VETERANS

VETERANS
Free prayer breakfast
LOWELLVILLE -- American Legion Post 247 and its auxiliary will honor World War II veterans and their spouses at a free prayer breakfast Saturday at 8 a.m. at Geno's Restaurant, 224 E. Water St.
Cost for the breakfast to all other veterans and guests is $6.50 per person plus tax. Seating is limited.
The deadline for reservations is Wednesday. Call (330) 536-8692.
Post and chapter service
YOUNGSTOWN -- Doris Jenks, the American Ex-POW national service director, will conduct a daylong free seminar on the duties of post and chapter service officers on Monday beginning at 9 a.m. at the Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, 2031 Belmont Ave.
Jenks, of New Port Richey, Fla., was invited here by Steel Valley Chapter of the American Ex-POWs chapter. All veterans organizations, chapters, posts, commanders, service officers and other interested veterans are invited to attend. Reservations are required. Call (330) 726-9217 or (330) 740-9200.
Support missions honored
YOUNGSTOWN -- Local, state and national proclamations were presented in recognition of local military units activated for Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and various other support missions, at the recent 53rd Armed Forces Luncheon at the Italian-American Post 3.
"Those serving today in the Armed Forces stand between liberty and tyranny, as the Armed Forces have for over 200 years," said Lt. Comdr. Russell P. Brockway, main speaker.
Cited were units of the 910th Airlift Wing and Marine Corps and Navy Reserve units, all housed at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna; Youngstown State University's Army ROTC, and Company C, 216th Engineering Brigade, of the Army National Guard.
Special recognition went to Brig. Gen. Michael Gjede, 910th commander, and Navy Reserve Center Command Chief John Stiner, for their many years of service to the military and their country. Both are retiring this summer.
The Armed Forces Luncheon was sponsored by the Youngstown Air Reserve Base Community Council along with local veteran and civic groups. John P. Brown III was the master of ceremonies.
Memorial Day program
YOUNGSTOWN -- Meridian Arms Living Center, 650 S. Meridian Road, will have its annual Memorial Day program honoring all veterans who live or work at the center at 10:45 a.m. Friday.
Members of the residents' families who have served or are serving in the armed forces also will be honored.
Speaker will be the Rev. Joel Theis of Highway Tabernacle Church with music provided by Steve Barbatos and Gene Juillerat.
PROMOTIONS
Marines move up
Marine Corps Sgt. David H. Seckler Jr. and Lance Cpl. Christopher G. Rung were promoted to their current ranks while serving with Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, Marine Wing Support Group 27, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Cherry Point, N.C.
Seckler, son of Janet L. Beighley of Mercer, Pa., is a 1997 graduate of West Middlesex, Pa., High School.
Rung, son of June A. and George A. Rung of Hermitage, Pa., is a 2002 graduate of Hickory High School, Hermitage.
DEPLOYED
Overseas mission
Air Force 1st Lt. Aaron S. Hager has been deployed overseas to support the mission of Operation Enduring Freedom. Hager is an aircraft maintenance officer with 11 years of military service.
A son of Marilyn L. Hager of Sharon, Pa., he graduated in 1993 from Sharon High School and received a bachelor's degree in 2001 from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University through the military extension program in Anchorage, Alaska.
ADVANCED TRAINING
Airman education
Air Force Senior Airman James C. Melek has graduated from the five-week Airman Leadership School at Cannon Air Force Base, Clovis, N.M. Melek is an F-16 avionics system journeyman assigned to the 27th Air Maintenance Squadron. He is a son of James S. and Alice J. Melek of Poland. The airman is a 1997 graduate of Poland Seminary High School.
Marines graduate
Several area residents have graduated from the five-week Marine Corps Basic Combat Engineer Course, Marine Corps Engineer School, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C. They are:
Cpl. Daniel J. Bautista, son of Carmen I. Shaffer of Cortland, and Jovina R. Bautista of Torrance, Calif., and a 1999 graduate of Lakeview High School, Cortland.
Pvt. Joshua M. Himes, a son of Kristine A. Moffitt of Hubbard.
Pfc. Brian C. Morris, a son of Mary E. and John R. Morris of Beloit and a 2003 graduate of West Branch High School, Beloit.
Lance Cpl. Stephen A. DiPietro, a son of Chris M. and John G. DiPietro of Steubenville, was the distinguished graduate from the Marine Corps Basic Combat Engineer Course.
Pvt. Shane A. Milano, stepson of Ron E. and son of Tina M. Winiecki of Hermitage, Pa.
Seaman apprentice
Navy Seaman Apprentice Victor E. Emerick, a 2002 graduate of Canfield High School, graduated from the six-week Basic Enlisted Submarine Course at Naval Submarine School, Groton, Conn.
BASIC GRADS
Air Force: Airman Timothy J. Flores (East Liverpool High School, '03), son of Crystal Shawl of Glenn Street, and Timothy Flores of Huston Avenue, both of East Liverpool; Airman Ryan A. Conley (Hickory High School, Hermitage, Pa., '03), son of Ronald Conley of Hermitage.
REUNIONS
Pacific Fleet
USS Isle Royale Ad-29, a Destroyer Tender that served the Pacific Fleet in the 1950s and 1960s: Aug. 5-8, 2004, President's Casino, Biloxi, Miss. Contact George Lowell, P.O. Box 307, Hatfield, Ark. 71945.
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.