Tour of duty
COURTESY OF FAY FERINGTON
Fay Ferington is shown in 1955 as a nursing student at
Wyoming County Community Hospital.
By KRISTY HOLFOTH
For The Daily News
F
ay Ferington has always
been a writer — she’s
composed poetry since she
was a little girl. However, she only
kept one journal in her life: during
her time as an Army nurse at a field
hospital in Vietnam.
This summer — 56 years later —
she published it.
“Off the Record:
a Vietnam War
Nurse’s Journal”
represents a
real-time reflec-
tion of Ferington’s
year-long service
overseas in 1967. In
it, she records her
reactions to what Ferington
she sees and expe-
riences as it happens, including
combat situations, cultural differ-
ences and ultimately the suffering
she witnesses in her patients,
fellow soldiers and civilians.
Originally, she had no aspira-
tions of sharing it.
“I wrote for my own sake while
I was in Vietnam, because you
didn’t want to burden people with
your thoughts,” she said. “I got
home and glanced at it, then threw
it in the closet for 50 years.”
A LIFETIME OF SERVICE
A Gainesville native who briefly
studied and worked at Wyoming
County Community Hospital,
Ferington graduated from SUNY
University at Buffalo with a bache-
lor’s degree in nursing in 1960.
“It was really enlightening,” she
said of her college years. “I made
friends, and it just opened the
world.”
She served in the Army from
1966 through 1977, spending years
as a nurse educator at the former
Walter Reed Army Institute of
Nursing in Washington, D.C., after
her tour in Vietnam. She was in the
Army Reserves from 1978 to 1991,
got promoted to the rank of colonel
Fay Ferington, right, is shown taking her oath upon entering the Army. She served a tour of duty in
Vietnam.
in 1982 and was awarded both the
Vietnam Service Medal and the
U.S. Army Nurse Corps Medal.
She earned a doctorate in psy-
chiatric nursing at the University of
Illinois at Chicago in 1983 and has
lived and worked around the coun-
try as both a nurse and an educator
over the course of her career.
Now a longtime resident of
Madison, Wisconsin, Ferington
volunteers extensively and
contributes to her local LGTBQ+,
senior and arts communities. She
looked at the journal once or twice
over the years but first shared it
to an audience in a writing class
several years ago.
Based on the feedback she
received from her classmates, she
decided, “Maybe it does have a
message.”
WARTIME REFLECTIONS
When working with her pub-
Former Gainesville woman’s journal
describes year as Vietnam War nurse
lisher, Ferington pushed back on
the first edited version shown to
her, making sure it stayed true to
her journal as she had originally
written it.
“I called them and said, ‘you
know, this does read nicely, but I
wasn’t writing it to decide whether
I had the right conjunctive verb or
whether I should spell out Lieu-
tenant rather than Lt,’” she said. “I
wasn’t sitting in a classroom — I
was sitting on a cement floor lean-
ing against a wall after listening to
artillery.”
They agreed with her feedback,
and the finished product is “essen-
tially almost word for word” to her
original journal.
Reflecting on it now, Ferington
said she was surprised at how com-
pletely her perspective changed by
the end of her tour.
“War can be alluring to people,
like stopping at a bad accident,”
COURTESY OF FAY FERINGTON
she said. “But the bigger part of war
is not the blood and guts. It’s just
the lonesome fear, deprivation,
isolation.
“I didn’t philosophize about the
war when I was busy. But I was sur-
prised at how my thinking changed
over the year from ‘Oh, I want to
get there. I want to do good. I want
to help. I want to do important
things,’ to ‘What did we really think
we were going to accomplish, and
why did we want to come, and
what does helping people really
mean? Did we think we would be
untouched [by this experience]?’”
Ferington is considering writing
a memoir of her time in Vietnam
in the future. She said her favorite
part of being a published author
has been the conversations started
and connections made.
“Off the Record: a Vietnam War
Nurse’s Journal” can be purchased
on Amazon or AbeBooks.com.
COURTESY OF FAY FERINGTON
By the numbers:
U.S. has 19 million veterans
Veterans Day, observed each
year on November 11, honors all
those who served honorably in the
U.S. military during both wartime
and peacetime.
■ Estimates from the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs indicate
that there were around 19 million
veterans in the United States in
2021.
■ Data from the VA indicates
that, as of 2016, Gulf War veterans
account for the largest share of all
U.S. veterans. Roughly 7.8 million
veterans served during the Gulf
War.
■ Vietnam veterans also make
up a sizable percentage of U.S.
military veterans, as VA estimates
indicate there were approximately
5.9 million veterans who fought in
the Vietnam War in 2021.
■ Though veterans need not
have served in wartime in order to
be recognized and honored on Vet-
erans Day, the vast majority of U.S.
veterans served during wartime.
According to the VA, 78% of vet-
erans in 2021 had served during
wartime.
– By Metro Creative Connection
T2 November 10, 2023 Veterans Day

