5 Revolutionary War veterans buried in Greece honored in ceremony

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – Five veterans of the American Revolutionary War are buried at Falls Cemetery in Greece. Saturday, the Greece Historical Society hosted a ceremony there, bringing their history to life.

Local chapters of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution dressed in clothing from the time-period and carried out decades-old traditions like the rifle salute, which organizers said began long before the War of Independence.

“These weapons that we’re shooting, they’re primitive weapons, and we enjoy that. We dress in the uniforms that the Patriots – Soldiers wore then,” said Brent Downing with the Rochester chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. “People can look at us and say, ‘you know what? I can picture a group – how they would’ve appeared 250 years ago or longer.”

However, it’s not just about honoring the dead, or remembering the history these soldiers had a hand in crafting – but to keep it alive too, he said.

“The morals that were explained and expressed in that constitution, and the form of government that was set then, has worked for 248 years,” Downing explained. “Now, that doesn’t mean we don’t have disagreements or conflicts within our citizenships here, but we don’t want to stray from that too much.”

Downing also noted that about one-third of all battles of the American Revolution took place in New York State.

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