Senator Stewart-Cousins spoke at a memorial ceremony for Civil War Captain William Laing Heermance, the only recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor buried in the City of Yonkers. Organized by the Yonkers Central Veteran's Committee, the annual ceremony took place at Captain Heermance's grave site at Oakland Cemetery, which was discovered six years ago by committee chairman Jack Lotz. The ceremony pays tribute to Captain Heermance's heroic actions at the Battle of Chancellorville, Virginia in 1863 during the American Civil War. During that battle, while serving with Company C, Sixth New York Cavalry, Captain Heermance took command of the regiment as they were surrounded by the enemy. The regiment cut its way through the enemy line and escaped, but Captain Heermance was desperately wounded, left for dead on the battlefield and taken prisoner. His actions earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor. Senator Stewart-Cousins honored the service of Captain Heermance and all of our nation's veterans, saying that the sacrifices made by them and their families allow communities like Yonkers to thrive. To see a pictures of the Senator at the ceremony, click here.