Events honor veterans in GLOW region

By KORI SCIANDRA
KSciandra@batavianews.com
This year, celebrate the
veterans in your life in the
way that suits them and
their needs best. Veterans
Day, Saturday, Nov. 11, is a
day, United States citizens
observe to honor the men
and women who fought to
maintain freedom.
Often, Veterans Day is
observed with a celebra-
tory ceremony or a free
luncheon. While those are
excellent ways to thank a
veteran for their service to
our country, there are other
ways to celebrate as well.
You can offer to lend a
hand with yard work or help
a veteran winterize their
home. You can let them
choose the activities that
they want to take part in that
day. Some veterans may be
apprehensive about cele-
brating publicly. If that’s
the case, you can deliver a
meal or a basket of goodies
to their front door, or you
can take it a step further and
enjoy the meal with them.
Sometimes if you make
time to listen, many vet-
erans may share stories of
their time in the service,
and you may even get a
chance to learn more about
history.
Whichever way you
choose to honor area veter-
ans, it’s important to do so. participate in the annual
They are selfless individuals
who chose to protect people
and serve their country.
The following events are
scheduled in the four-coun-
ty GLOW region throughout
Veterans Day weekend
(Nov. 10 to 12):
GENESEE COUNTY
■ At 9 a.m. Friday, Nov.
10, Western New York
National Cemetery, 1254
Indian Falls Rd, Corfu, will
have a short ceremony.
■ LeRoy American
Legion Post 576 will have a
ceremony at Trigon Memo-
rial Park off East Main Street State Veterans Home, 220
at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11.
The program will include
readings by Post Commader ument, Main and Ellicott
David Rumsey and Auxilia- streets, Batavia.
ry President Tia Petrie-Cac-
camise to commemorate
the significance of the day.
Chaplain Gary Bassett
will offer a remembrance
Vietnam Veterans of America member Hal Mitchell and Genesee County Color and Honor Guard member Jamie
Sanner salute after placing the wreath in front of the New York State Veterans Home in Batavia during the 2022
Veterans Day ceremony.
prayer. The ceremony will
conclude with the place-
ment of the wreath on the
memorial, a volley by the
post rifle squad and the
playing of taps. All available
Botts-Fiorito American
Legion Post 576 members
are invited to attend and
Veterans Day observance.
■ Genesee Communi-
ty College, 1 College Rd.,
Batavia, will host a Veterans
Day Service from 1 to 2 p.m.
Nov. 11.
Veterans Day ceremo-
nies scheduled for Nov. 11:
■ 9 a.m. Genesee County
Park and Forest, 11095
Bethany Center Rd., East
Bethany, presented by the
Vietnam Veterans of Ameri-
ca chapter.
■ 10 a.m. Batavia VA
Medical Center, 222 Rich-
mond Ave., Batavia.
■ 10:15 a.m. New York
Richmond Ave., Batavia.
■ 11 a.m. Upton Mon-
■ 11:30 a.m. Genesee
County War Memorial be-
hind the Jerome Center, 16
Bank St., Batavia.
Participating organiza-
Tom and Felicia Cecere of Bergen find a family member’s name on the ground at the
Genesee County War Memorial at the Jerome Center.
tions include Veterans of
Foreign Wars of Genesee
County, Genesee County
American Legion Posts and
Vietnam Veterans of Ameri-
ca – Chapter 193.
LIVINGSTON COUNTY
■ Marine Corps. mem-
bers from Livingston
County will join fellow
Marines around the globe
in celebrating 248 years of
service and sacrifice to their
country with a cake cutting Sgt. Maj. William Joyce salutes during the playing of
on Nov. 10. The event is
scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at
the National Warplane Mu- the Museum’s gift shop.
seum, 3489 Big Tree Lane
(off Route 63) in Geneseo.
MARK GUTMAN/DAILY NEWS FILE PHOTO
taps during a 2021 Veterans Day ceremony in Batavia.
The cake cutting will be in
The event is free and open
to all Marines and friends.
BRIAN QUINN/DAILY NEWS North Main St.
Those planning to attend
are asked to RSVP by calling ceremony at The Pines in
(571) 212-0483. “It is the tra- Machias at 2 p.m. with The
ditions of the Marine Corps Girl Scouts.
that we keep together, even
when we are no longer in
uniform. I don’t think there
are few Marines who do not
think about the Corps on
Nov. 10,” Gary Anderson,
a retired Marine colonel
who served for more than
30 years, said in a 2021 in-
terview with The Livingston
County News. Anderson
has organized and hosted
the local celebration. The
upcoming event will be the
sixth in Geneseo.
■ The Livingston County
Veterans Monument is a
site to see. The combination
of art, creativity and honor
features 250 metal poppies.
The Livingston County
Veterans Monument was
an unprecedented collabo-
ration between Livingston
County and Genesee Valley
BOCES.
ORLEANS COUNTY
Friday, Nov. 10
■ Thank a veteran during
mass from 7 to 8:15 p.m. at
Holley Assembly of God, 54
BRIAN QUINN/DAILY NEWS North Main St., Holley.
Saturday, Nov. 11
■ Operation Honor Race
at 4 p.m. at 3875 Bates Road,
Medina. Proceeds to go to
veterans in Orleans County.
Registration starts at 10 a.m.
at Jr. Wilson’s Sportsmen’s
Club. For more information
about Operation Honor,
visit http://www.Opera-
tionHonorofwny.org.
WYOMING COUNTY
Friday, Nov. 10
Warsaw rifle squad and
playing of taps are sched-
uled for:
■ 9 a.m., The Cloisters,
171 North Maple St.
■ 9:30 a.m., Eastside
Nursing Home, 62 Prospect
St.
■ 10 a.m., Crestview
Terrace Apartments, 32
Salina St.
■ 10:30 a.m., Wyoming
County Community Health
Senior Nursing Facility, 400
■ 11 a.m., Connect 55+,
5378 Conable Way.
■ 1 to 3 p.m., lunch and
get together at Dwyer Pavil-
ion, 36 Center St., in the rear
parking lot of the Wyoming
County Ag & Business
Center.
Saturday, Nov. 11
■ All veterans are invited
to the annual free breakfast
from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday,
Nov. 11, at Castile Baptist
Church, 5824 Route 19A,
Castile. For more informa-
tion, call (585) 493-2549.
■ 11 a.m., ceremony at
the American Legion/VFW,
followed by a luncheon. A
■ 11 a.m., Warsaw
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 VETERANS DAY November 10, 2023 T3

LIVINGSTON COUNTY PHOTOGRAPH

The Livingston County Veterans Monument features some 250 metal poppies that were created by area veterans.

