VETERANS

VETERANS
Commission meetings
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission's Dec. 27 meeting has been rescheduled for 8:30 a.m. Dec. 30 at 2801 Market St. The commission's Jan. 3 meeting has been canceled.
Apprenticeship program
WASHINGTON -- The National Electrical Contractors Association and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers are recruiting veterans and nonveterans for their apprenticeship program. They consider veterans ideal candidates because of their work attitudes and leadership skills.
Apprentices earn regular paychecks plus health and pension benefits during the four- to five-year apprenticeship. Also, NECA-IBEW is helping to fund Helmets to Hard Hats, a nonprofit program focused on establishing a Center for Military Recruitment, Assessment and Veterans Employment, to help veterans match their military-acquired skills with appropriate construction career opportunities. Call (330) 726-5525 for local information.
Post joins gift program
GIRARD -- American Legion Post 235 is participating in the Gifts to Yanks Who Gave program, which benefits veterans in Veterans Affairs hospitals, outpatient clinics and the Ohio Veterans Home. This year's goal is $3,700. People may donate by sending a check payable to American Legion Post 235, 11 High St., Girard 44420.
World War II Memorial
WASHINGTON -- The National World War II Memorial, now under construction on the National Mall between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, is to be dedicated May 29, 2004. As dedication events are confirmed, information about them will be posted on the memorial's Web site (www.wwiimemorial.com) or distributed via a toll-free number, (800) 639-4992.
The memorial is being funded primarily by private donations and has received about $189 million in cash and pledges.
"Unfortunately, fewer than 4 million of the 16 million Americans who served in uniform during World War II are expected to be alive when the memorial is dedicated. We lose 1,100 World War II vets each day, so the dedication cannot come too soon," said retired Marine Corps General P.X. Kelley, chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission.
Fan Mail for the Troops
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Fan Mail for the Troops, under the auspices of Friends of Our Troops, is operating its Big Man/Big Woman on Campus program to bring mail to military personnel in the United States and overseas.
Under the program, people can nominate a military person to receive a package of mail to be shared with their unit by sending the name to Friends of Our Troops, P.O. Box 65408, Fayetteville, N.C. 28306.
Required information includes the military person's name and complete military mailing address; and the nominator's name, address, telephone number and e-mail address if applicable. All military names and addresses are kept confidential. See the Web site www.troopfanmail.net for more information.
BASIC GRADS
Air Force: Airman 1st Class Andrew M. Ingold (Hickory High School, Hermitage, Pa., '95); Airman Joseph D. Poltor (Brookfield High School, '02), son of Robert Poltor of Masury, honor graduate; Airman Daniel R. Zakrajsek (Howland High School, '02), son of Rudy and Joyce Zakrajsek of Warren; Airman Joshua D. Reese (South Range High School, North Lima, '00), son of Jennifer Reese of Salem.
Marine Corps: Pvt. Jon A. King (Union Area High School, New Castle, '02), stepson of Harold E. and son of Vista Johnson of New Castle; Pvt. Jennifer L. Heinemann (East Liverpool High School, '02); Pvt. Matthew E. Wimer (Lincoln High School of Ellwood City, Pa., '02), son of Cindy J. Wimer of Butler, Pa., and Everett Wimer of Ellwood City; Pvt. James R. Shiderly (East Palestine High School, '02), son of Barbara A. and Clair R. Shiderly of East Palestine.
PROMOTIONS
Army, Marine ranks
Army Reserve 1st Lt. Richard Malagisi, son of Richard and Priscilla Malagisi of Austintown, was promoted to his present rank while serving as an attorney with the Judge Advocate General's office.
Malagisi is a 1986 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School. He graduated summa cum laude from Youngstown State University and also graduated from Case Western Reserve School of Law in Cleveland.
He is a veteran of Desert Storm and was accepted by the Army's Special Forces. Besides being a JAG officer, he is a prosecuting attorney in Big Timber, Mont., where he lives.
Michael Lynn Altiere, a senior at the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas, was promoted to the rank of cadet major and is serving as battalion executive officer. Altiere is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Altiere of Warren.
Amy L. Spooner was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the Army after completing the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program and receiving a bachelor's degree in social work from Youngstown State University.
She has been assigned to the Military Police Branch and will remain at YSU as a Gold Bar Recruiter. Spooner, a daughter of Lynn Spooner of East Palestine and Larry Spooner of Lisbon, is scheduled to attend the Military Police Officer Basic Course in June 2003 and report for duty in Korea in October 2003.
XItems of note for the Military Roundup can be sent to The Vindicator, Regional Desk, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780.