Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office and FBI New Orleans for comment.
