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Veterans' sacrifices remembered at Western New York National Cemetery | The Batavian Skip to main content Secondary menu Calendar Contact Us Advertise About Search Search Main menu Home Batavia's List Sports Calendar Shop Local Opinion Business Announcements Obituaries Jobs Veterans' sacrifices remembered at Western New York National Cemetery By Brian Quinn May 24, 2026, 10:25pm Veterans and their families gathered today at the Western New York National Cemetery to mark the cemetery's Memorial Day service. {Photo by Brian Quinn) Melissa Tolai and Casimer "Casey" Bukowski were both grateful to see the veterans and families who stood before them today at the Western New York National Cemetery's Memorial Day ceremony in Corfu. And both had at least one person they wished were still alive today. Tolai, National Cemetery Administration (NCA) deputy chief of staff, spoke partly about a close friend and neighbor she grew up with - Hillary Scanlon. Scanlon joined the Army and was later honorably discharged as a private first class. "Hillary was brave enough to serve, strong enough to sacrifice and good enough to be loved by everyone who knew her. Hillary is a reflection of the mother who raised her and the country is better because of what you did," she said, speaking to Hillary's mother, Mary Scanlon. "Hillary never got married, never had children and she never got the long, full life she deserved - the life her mom dreamed of for her, the real life all of us who loved her wanted to see." Hillary passed away in 2020. "She was taken too soon and that truth is still heavy, and it will always be heavy," Tolai said. "But, Hillary is not forgotten and on a day like today, this is what her family has. Some of her family is here in the audience and I stand her to memorialize her and make sure we never let her name fade." Bukowski, of Lancaster, spent over a year as a prisoner of war during World War II. He served in the Army Air Corps and was a Purple Heart recipient. Bukowski served as a waist gunner on a B-17 bomber. His crew flew 16 missions and was shot down on its 16th mission, over Germany. "I spent 14 months as a prisoner of war in a German prison camp after that," he said. "I thank you all for this opportunity to present my fallen crew members - fallen five air crew members - that couldn't make it today." Bukowski read their names and said all of them were killed in action. "I thank all of you for the opportunity to present them to you and remember them as I did many years since that incident back in 1944," he said. Bukowski said there were many incidents he could have shared today as a prisoner of war, but did not feel there was time to share those incidents. "I wish to thank all of you heartily for inviting me, having me here to help celebrate this holiday with you and with my fellow crew members," he said. "I wish that we never forget what they did for us and what we still owe those guys. I thank you so much." Tolai grew up in Orchard

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