Two military funerals – and 250 years of history

CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. — This past week I had the honor of attending two services for deceased war veterans with ties to Saratoga and Rensselaer counties who died 207 years apart: Vietnam War Navy veteran Ray Bronk, Sr and Revolutionary War/Battle of Saratoga Continental Army veteran Elias Steenbergh.

Both lived extraordinary lives and their ultimate fates were linked by a quirk of history that took place here in our community.

Ray Bronk was, by all accounts, a colorful, interesting, outspoken, unique and, most of all, kind individual. His family and friends adored him. He served aboard the destroyer USS Harlan R. Dickson (DD-708) in the 1960s before coming home to build a life and family here in the Capital Region. His son Richard owns Port of Call Consignments (57 Broad St, Waterford, (518) 874-1643) a unique and interesting store with a large inventory of fishing lures & equipment, vintage items, collectibles, bicycles, music and much more.

It’s safe to say that Rich and his siblings got their love of collectible things from Dad. Ray was a huge collector car buff; his classic Chevrolet El Camino pickup was a hit at every car show. Ray passed away last week at the age of 77 after a brief illness, and his family asked their friends to please bring their classic car if they had one for the funeral procession to the cemetery.

Some great classic cars turned out to form the vanguard of the procession, a fitting tribute to the man who so many in our community loved.

All the way back in the mid-1770s, a man named Elias Steenbergh moved from Dutchess County to what was then Albany County and settled in the area known for many years as Crescent. He enlisted in the Albany Militia and served in the American Revolution at the Battle of Saratoga and elsewhere. He attained the rank of Captain in 1780.

Mr. Steenbergh passed away in 1817, and presumably was buried in Middletown Cemetery (established 1803) alongside his wife Katharine and several of his children. I say “presumably” because there was no tombstone for him (though there was for the other family members) when 5th great-grandson Ken Byrd was researching his family genealogy.

Halfmoon Town Clerk/Town Historian Lynda Bryan assisted in an application to the VA to procure a tombstone which was acquired last fall. This past Thursday, Steenbergh was finally, officially, given the full military ceremony afforded any veteran of the United States military.

For both deceased, two spotlessly dressed military representatives saluted smartly, as taps was played, then they folded the American flag into the perfect triangle to give to family members.

Mr. Bronk’s widow and wife of 54 years, Linda, received the flag “on behalf of the President of the United States…and a grateful Nation”. Because the family members of Mr. Steenbergh are no longer local and couldn’t visit Halfmoon, Lynda Bryan filled in for them, later commenting at what a breathtaking experience it was to receive the flag from the officers.

It was amazing indeed – just a few days apart, veterans of America’s first conflict and one of its more recent ones were officially laid to rest, with the tie binding 250 years of history the wonderful flag that is a symbol of the freedom and opportunity we all have as citizens of this nation.

May our flag and the traditions it represents always be revered, respected and cherished along with those who have fought for centuries to preserve our ideals.

— Pete Bardunias is Senior Vice President of Community Advancement at Capital Region Chamber