Events
FROM T2
monument. Changing of
the Colors at Liberty Way
immediately following.
■ 11:11 a.m., service
followed by a luncheon at
Strykersville Six-Star Amer-
ican Legion, 3960 Main St.,
Strykesville.
■ Noon, Wyoming Coun-
ty Vets Club, 245 West Buffa-
lo St., Warsaw, followed by a
luncheon
■ Noon to 5 p.m., Perry
Veteran’s Club, 64 Lake St.,
Perry. Free spaghetti dinner
for veterans. Donation
asked for non-veterans
attending.
■ 6 p.m., ceremony at
Eagle American Legion in
Bliss followed by a dinner
for veterans.
Sunday, Nov. 12
■ 10:30 a.m., Mass for
veterans at First Congre-
gational Church of Perry
Center, 7205 Perry Center
Rd, Perry.
■ 11 a.m., ceremony
and lunch followed by the
annual meat raffle at Attica
American Legion, 83 Mar-
ket St., Attica.
■ 6 p.m. drinks followed
by dinner for members at
7 p.m. at Strykersville Six-
Star American Legion
Also of interest:
Veterans Weekend at
the Genesee Country Vil-
lage & Museum
Celebrate Veterans Day
throughout the weekend at
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97 Main Street
Batavia, NY 14020
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The Attica High School Marching Band participates in a Nov. 12, 2022, parade
thanking veterans.
Genesee Country Village
& Museum, 1410 Flint Hill
Rd., Mumford, as you see
the agricultural tasks at
hand and preservation of
food for the winter happen-
ing in the Historic Village.
All veterans receive free
admission during Veterans
Day weekend. Hours are
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visitors may explore
some of the fan favorite his-
toric buildings open during
fall weekends, including
the Hetchler House and
Pioneer Farm, Jones Farm,
Hosmer’s Inn, Hamilton
House, Hyde House and
MARK GUTMAN/DAILY NEWS FILE PHOTOGRAPH
the Blacksmith’s Shop. The
exhibition, “Becoming Gen-
dered: Garment as Gender
Artifact,” continues in the
Museum’s John L. Wehle
Gallery.
Stop by the adjacent Na-
ture Center to enjoy 5 miles
of trails that will be open
for fall hikes and outdoor
explorations. On Nov. 10,
families can enjoy Parent &
Me Storytime from 11 a.m.
to noon in the Nature
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Gestures to show
support of veterans
By METRO CREATIVE SYNDICATE
Veterans Day is commem-
orated each year on Novem-
ber 11. The holiday honors
the individuals who served in
the armed forces of the United
States.
Community-wide events
tend to be held on November
11, but any day of the year is
a good time to pay respect
to veterans. On a local level,
people can do much to thank
veterans for their service and
sacrifice.
■ Provide a free restau-
rant meal. Offer to take out a
veteran for breakfast, lunch
or dinner. If you see a veteran
eating in a restaurant, anon-
ymously pay the bill for that
person.
■ Send care packages.
Center.
Communities can gather re-
Visitors may also shop
sources and chip in to make
seasonal favorites in the
care packages for veterans
who live in town, and even
Flint Hill Store, and swing
to send to troops stationed
by the Freight House Pub
elsewhere. Include foods and
to recharge and relax with comforts from home.
a historical craft beverage ■ Buy from veterans. Seek
and snack. out veteran-owned business-
es in the area, and then make
For tickets or more
purchases from their retail
information, visit gcv.org/ stores or utilize their services.
event/veterans-week- ■ Volunteer at a VA hospi-
end-at-gcvm/. tal. Spend time with veterans
“God Bless the men and women that preserve our freedom.”
N.Y.S. REG # 7068617
Vern C. Falcone
Director/Owner
8700 Lake Rd.
LeRoy, NY 14482
where they receive care for
current health needs or past
injuries suffered in combat.
■ Decorate cemeteries.
Honor fallen veterans by plac-
ing flowers or flags by their
gravesites.
■ Participate in a parade.
If your town hosts a Veterans
Day or Remembrance Day
parade, find out how you can
volunteer or be a part of it.
Oftentimes parade officials
enable youth groups, such as
high school marching bands
or scouting troops, to partici-
pate in the parade.
■ Write to the newspaper.
Write an op-ed or highlight
piece to submit to the news-
paper about veterans in the
community. Mention local
veterans who have unique
stories, or speak about the
importance of veterans to the
community.
■ Ask a veteran to speak. If
you work in a school or a com-
munity center, ask veterans to
share their experiences with
area youth.
■ Visit local memorials.
Spend time visiting memori-
als nearby and paying hom-
age to the veterans who de-
voted their time, or even their
lives, to service.
Jenna M. Falcone Brooks
Funeral Director
(585) 768-2400
www.falconefuneralhome.com

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T4 November 10, 2023 Veterans Day

Alfred Wise Almon ‘Gus’ Annis Angelo A. DiLaura Angelo A. Fasano Anthony Fusco Anthony L. Fasano
Private 1st Class Corporal Private 1st Class Corporal 1st Sergeant Sergeant
Navy Marines Army Marines Army Army
1940 - 1942 1942 - 1945 1950 - 1952 1944 - 1946 2000 - 2021 1963 - 1966
Hometown - Attica, NY Hometown - Livonia, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Avon, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY

