MERCHANT MARINE

MERCHANT MARINE
Academy graduate
Jacob George was promoted to ensign in the Naval Reserve upon graduation from the Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y., where Tom Ridge, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, was commencement speaker.
George, a 1999 graduate of Canfield High School, earned a bachelor of science degree in marine transportation at the academy and also was awarded a Coast Guard Merchant Marine license. George will be heading out to sea to complete his final licensing requirements. During his training, he traveled aboard ships to Germany, Spain, Belgium, England, Israel and Egypt.
George, a son of Don and Karen George of Boardman, played football for the Canfield Cardinals and also for the academy's Mariners.
VETERANS
Flag disposal ceremony
POLAND -- Sons of the American Legion Mahoning Valley Squadron 15 will have its fourth annual flag-disposal ceremony at 8 p.m. Thursday at Post 15 Home, 35 Cortland St. The public is invited to attend the ceremony, where worn, frayed, torn or faded American flags are honorably retired. Flags may be dropped off at the post home in the receptacle marked flag disposal. Call (330) 750-0488.
Detachment officers
Jeffrey Vrabel Sr., Struthers, was elected 2nd vice commander of the Ohio Detachment of Sons of the American Legion at its convention in Cincinnati. Vrabel is commander of Mahoning Valley Squadron 15.
Randall Eicher of Squadron 181 in Bucyrus was elected 2004 detachment commander. Others elected include: Bill Sutterlin, Perrysville, 1st vice commander; and Grant Martin, Beverly, chaplain. The 41st annual convention of the Detachment of Ohio is in Marietta in May 2004.
Pirates game discounts
The Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team will offer free and discounted tickets to active-duty military personnel and veterans on selected dates this season, beginning with this week's home stand against the Cincinnati Reds and the Houston Astros from Tuesday through Thursday.
All active military personnel, including reservists and Guard members on active status, can receive two free tickets by showing their current military ID to the PNC Park ticket windows on the day of the game they select. Choices are: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, vs. Reds, all at 7:05 p.m.; and vs. the Astros, Friday at 4:05 p.m., Saturday at 7:05 p.m. or July 6 at 1:35 p.m.
To accommodate active-duty military personnel still overseas, two additional free-ticket dates are Sept. 19, 7:05 p.m., and Sept. 21, 1:35 p.m., both vs. the Chicago Cubs. Active-duty military personnel can also buy up to four tickets at half-price for each Sunday home game from July 6 through the end of the regular season. Also, all veterans can receive two free tickets to the Tuesday game only by presenting proof of military service at any PNC gate.
BASIC GRADS
Air Force: Airman Fredrick J. Settle (Neshannock Junior-Senior High School, New Castle, Pa., '02), son of Sherry and Fredrick Settle of New Castle.
Navy: Seaman Apprentice Theodore N. Green (Jamestown, Pa., High School, '02), son of Kathleen W. and Ronald W. Green of Greenville, Pa.
Marine Corps: Pvt. Christopher G. Rung (Hickory High School, Hermitage, Pa., '02), son of June A. and George A. Rung of Hermitage.
PROMOTIONS
Air Force Band sergeant
Air Force Technical Sgt. Brett E. Miller was promoted to his present rank while assigned as a musician with the Air Force Band at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. He is the son of Larry E. and Diane L. Miller of Boardman. His wife, Laura, is the daughter of Robert and Peggy Stefko of Poland. Miller graduated in 1995 from Boardman High School, received a bachelor's degree in 1999 from Youngstown State University, and in 2001 earned a master's degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind.
DEPLOYED
Mobilized in Wisconsin
Army Reserve Sgt. Elizabeth A. Bowman has been activated and mobilized at Fort McCoy, near Sparta, Wis., for deployment to an undisclosed area of operations in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle. She is assigned to Troop Command, 6015th Garrison Support Unit, based at Fort McCoy.
Bowman is the daughter of Louis E. and Nancy S. Jefferson of Vienna. Her husband, Mark, is the son of Raymond and Beverly Bowman of Minocqua, Wis. She is a 1992 graduate of Mathews High School, Vienna, and a 2000 graduate of Ashmead College, Tacoma, Wash.
Worked with Albanians
Three area residents participated in a two-week training exercise with Albanian military forces while assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C. The unit is currently aboard the USS Iwo Jima.
They include: Lance Cpl. Michael J. Yarina Jr., son of Michael J. Yarina of Canfield; Pfc. M.S. Fleming, a 2001 graduate of Canfield High School, the son of Debbie L. and John E. Fleming of Canfield; and Lance Cpl. Kristopher J. Conaway, a 2000 graduate of Mineral Ridge High School, the son of Alice A. Conaway of Niles and John Conaway of Mineral Ridge.
REUNIONS
USS Columbus CA-74/CG-12/SSN-762: Sept. 3-6 in Seattle. Contact Alvin S. Lewis, 726 East Covina Blvd., Covina, Calif. 91722-2955.
XItems of note for the Military Roundup can be sent to The Vindicator, Regional Desk, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780, or e-mailed to alcorn@vindy.com.