Veterans news for the week of February 24, 2008

VETERANS

Testimonial dinner

BOARDMAN — The AMVETS Department of Ohio is having a testimonial dinner March 1 to honor AMVETS National Commander John P. (J.P.) Brown III of Youngstown. The event is at the Holiday Inn, 7410 South Ave. A reception is at 6 p.m., and the dinner is at 7 p.m. The cost is $40 per person. For reservations, call (330) 726-1611.

Memorial Day 500

The Mercer Memorial Day 500 is now affiliated with the Community Foundation of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The foundation’s board of directors will fulfill the fiduciary responsibilities associated with grants and donations connected with the Mercer Memorial Day 500, a group that organizes a four-hour event every Memorial Day to honor veterans, living and deceased.

PROMOTIONS

Marine corporal

Marine Corps Cpl. Trisha M. Lopata, daughter of Vicki M. Seifer of Lisbon and William R. Seifer of Ambridge, Pa., was promoted to her current rank while serving with Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21, Naval Air Training Command, Pensacola, Fla. Lopata is a 2006 graduate of Ambridge Area High School.

DEPLOYED

Stankich siblings

Army Capt. Paul James Stankich is currently serving a 15-month deployment in Iraq; and his sister, Army Lt. Kristin Marie Stankich, recently returned from a 12-month deployment in southwest Asia. They are the son and daughter of Christine and George Stankich of Boardman.

Capt. Stankich also had a four-month deployment to Afghanistan in 2007 where he was a rifle company executive officer. While in Afghanistan, he was awarded three Army Achievement Medals, the Afgan Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the NATO Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He redeployed in November 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Capt. Stankich’s permanent duty station is Fort Polk, La.

He is a 1999 graduate of Boardman High School and received a degree in criminal justice from Youngstown State University in 2003 and participated in the YSU ROTC program.

Lt. Stankich was tactical control officer and received an Army Commendation Medal while in the Middle East. She graduated cum laude from YSU in 2005 with a degree in middle childhood education, and also participated in the Army ROTC program there, and graduated from Boardman High School in 2002. She is stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas.

Warren graduate

Air Force Master Sgt. Jonathon J. Lee has deployed to a forward-operating base in Southwest Asia. Lee is a communications-computer systems branch superintendent with 19 years of military service. Lee, the son of Jonathon J. Lee of Warren, graduated in 1987 from Warren Western Reserve High School and received an associate degree in 2002 from the Community College of the Air Force.

Navy man from Girard

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Parillo of Girard recently completed a six-month deployment overseas, including in the Persian Gulf, serving aboard the USS Porter. Parillo, the son of Bob and Sandy Parillo of Girard, and brother of Chris and Robyn Parillo, is a 2004 graduate of Girard High School.

ADVANCED TRAINING

Disposal of explosives

Air Force Airman Christopher Parillo of Girard has completed explosive ordnance disposal training, and is now stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Parillo, the son of Bob and Sandy Parillo of Girard and brother of Jason and Robyn Parillo, is a 2006 graduate of Girard High School.

BASIC GRADS

Air Force: Airman Nathaniel D. Lunders (Beaver Local High School, Lisbon, ’06); Airman Cameron Curtin (Commodore Perry High School, Hadley, Pa., ’07), son of Mindy M. Vansickle of Hadley, Pa., and Donald S. Curtin of Greenville, Pa.; Reserve Airman Chadwick S. McIntosh (Niles McKinley High School, ’07), son of Tamara Bailey of Niles.

Army: Pvt. Amanda B. Powell (Grove City Area Senior High, Grove City, Pa., ’07), daughter of Irene and Donald Powell of Grove City; National Guard Pvt. Mariah L. Ruffing (Mercer High School, Mercer, Pa., ’06), daughter of Pat Ruffing of Mercer and granddaughter of Nancy Walker of Grove City, Pa.

Marine Corps: Pvt. Jose A. Pagan, son of Anna L. and stepson of Waldy A. Vega of Youngstown; Pvt. Aaron P. Wasielczyk (Wilmington Area High School, New Wilmington, Pa., ’06); Pvt. David C. Luce, son of Elizabeth L. Kinnison of Tampa, Fla., and Terry C. Luce of Jefferson, Ohio.

Navy: Seaman Recruit Zackery A. Wilson 9 (Steubenville High School, ’06), son of Angela Whitacre of Steubenville; Seaman Apprentice John T. Owen, Jr, (Sharon High School, Sharon, Pa., ’07), son of John T. Owen Sr. of Sharpsville, Pa.

X Items 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.