COLUMBUS Hubbard man earns a spot in veterans HOF

Garono served in the Navy from 1959 to 1963, and is past commander of the Ohio Army and Navy Union.
HUBBARD -- William J. Garono, immediate past national commander of the Army and Navy Union, was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in Columbus as part of the 19-member Class of 2002.
Garono, who served in the Navy from 1959 to 1963, is past commander of the Ohio Army and Navy Union, organized its Color Guard, and was Mr. Army and Navy Union in Ohio for 2001.
A retired construction worker, he worked for several area companies out of Construction Workers Local 935 in Warren. He is a member of St. Patrick Church here, Knights of Columbus 2072, and is past president of the Hubbard Lions Club. He also served as a Hubbard City 3rd Ward councilman and councilman-at-large, and was a precinct committeeman.
"It's quite an honor," Garono said of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. "I was surprised," he said.
'Veterans helping veterans'
Garono, who spent Veterans Day weekend in Washington, D.C., with the Ohio Army and Navy Union Color Guard, said he is active in veterans affairs because he cares about veterans and believes they are shortchanged.
"It's veterans helping veterans," he said.
Garono and his wife, Hazel, have two sons and two daughters and six grandchildren.
This year's Hall of Fame class includes veterans from the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, World War II, the Korean War era, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War.
Honorees are nominated by Ohio citizens throughout the year and selected by a committee of representatives of large and small veterans organizations and the past three Hall of Fame classes.