Cody Cesarano Christine Glover Chloe Beyer Brian Moultrup Brian Hodges Ashley Richley
Private 1 Class
st
Sergeant Sergeant Corporal Corporal Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class
Army Army Army Marines Marines Navy
2018 - Present 2013 - Present 2018 - Present 2014 - 2018 2000 - Present 2006 - 2014
Hometown - Mumford, NY Hometown - Spencerport, NY Hometown - Geneseo, NY Hometown - Warsaw, NY Hometown - LeRoy, NY Hometown - Attica, NY

Conlan Edwards David J. Cutitta David Leone David Minuto Don Yaxley Donald F. Klein
Lieutenant Petty Officer 2nd Class Senior Master Sergeant Petty Officer 3rd Class SP5 Petty Officer 3rd Class
Coast Guard Navy Air Force Navy Army Navy
2011 - Present 1960 - 1964 1986 - 2013 1957 - 1961 1966 - 1969 1945 - 1946
Hometown - Corfu, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Medina, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY

Elwyn M. Barrett Dr. Leanne Chen-Rawji Dr. Donald Amboyer Douglas W. Susat Donald Weyer Donald Seekins
Sergeant Captain Staff Sergeant F1 SPEC4 E-6
Army Air Force Air Force Navy Army Navy
1935 - 1937 • 1944 - 1946 2015 - Present 1966 - 1970 1944 - 1946 1971 - 1973 1971 - 1980
Hometown - Attica, NY Hometown - Leicester, NY Hometown - Perry, NY Hometown - Bergen, NY Hometown - Buffalo, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY

Eugene Moscicki Evan Dacey Frank Minuto Frederick ‘Fred’ Lemen Gene Scott Gordon R. Amidon
Private 1 Class
st
1 Lieutenant
st
Private 1 Class
st
Aviation Cadet Corporal Private 1st Class
Marine Army Army Army Air Corps Army Marines
1948 - 1950 2021 - Present WWII 1944 - 1945 1953 - 1955 1944 - 1946
Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Leicester/York, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Dansville, NY Hometown - York, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY

William C. Wood III William C. Wood Sr. & Frances Wood Thomas R. Wood Robert Richley Genaro A. Fasano
Corporal Tech. Sergeant & WAC Corporal ADC Private 1st Class
Marines Army Marines Navy Army
1988 - 1992 1943 - 1946 1988 - 1992 1983 - 2004 WWI
Hometown - LeRoy, NY Hometown - Canandaigua, NY & Detroit, MI Hometown - LeRoy, NY Hometown - Bennington, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY
 Veterans Day November 10, 2023 T5

Harley Richley Jack M. Hayden James DiLaura James G. Fasano James Porter Hoffman James R. Calkins
Private 1st Class SP-4 Hosp. Apprentice 1st Class SPC/4 POC 2 Sergeant
Army Army Navy Army Army Army
1951 - 1953 1974 - 1978 1943 - 1946 1956 - 1958 1948 - 1952 1965 - 1970
Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - North Java, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Mt. Morris, NY Hometown - Wyoming, NY

Kenneth E. Stroh Joseph Palumbo Joseph Caruso John Majewski Joe DiLaura Sr. Joe DiLaura Jr.
T-5 Senior Master Sergeant Sergeant Corporal Petty Officer 1 Class
st
Petty Officer 3rd Class
Army Air Force Army Marines Navy Navy
1945 - 1946 2002 - Present 1943 - 1945 1943 - 1946 1940 - 1959 1965 - 1969
Hometown - Alexander, NY Hometown - Darien Center, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY

Lanny Minuto Louis A. Leone Louis J. Leone Margaret Peri Michael Cesarano Michael l Cecero
Airman E-4 Staff Sergeant Master Sergeant E4 Specialist E-4 Corporal
Air Force Air Force Air Force Army Army Army
1967 - 1971 1983 - 1997 1951 - 1993 1975 - 1978 1986 - 1989 1943 - 1945
Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Geneseo/Batavia, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY

Robert D. Cesarano Richard T. Minuto Ray Doo Patsy Cesarano Patrick A. Fasano Michael Minuto
Corporal Seaman 1 Class/Staff Sgt.
st
Petty Officer Corporal Staff Sergeant Petty Officer 2nd Class
Marines Navy/Army National Guard Navy Army Army Navy
1983 - 1987 1962 - 1966 • 1981 - 1988 1942 - 1946 1953 - 1955 1943 - 1946 1962 - 1966
Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY

Robert F. Teed Robert Westermeier Rory E. Benkleman Thomas M. Perry E. Phillip Zerillo Vincent Leone
Sergeant 1 Class
st
COX (E4) Sergeant - Air Force E-5 • 1 Air Cavalry Div.
st 1st Sgt. - NY National Guard Major
1994-2015
Army Navy NY Air National Guard Army Sergeant - Marines Air Force
1950 - 1955 1944 - 1946 1975 - 1981 1966 - 1968 1984-1991 1989 - Present
Hometown - Livonia, NY Hometown - Darien Center, NY Hometown - North Java, NY Hometown - Attica, NY Hometown - LeRoy, NY Hometown - Batavia, NY

To our men and women in uniform,

both past and present, thank you for
your service to this country. We salute
your patriotism, courage, hard work,
loyalty and dedication, and we appreciate
all of the sacrifices you have made to
protect the freedoms we cherish.

