Albany, NY — On Saturday, the Village of New York Mills paused amidst their festivities to remember one of their own lost at Pearl Harbor, unveiling and dedicating a new artifact from the USS Arizona at the Village’s Pearl Harbor Memorial during the 5th Annual Party in the Park. Held at the Village’s Pulaski Park, Assemblywoman Buttenschon delivered the keynote address at the 5:30p.m. ceremony.

The artifact adds to a memorial first dedicated in 2013 honoring Fireman First Class Edward Bator, a New York Mills resident and Naval volunteer who was killed and entombed aboard the USS Arizona during the December 7, 1941, attack. Bator was one of 20 men from a single street, Maple Street, who served during World War II, and one of 14 village residents present at Pearl Harbor that day. His younger brother, Sgt. Barney "Bernie" Bator, was killed in action in Belgium less than three years later, on September 6, 1944. Both brothers were 26 years old when they died.

“Edward and Barney Bator were sons of this village who never came home, and their story is really the story of an entire generation from Maple Street and from New York Mills who answered the call together,” said Assemblywoman Buttenschon. “We add a piece of the USS Arizona to this memorial, not just to honor Edward’s memory, but to honor his brother, and every family on that street, in this Village and across this Valley who gallantly sent their sons to war. Today, in the shadow of our 250th anniversary, we must never forget the sacrifices that were made in the name of the freedoms we claim, and recommit ourselves to their fervent defense, now and forever. This is the debt this community, and this Nation, carries forward generation after generation.”

Following the memorial dedication, Assemblywoman Buttenschon presented a New York State Assembly Citation to lifelong New York Mills resident Angela Shultz in honor of her 100th birthday, recognizing a century of life and her longtime ties to the community.

“A hundred years is a milestone that speaks for itself, and Angela Shultz has spent every one of them as part of the fabric of this village. It was an honor to celebrate with her today, and to present her with this Citation as a token of the Mohawk Valley’s and our State’s gratitude for a century of memories and a legacy shared right here in New York Mills.”

The dedication and proclamation presentation kicked off an evening of community celebration that included:

• Recognition of the Village's Citizen of the Year at 6:30 p.m.
• Live acoustic music from Philip Arcuri Jr., food trucks, cornhole tournaments, and family activities
• And a fireworks display closing out the night Mayor Ernie Talerico and the Village Parks and Recreation Committee organized the day's festivities.

“I’m grateful to Mayor Talerico and the Village Parks and Recreation Committee for inviting me to be a part of today’s ceremonies, and to share in these moments with the New York Mills community.”