MILLBROOK — Local and county officials, a military honor guard, friends and family gathered at Nine Partners Cemetery near the grave of Korean War Veteran Army PFC Charles Johnson on Thursday, May 29. The well-attended ceremony was to honor Johnson’s bravery and sacrifice in battle and to dedicate a permanent plaque and flag markers indicating that Johnson’s valor had earned the Medal of Honor.
In December 2024, Johnson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, officially presented at a White House ceremony on Friday, January 3, 2025, by President Joseph R. Biden.
Introductory remarks at the May 29 ceremony by Adam Roche, Director of the Dutchess County Office of Veterans Affairs honored Johnson, describing him as a “true American hero,” killed in battle at the age of 21, at Outpost Harry in Korea. Johnson’s heroic actions saved the lives of ten of his fellow infantrymen, including his captain.
An opening prayer by Deacon Duane Ware of Beulah Baptist Church spoke of Johnson’s legacy of patriotism, loyalty and brotherhood.
Participating in an official ceremony to honor the valorous service of Army PFC Charles R. Johnson during the Korean War and to dedicate a gravesite marker at Nine Partners Cemetery attesting that PFC Johnson was a recipient of the Medal of Honor were left to right County Executive Sue Serino, PFC Johnson’s nephew Kevin Johnson holding an official Proclamation presented during the ceremony, and Adam Roche, Director of the Office of Dutchess County’s Office of Veterans Affairs.Photo by Leila Hawken
The Rev. Dr. Matthew Calkins of Grace Episcopal Church, Millbrook, noted that the Johnson family had been members of the Millbrook church in the 1950s and that the church had attended to burial of Johnson’s remains in September 1953 at Nine Partners.
Drawings of three new stained glass window panels to be created and installed at Grace Church in the coming months were displayed and described by Rev. Calkins. One panel will honor Johnson’s memory, a second will honor Eleanor Roosevelt, and the third, in the middle, will depict Julian of Norwich, whose influential writings in the Middle Ages are the oldest discoveries of such writings to have been authored by a woman.
Vice Commander Dave Rogers of VFW Post 9008, Millbrook, announced that the VFW post is being renamed to honor Johnson. It will now be known as Charles R. Johnson Post 9008. In addition to the Medal of Honor, Johnson had been awarded the Purple Heart, the nation’s oldest medal, originally established by George Washington. Accordingly, Johnson’s grave will be adorned by a Purple Heart flag.
To mark Johnson’s gravesite, a flagpole has been erected at the cemetery by the Dutchess County Dept. of Public Works.
“We will always honor this grave,” said Brad Roeller, President of the Nine Partners Cemetery Association. He spoke of Johnson’s connections to Millbrook as “a rich story that will never be forgotten.”
“We thank you for recognizing Uncle Buddy,” said Johnson’s nephew, Kevin Johnson, on behalf of the Johnson family.
“For too long, Charles’ actions went unrecognized,” said Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino, citing Johnson’s courage and sacrifice that left a legacy. “His spirit and courage live on to inspire,” she added, praising the tireless efforts of many who pursued posthumous recognition for PFC Johnson’s bravery, to upgrade the Silver Star that had been awarded in 2011 to the Medal of Honor, a long campaign spanning decades.
In 2024, Congressman Pat Ryan joined in the effort by supporting the 20 years of regional efforts toward recognition.
A proclamation marking the long-awaited recognition was presented by Serino to Kevin Johnson.
“Charlie was older than I, but he was a friend of my brother’s,” said speaker Dominick Molella. “He was open and upbeat,” he added.
“He died for the soldiers he protected; his contributions and valor were ignored.” Molella said that his own involvement in the effort toward proper recognition began in early 2000, and he credited the Arlington High School for propelling the recognition campaign forward.
Karina Powers teaches traditional dances from Mexico in Millbrook.
Powers received a master’s degree in Mexican folklore dance from Escuela de la Danza in Baja California, Mexico. Since moving to the United States, she has built a career in performance and teaching. She has not only served as a dance director and performed as a professional vernacular music singer in California, but she has also worked towards her Doctorate, which she will receive in October.
As the founder of her company, Powers works tirelessly to make sure her dancers have everything they need, including costumes, proper flooring, music and a space to practice. Her husband built wooden panels, called tarimas, for students to dance on with their folklórico shoes. Millbrook Mayor Peter F. Doro allows Powers and her group to practice in Millbrook Hall, where she brings the tarimas to every practice along with costumes and proper footwear.
Powers dreams of owning her own studio where she can practice with her group, offer more classes, store costumes and create a space for her dancers to do their hair and makeup before performances. She said she hopes people learn about her classes so her company can grow and she can teach dances from a wider range of Mexican states while having greater access to traditional dress.
As a single mother and professor, Powers’ mother, Carmen Méndez, put her children in dance classes and signed them up for track and field, always keeping them goal- and career-oriented. She helped Powers with her company by creating all of the costumes her dancers wear in their performances. After her mother’s death in 2021, Powers said she has dedicated herself to carrying forward the passion, work ethic and love of dance her mother instilled in her.
“I miss her terribly, and I’m here because of her,” Powers said. “That’s why I want to do this, because of her. She gave me a lot, with the costumes, with her support. I do it for my mom.”
Karina Powers and her students practice in Millbrook Hall.Lucia Iandolo
Dancers in Powers’ group are dedicated to learning the art of dance from different states in Mexico on Tuesday and Friday nights at Millbrook Hall. They travel from many different places in New York to participate, with some dancers traveling more than an hour to make it to rehearsal each week.
“It’s a lot of work, but they learn it. I believe they love it, and it’s a way to come together, to do something good, to do something healthy, and to have people around you who appreciate this kind of art,“ Powers said.
Powers has studied with professor Eloy Jiménez Figueroa since childhood and said his mentorship inspired her to become the teacher she is today. She added that while she may not be the best teacher, she learned from the best.
While living in California, Powers taught elementary, high school and college students, as well as adults. She was recruited to teach traditional Mexican folkloric dance because of the region’s large Mexican community. Today, she encourages people of all backgrounds to explore the rich traditions of Mexican dance.
“This type of dance is not only for people from Mexico,” Powers said. “This is an art and the arts unite nations.”
Powers hopes to continue sharing that art in Millbrook and one day teach in the Millbrook Central School District. Powers and her group will perform at the Millbrook Library on Nov. 21, presenting traditional Mexican dances and inviting audience members to participate.
As a professor, dancer and singer, Powers stays grounded by believing in something greater than herself. She says that praying and putting herself in the hands of God has helped anchor her. She hopes to teach and dance for as long as her body allows.
“My mom, for me, is an angel. I put myself in her hands, and I have faith,” Powers said. “I have faith that God, or something good, is going to be there for the group and for myself.”
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