On behalf of our team and our fellow Americans, we

wish each of you a happy, healthy and safe Veterans Day.
T6 November 10, 2023 Veterans Day

After service, Marine finds career as naturalist

By KORI SCIANDRA
KSciandra@batavianews.com Hike planned on Veterans Day
United States Marine Corps On Veterans Day, Veterans and their families are invited to a
Veteran Cpl. Breton Sloan of free event. The day will start with coffee at 10 a.m. and the first
Lockport joined the Marines hike begins at 10:15 a.m.
after graduating high school in “The hike will not be the same as our veterans remember,
hauling heavy rucksacks at breakneck pace. These hikes are a
Oklahoma in 2008.
slow stop, and you can enjoy the nature around you. We will finish
“I knew I wanted to even- at the Beaver Meadow Nature Center around 11:30 a.m.,” said
tually go to college but had Sloan.
always wanted to do military A ceremony will follow including listening to the Marine Corps
first,” said Sloan. Commandant’s birthday message, cutting of cake to celebrate
Growing up on a 3,000- the Marine Corps birthday, which is Nov. 10, and recognition of all
acre cattle ranch in Oklaho- the veterans who attend. A free lunch will follow.
ma, Sloan’s childhood was After lunch, participants will take a hike starting at the Jenny
something he considers to be Glenn Boardwalk.
unique. His closest neighbors “The hikes will be optional. We realize not every veteran wants
were his grandparents who to hike, but we still want to thank them for their service to our
lived about one mile away country by getting together to celebrate the day with a ceremony
from the ranch. While the and luncheon.
The first hike will be close to a mile on dirt trails that have
closest town was more than occasional tripping hazards. The second hike is a wheelchair ac-
five miles away and the clos- cessible trail.
est grocery store was 25 miles For more information about Veterans Day at Beaver Meadow
away. Nature Preserve, visit BuffaloAudubon.org.
“I had my share of farm re-
sponsibilities, but I also had
returned to MCAS Beaufort Sloan who has great memo-
the freedom to go explore the
H&HS squadron. He was pro- ries from the start of his career.
outdoors. I remember as a
moted to Corporal and be- He went on to work in Okla-
kid packing PB&J sandwiches
came an assistant crew lead- homa as a game warden for
with my brother and walking
er. Sloan completed his four a few more years in Woods
into our rye fields to play,” said
years of service in the Marine County, Okla. While there he
Sloan.
Corps and enrolled in college. built a house on the “oldest
Sloan, a naturalist, will be
“I knew I wanted to go to property in the family farm
leading a Veterans Day Hike at
Oklahoma State University. which dates back to 1904.”
Beaver Meadow Nature Pre-
My grandparents both have Sloan noted, “The house
serve, 1610 Welch Road, North
master’s degrees from there, was on a large sandhill look-
Java, on Veterans Day, Nov.
my dad graduated from there ing across the Cimarron River
11, to honor those who have
and my brother also,” said to the Gloss Mountains State
served, are serving and their
Sloan. “I have always loved the Park.”
families.
outdoors, I wanted to contin- After welcoming their two
His military occupational
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRETON SLOAN. ue to serve people, and I like to children Savannah, 4, and
specialty in the Marine Corps
Pictured are Breton Sloan with his wife Brianna, daughter Savannah and son Chase. educate others as well. I decid- Chase, 18 months, the couple
was 7011, which refers to
ed that a game warden was the elected to move to Lockport to
“Aircraft Recovery and Expe-
many more small responsibil- his four years of service, he onto shore. We did an am- career path I was most inter- be closer to Brianna’s family.
ditionary Airfield” also com-
ities,” he said. deployed one time on the 24 phibious landing with a Land- ested in pursuing.” Sloan took a position at the
monly referred to as EAF (ex-
Sloan went to boot camp Marine Expeditionary Unit ing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) Sloan earned his degree in Buffalo Audubon.
peditionary airfield). This is
in San Diego, Calif., and com- in 2010. Sloan was one of two commonly known as a hover- wildlife ecology and manage- “I was excited for the op-
an uncommon MOS as Sloan
pleted Marine Corps Com- EAF Marines on the entire de- craft. We then did a long con- ment from Oklahoma State portunity to continue teach-
was told at the time of his ser-
bat Training in California at ployment. voy into the country to train University. ing outdoor education with-
vice there were less than 300
Camp Pendleton. He went on “We crossed the Atlantic to the locals. My job was to make He was originally stationed out having to enforce it. This is
Marines serving with that
to complete training in aircraft start a new mission. The MEU a FARP for up to four helicop- in Garvin County, Okla., the first full time job I have had
MOS.
recovery and expeditionary split its tasks amongst its re- ters. We lived there for almost where he worked for three since high school in which I
“An EAF Marine’s job de-
airfield at the Naval Air Station sources to stop Somali pirates a month, staying in a tent by years. There, he made friends did not need to wear a bul-
pends on what they are sup-
in Pensacola, Fla. and help train allies in the our landing zones. I saw wild and came across some “mem- let proof vest,” said Sloan. “I
porting. We built runways for
After completion of his Middle East. I switched ships camels, wild camel spiders, orable characters.” have been a naturalist for less
aircraft, lit up runways, caught
training, he was stationed in during this time to the USS sandstorms, and a heat index “I was responsible for than two years but have been
aircraft by their tail-hook like
Beaufort, S.C., with Marine Mesa Verde,” said Sloan. “My of more than 130 degrees F.” checking Greater Wynne- teaching outdoor education
an aircraft carrier would do on
Wing Support Squadron 273 mission was to set up forward When he returned to the wood Zoo’s native wildlife en- since I was a freshman in col-
land in case of emergencies,
(MWSS-273) and detached to arming and refueling points stateside, Sloan married his closures. Most people know lege, working as an intern for
forward arming and refuel-
Headquarters and Headquar- (FARP). To do this, we had to wife Brianna whom he’s been it as ‘Joe Exotic,’ Netflix’s infa- the Oklahoma Department of
ing points for helicopters, and
ters Support (H&HS). During get a large force of Marines married to for 11 years. He mous ‘Tiger King’s Zoo,’” said Wildlife in 2012.”

