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CORTLAND -- The newly named Vietnam Memorial Bridge on East Main Street was dedicated Saturday in honor of two fallen Vietnam veterans: Pfc. Andrew Sinchak Jr. and Specialist 4 Terrance Weant.
Both graduated from Lakeview High School -- Sinchak in 1967 and Weant in 1965 -- and died on the battlefield.
Although the ceremony was dedicated to these two local veterans, the bridge is named to honor all who fought in the Vietnam War, organizers said.
The ceremony was hosted by the Cortland Veterans Memorial Committee and the American Legion Post 540.
Program emcee Ian McAleer is a member of the American Legion Post 540. He said this event was important to him.
"The event means a lot because I joined the Marine Corps in 1969," he said. "I didn't go to Vietnam, but I knew a lot of buddies that went to Vietnam and a lot that didn't come back."
McAleer learned of Andrew Sinchak Jr. and Terrance Weant from Garey Watson of Cortland, a bugler with the American Legion Honor Guard.
"Garey Watson approached the American Legion Post 540 and said he went to school with the two soldiers and we knew that they passed on from (being) killed in action in Vietnam," he said. "He floated the idea of naming the East State Street Bridge in honor of them and we worked with the city of Cortland and the Cortland Masonic Lodge, which provided the funds for the flags and stuff like that," McAleer said.
The families of Sinchak and Weant also attended.
David Sinchak, Andrew Sinchak's brother, said the ceremony made him feel honored.
"I never thought there would be this many people here," he said.
He said Andrew was a "great big brother" and enjoyed rock 'n' roll music.
"He played in a lot of rock bands while he was in high school," David Sinchak said.
Jim Schmalzried would have been Weant's brother-in-law, but he never had the chance to meet.
"(The ceremony is) a commemoration of the sacrifice that both of these guys made," he said.
"It means a lot if you see signs for other things here and there along the freeway and other roads and Cortland chose to honor these two young men who've given up their lives."
Jim and Pam Schmalzried, Weant's sister, said before he went into the military, Weant was a lifeguard at Smelko's swimming pool. They said he had a varsity letter in basketball and married his high school sweetheart.
"I really didn't know Terry that well. He was a grade ahead of me, and he was very quiet," Watson said. "Andy Sinchak, I knew him a little bit more. We played in band together. Andy played clarinet. I played trumpet."
Cortland Mayor Deidre Petrosky said she was "touched" by the speeches.