Macedon Memorial Day 2025 Celebration
Macedon and Memorial Day 2025
By: Linda Braun, Macedon Town Historian
After what seemed like the wettest May in a very long time, the sun rose brightly on Monday morning, May 26, 2025. As is the custom in Macedon, our Memorial Day Celebration was to be held at the Macedon Center Cemetery this year. It alternates from the Macedon Village Cemetery.
As tradition has it, members of the Phillip Steiger American Legion Post 494 organized the day’s events. The ceremony began with a welcome by Adjutant, Dan Zimmer, thanking everyone for coming out for this solemn occasion. It may have been more enjoyable to picnic or stay home enjoying the beautiful weather, but those in attendance chose to make this ceremony a priority. The Legion’s color guard presented the colors.
First Baptist Church of Macedon’s Pastor Aleka Schuth delivered a very thoughtful invocation. She challenged everyone present to not only remember the people who died for our country but their friends, family and loved ones as well. So many of the men and women we remember were young, very young.
Scouts from Troop 166 and 6166 led those gathered in the Pledge of Allegiance. A young violinist from Canandaigua, Sophia Brae played a wonderful arrangement of America the Beautiful. The stillness of the cool air on this sunny morning carried her music across the cemetery and the neighboring fields. Her performance added to the solemnity of the event.
American Legion Auxiliary President, Sharon Celentano was the speaker. She shared a bit of history on the number of people who died protecting our country and preserving the freedoms that we enjoy every day. She then shared a story about one of Macedon’s own.
His name was Sergent Jonathan Remur Bortle. Jonathan, or Jonny as he preferred to be called, was a student at Pal-Mac leaving following his junior year in 1964. It was on November 5, 1968, that Bortle began his tour of duty in South Vietnam. On September 5, 1969, in a place called Binh Long, South Vietnam, Johnny demonstrated what it meant to be a hero. Sharon shared how many people in our community contacted her to share their thoughts.
The following details are taken from a post made to THE WALL OF FACES - Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund on 9/5/2015 by a “Grateful Vietnam Vet.” Silver Star Citation: Jonathan Remur Bortle, Date of birth: August 25, 1946, Date of death: September 5, 1969. Place of Birth: New York, Rochester. Home of record: Macedon NY. Status: KIA, Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant Jonathan Remur Bortle (ASN: 52968179), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Company A, 2d Battalion, 2d Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in the Republic of Vietnam on 5 September 1969. On this date, Sergeant Bortle was serving as a mortarman with his mechanized unit at FireSupport Base THUNDER III when the friendly encampment was suddenly subjected to an intense mortar barrage followed by a massive human assault. Acting with tactical deliberation, Sergeant Bortle immediately maneuvered from track-to-track searching for casualties and organizing his men's defensive positions. Observing a nearby armored personnel carrier receive an impacting rocket-propelled grenade round which ignited the track's fuel tank, Sergeant Bortle unhesitatingly proceeded to the flaming vehicle. Realizing the futility of extinguishing the inferno, Sergeant Bortle rapidly removed all the personnel in the range of the highly explosive munitions stored aboard the track. Seconds later the armored personnel carrier was shattered by a violent explosion which simultaneously created a serious gap in the perimeter defense. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Sergeant Bortle led his men into the strategic positions and halted an insurgent attempt to penetrate the broken defense line. During the ensuing firefight, Sergeant Bortle was mortally wounded by an exploding aggressor hand grenade. His courageous initiative and selfless concern for the welfare of his comrades distinguished Sergeant Bortle as a soldier of the highest caliber. Sergeant Bortle's unquestionable valor in close combat against numerically superior hostile forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.
General Orders: Headquarters, 1st Infantry Division, General Orders No. 11609 (September 30, 1969)
The ceremony concluded with Sons of the American Legion performing a 21-gun salute directed by Dave Morse, Commodore. The playing of TAPS echoed through the still grounds of the Macedon Center Cemetery.
Following this ceremony people were invited back to the American Legion Post 494 on Main St., Macedon for a lite lunch. Thank you to everyone who attended this event. Reminder that next year’s ceremony will be at the Macedon Village Cemetery on Erie St. South. If you would like to share any information on Sergeant Bortle, please contact Linda Braun, Macedon Town Historian at historian@macedontown.net.