The roles U.S. military branches

By METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION
Each November, people
across the United States and
its territories honor the brave
men and women who serve
and have served in the various
branches of the country’s mil-
itary.
Veterans Day is a great
time for anyone to learn more
about the various branches of
the U.S. military.
ARMY
The U.S. Department of De-
fense notes that the Army is
the largest and oldest service
in the country’s military. The
Army provides the ground
forces that protect the United
States. Members of the Army
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are trained to defeat enemy
ground forces and to seize
and control enemy lands
and resources. Army also are
trained to control and interact
with the general population in
countries where members are
stationed.
MARINE CORPS.
The Marine Corps. is a
component of the Depart-
ment of the Navy. That’s one
reason why it maintains am-
phibious and ground units for
contingency and combat op-
erations. The Marine Corps. is
divided into four groups: the
operating forces that fight; the
headquarters for leadership;
the supporting establishment
that provides logistical sup-
port; and the Marine Corps.
Reserve.
NAVY
The Navy protects Ameri-
ca at sea. Despite its massive
land mass, the United States
is a maritime nation, which
underscores how important a
strong Navy is to the safety of
the country and its residents.
The Navy works alongside
American allies and partners
to keep the seas open and free.
AIR FORCE
The Air Force has five core
missions: air superiority;
global strike; rapid global
mobility; intelligence, surveil-
lance and reconnaissance;
and command and control.
The Air Force defends the
country and its residents in
air, space and cyberspace and
is capable of delivering forces
anywhere in the world within
hours.
SPACE FORCE
Organized under the De-
partment of the Air Force
and established in 2019, this
branch of the military orga-
nizes, trains and equips space
forces in order to protect the
interest of America and its al-

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lies in space.
COAST GUARD
During peacetime, the
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partment of Homeland Secu-
rity. In times of war, it operates
under the Navy. The Coast
Guard provides law and mar-
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well as environmental protec-

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 Veterans Day November 10, 2023 T7

