By RICHARD MAKUCH

As a veteran of the U.S. Navy and the Army, I am appalled by the actions of a Silver Creek parade committee.

It is very obvious that the officials of this parade never served their country in the military. They placed the veterans in the back of the parade. After the vets disagreed with this arrangement, the parade committee still wanted the veterans in the back of the parade.

For years, the veterans always were the leaders of this parade. In fact, in any other parades in other cities, the veterans always were in the front of the parades. This shows the respect that veterans deserve. They earned that respect.

One person who was in charge of the Silver Creek parade and who doesn’t even live in Silver Creek made the decision against the veterans. What is even worse, is the village officials went along with that decision. So there was no respect for the veterans, not only from an outsider, but also from village officials who should have known better.

The residents in Silver Creek should not only acknowledge those veterans who were treated so poorly, but should make sure this outsider who was in charge of the parade not be able to run this parade again next year.

The village officials should also be chastised for not getting involved. This was disrespect for people who fought for this country’s freedom, but were not recognized for their efforts by the village of Silver Creek officials and that one person who made those decisions against our veterans.

It is sad how non-veterans forget where they got their freedom from. To make such a decision against our veterans is sad.

God bless our vets.

Richard Makuch is a Dunkirk resident. Send comments to editorial@observertoday.com