Remembering a hero Operation Green Light

By SCOTT DESMIT
EDITOR’S NOTE: A version
of this column was originally
published Nov. 11, 2022, in The
Daily News.
As I drove around Friday,
watching veterans getting
ready for parades and cere-
monies and being thanked for
their service, I recalled a local
veteran, the last one from our
region killed during a war.
Spc. Jason Johnston of Al-
bion was killed Dec. 26, 2009,
the only local soldier killed in
the war in Afghanistan. Once
again, it’s time to honor him
and those who fell before.
I wrote this five days after
Johnston was killed by a road-
side bomb. He was just 24:
It’s quiet here, on a knoll
overlooking the vast, rolling
hills of Mount Albion Ceme-
tery.
Dusk is coming. A woman
walks her dog, who wanders
between gravestones.
An older man jogs by on the
way to his car and a younger
man plods up the icy path.
It is not the highest point in
the stunningly beautiful cem-
etery, but close.
From here, you can look
down and see row upon row of
stones of varying sizes, monu-
ments and markers and trees
glazed with snow.
The snow here is pure
white, untrampled and fresh.
An American flag flutters
just slightly as a breeze comes
in from the west. It nearly
wraps itself around a black
POW/MIA flag that hangs be-
side it.
Both flags are at half-staff
on this afternoon.
A soldier has died.
The pole holding those flags
sits in the middle of a perfect-
ly-cut hedge.
This is the military section
of Mount Albion Cemetery,
with four distinct sections that
have been reserved for sol-
diers.
Pfc. Richard E. Engle is bur-
ied here.
He was 19 years old when
he died in South Vietnam on
Feb. 2, 1968.
His burial, just weeks before
he turned 20, is believed to
have been the last time a sol-
dier killed in action was buried
here.
Forty-one years later it is go-
ing to happen again.
Spc. Jason M. Johnston was
Army Spc. Jason Johnston
24 when insurgents attacked
his unit with an improvised ex-
plosive device in Arghandab,
Afghanistan, Saturday.
His remains were returned
to America the next day. Effi-
cient, our military is.
Hundreds will gather here
Tuesday, in the shadow of
those flags, to say farewell to
Johnston, as they did 41 years
ago when PFC Engle was bur-
ied.
Johnston is the first soldier
from Orleans County to be
killed during the war on terror,
which has claimed the lives
of more than 5,000 American
soldiers and wounded tens of
thousands more.
Many who will gather here
Tuesday didn’t know John-
ston.
That does not matter when
a soldier dies.
It won’t matter Tuesday
when veterans of past and
present wars watch Johnston’s
casket lowered into the earth, a
cold reminder of another nev-
er-ending war.
He is the first but certainly
not the last.
Johnston’s grave will be in
the second row to the south
of the flags. The first row, with
stones laying flat in the ground
and covered with snow, is full.
Jason Johnston will be the
first soldier buried in this sec-
ond row, which is now marked
only with a thin wood stake
stuck through the snow.
Nothing save the flags de-
note that this is where soldiers
are buried and at first glance
you may not notice what is
here.
Row upon row of stones,
jutting from the snow. Stones
cut the same size and placed
in perfect lines, as if given the
“fall in” command.
Behind this section is an-
other section of similarly-cut
stones, all double sites where
soldiers are buried next to
their wives or husbands.
There is a third such sec-
tion and a smaller, fourth area,
where all the stones lie flat,
with only small markers stuck
in the ground, to give visitors
an indication of what is be-
neath.
Soldiers lie here. World War
I veterans. Men and women
who served in World War II
and Korea and Vietnam.
There is a crude, wooden
cross sticking out of the snow.
And wreaths. Lots of Christ-
mas wreaths.
The vast majority of those
buried here died after living a
full life.
Albert C. Smith was a veter-
an of World War I. He died in
1980 at age 86. His wife, buried
next to him, was 104 when she
died.
Such is not the case where
Jason Johnston is going to be
buried. He will be in the sec-
tion reserved for those whose
lives were cut short by war or
for soldiers who by choice or
chance were buried alone.
It is here where Gary Sty-
mus is buried. He was killed
in Vietnam at age 25. Sgt. Pe-
ter Procio was, like Johnston,
24 when he was killed during
World War II.
Pfc. Ernest Skellen Jr. was
just 18 when he died in 1945
and Douglas Rockmere was
22. Augustus Rogers was 19
and Sgt. Howard Tucker 25.
Young men who died hon-
orable deaths.
Two generations have
passed since Richard E. Engle
was buried here in the winter
of 1968, a most tempestuous
year that saw our country torn
apart by war, politics and do-
mestic unrest.
Forty-one years later, men
and women will again gather
to watch a soldier buried and
their eyes will be drawn to
those names etched in granite.
Maybe they will see the fac-
es of their friends, their sons
and fathers once again and be
reminded of their courage and
honor and sacrifice and the
horrors of war.
It is quiet here at Mount Al-
bion Cemetery on a cold, gray
afternoon.
The night comes and stills
the flags.
They now hang silently at
half-staff.
A soldier has died.
Real Estate Services
shows support for veterans
GLOW region counties are Studies have indicated that after leaving military service.
once again showing support up to 72% of service members Terry said it can sometimes be
for area veterans through Op- have reported high levels of a shock for service members to
eration Green Light. stress during this transition go from a strict and regiment-
The Livingston County and that veterans are at a high ed military lifestyle to the free-
Board of Supervisors has de- risk for suicide during their doms of civilian life. He hopes
clared Livingston County a first year after leaving military support programs like this will
“Green Light for Military Ser- service. encourage more veterans to
vice County” through Nov. 17. Livingston County Veteran consider making Livingston
The Genesee County Legisla- Services Director David Terry County their home after leav-
ture also planned to adopt a said residents can show their ing the armed forces.
memorializing resolution in support for transitioning ser- For local veterans inter-
support of Operation Green vice members by displaying a ested in becoming a mentor
Light. green light bulb in their home to another veteran settling in
“We want to make sure our or place of business through Livingston County through
veterans and their families Nov 17. The designation began Onward Ops Military Transi-
know that their service mat- Oct. 11 in Livingston County. tion Support program, or for
tered, that we are grateful for “Each year, approximate- more information on Oper-
their sacrifices, and that it is ly 200,000 service members ation Green Light, email the
now our turn to make sure transition to civilian commu- Livingston County Veteran
they are served by their county nities and we’re looking at an Services Agency at veterans@
government and our commu- estimated 20% increase in co.livingston.ny.us. For more
nity,” Genesee County said in a service members that will be on these and other County
statement. transitioning to civilian life veteran programs, visit the
Operation Green Light is a in the near future,” said Ter- Livingston County Veteran
nationwide initiative to sup- ry. “Operation Green Light Services agency online or call
port veterans and raise aware- is about showing support for (585) 243-7960.
ness about the challenges our veterans during this tran- In Genesee County, the Old
faced by many veterans. The sition. Displaying a green light Courthouse at Main at Ellicott
initiative also focuses on shar- can bring about meaningful streets in Batavia will be illu-
ing resources that are available conversations regarding the minated green through Nov.
at the county, state, and feder- incredible sacrifices of our vet- 12 as part of Operation Green
al level to assist veterans and erans and how we, as a Coun- Light.
their families. ty, can assist in making their In addition to lighting the
Operation Green Light en- move to civilian life as easy as Old Courthouse green in hon-
courages residents and busi- possible.” or of all those who have served,
nesses to illuminate the entry- To help ease this transition, residents and businesses are
way of their house or business Livingston County officials encouraged to demonstrate
with a green bulb. The initia- have pledged their support for their support by changing an
tive was launched by the New Onward Ops Military Transi- entryway light bulb to a green
York Association of Counties tion Support, formerly known bulb. By shining a green light,
in collaboration with the New as the Expiration Term of Ser- residents will let veterans
York State County Executives’ vice Peer Mentorship Program know that they are seen, ap-
Association and New York (ETS-SP), which connects preciated, and supported.
State Veteran Service Officers’ mentors to new veteran resi- While this event is focused
Association in 2021. It was ad- dents. Mentors participating around the week of Veterans
opted in 2022 by the Nation- in the program offer their sup- Day (Nov. 6-12), participants
al Association of Counties, port and guidance to military are encouraged to continue
which promoted it to other personnel both before and shining the light year-round.
states and counties across the
nation, ultimately leading to
the participation of more than
325 municipal governments in
2022.
The initiative returns this
year during Veterans Day with
more 300 governments ex-
pected to participate. www.maxpiesfurniture.com
In Livingston County, the
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T8 November 10, 2023 Veterans Day

BEN BEAGLE/LIVINGSTON COUNTY NEWS

Local, state, and national representatives of the American Legion pose Oct. 14 in front of a wing of Whiskey 7 during National Commander Daniel J. Seehafer’s visit.

American Legion message is ‘personal’

National commander visits Livingston County
By BEN BEAGLE veterans and their families; Avon, a visit to the National
ben@livingstonnews.com and to learn more about fellow Warplane Museum in Gen-
National American Legion Legions, its members and their eseo, a visit to the Livingston
Commander Daniel J. Seehafer families. County Veterans Memorial
had a three-fold mission when “We go where they live,” he at Hampton Corners, and a
he visited Livingston County said. “These visits are a way to dinner and reception at Harri-
earlier this month. learned more about our fellow son-Lee American Legion Post
Seehafer was continuing the Legion members and their 283 in Livonia.
national message of the Amer- families” which include Auxil- The Livingston County Le-
ican Legion, “Be the One,” to iary and Sons of the American gion was hosting the visit on
raise awareness about veter- Legion members. behalf of the Legion’s Seventh
ans’ suicide; his own message Seehafer’s visit included District, which includes Cayu-
of “It’s personal,” in referencing lunch at the Joseph Gallipeau ga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontar-
the Legion’s mission of serving American Legion Post 294 in io, Seneca, Steuben, Yates and
Wayne counties.
“It’s good exposure for the BEN BEAGLE/LIVINGSTON COUNTY NEWS
We’d like to salute the service of the American Legion,” said Tim- American Legion National Commander Daniel J. Seehafer, center, and Department
dedicated men and women in uniform othy J. Collmer, a member of of New York Commander Timothy J. Collmer, right, of Dansville, are shown Oct. 14
Daniel Goho American Le- during a tour of the National Warplane Museum in Geneseo.
whose dedication and actions have gion Post 87 in Dansville and
protected our freedom and our way Department Commander American Legion on Aug. 31 problem that the American Le- vocating for veterans on issues
of life through the generations. for New York State. “It let’s the during the Legion’s 104th na- gion is addressing through its such as education and health-
To all of our dedicated soldiers, past, community know we do a lot tional convention. “Be the One” campaign, which care, that can affect everyone.
with community. The big thing Seehafer, in an interview encourages Legion members We are in service of all.”
present and future, our deepest gratitude is that we help where we can following a tour of the National to be the one to reach out to Seehafer said he would like
and best wishes remain with you and your and make the Legion a focal Warplane Museum in Gen- help a fellow veteran who may to see more people join the Le-
families. Thank you veterans. point of community.” eseo, said of the Legion’s mis- be in need. gion. One day of active duty is
Seehafer, with his visit, “is sion of serving veterans and “We are a family that chang- all that is needed to be eligible

Steve Hawley
able to get his message out
about what the national orga-
nization can do for you, and
DEPUTY MINORITY LEADER how the Legion can help fam-
MEMBER OF ASSEMBLY ilies and veterans,” Collmer
STATE OF NEW YORK said.
Seehafer was elected na-
139th DISTRICT
tional commander of the
Thank you for “IT’S WHAT WE DO”
Serving our Country We are
and Protecting ready anytime!
their families: “It’s personal.”
“We are a national voice
for the whole family of Legion
members,” Seehafer said, not-
ing membership of around
three million people. “We are
a big advocacy organization for
the voice of veterans and their
families. And the more people
we have, the larger the voice
can be.”
That personal mission falls
in with the national message
of “Be the One.” Seehafer noted
the importance of embracing
veterans, even years after ser-
vice. He said veterans suicide
continues to be a significant
For the veteran, thank you for bravely doing
what you’re called to do so that
we can safely do what we are free to do.
You inspire the world with your courage.
es lives and saves lives,” he said.
The “Be the One” campaign
seeks to destigmatize asking for
mental health support, create
opportunities for those with
mental health issues to speak
freely and get the support they
need; provide peer-to-peer
support and resources in local
communities; and to identify
issues and find resources for
support veterans who may be
struggling.
Seehafer also explained
how the Legion’s efforts to aid
veterans can also help non-vet-
erans. “We legislate for every-
one,” he said. “When we are ad-
for membership, he said.
“We want more people
to be a part of us, be a part of
our voice,” he said. “There’s
strength in numbers.”
At the Warplane Museum,
Seehafer was accompanied
by about 40 Legion members
from local, district and state
levels.
John Snyder, a member of
the Avon American Legion
and a volunteer at the War-
plane Museum, introduced
Seehafer and shared the story
of the Museum’s C-47 known
as “Whiskey 7.” Snyder recalled
the plane’s role in World War
II’s D-Day Invasion, and how
Museum volunteers success-
fully took the plane to France
in 2014 for the 70th anniversary
commeroration of D-Day. As
he concluded the story, the au-
dience responded with oohs,”
“ahhs,” and a loud “Hooah”
from a veteran in the back of
the crowd.
The group later visited the
Museum’s hangar and entered
Whiskey 7. Seehafer sat at the
plane’s controls for several
minutes.
“This is more than history,”
Seehafer said after. “This is
history, but now it brings real
moments to life. Rather than
listening to a volunteer talk
about the plane, you get to see
it. Whisky 7 is pretty remark-
able. It’s not just a static display.
That it is still flying is amazing.”
Seehafer is an ordained

Thank you Veterans.

our Freedoms minister from Wisconsin. He
served as a military chaplain
in the U.S. Navy and Navy Re-
serve. He is a member of Amer-
ican Legion Post 157 in Hor-
icon, Wisc. He has served in a
Voted #1 Best number of American Legion
Roofer in the offices at every level, including
commander of his local Legion
GLOW Region! post and later the state-level
Department of Wisconsin and
national chaplain.
He was installed as assistant
78 Years in Business pastor of St. Stephen Lutheran
Church in Horicon in 1997 and
continues to serve as adminis-
trative pastor of the church and
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The Livingston County visit
Trusted. Reliable. Professional.
Richard Wendt, President
343-0300 • 762-6080 was part of a larger visit by See-
hafer in the western part of the

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