VETERANS

VETERANS

Honorees sought

MERCER, Pa.— Organizers of the Memorial Day 500 celebration are searching for three living veterans and the name of one deceased veteran of the armed forces, who were born, reared or currently reside in Mercer County, to be honored on Memorial Day, 2009. The nomination deadline is Feb. 1, 2009. The living honorees will lead the Memorial Day Parade here, and the deceased veteran will be represented by a black car in the parade. People wishing to nominate a veteran can download the form from Web site www.mercermemorialday500.homestead.com or call (724) 662-2786. Nomination forms are also available at the Grove City, Mercer and Shenango Valley Chambers of Commerce, the Mercer County Visitor and Convention Center, and the Mercer County Historical Society. Honorees will be chosen by Mercer County Veterans Affairs Director Gary Solander.

DEPLOYED

Battalion surgeon

Navy Lieutenant Darren A. Shiley has returned to Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C., after a seven-month deployment to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is currently assigned as the battalion surgeon for the Marine Corps. Shiley is a graduate of McDonald High School and Ohio University College of Medicine. He is the son of Don and Doreen Shiley of McDonald and is married to the former Theresa Prochodnyk of Warren.

First lieutenant

Marine Corps 1st Lt. Aaron T. Whiteman, son of Margaret J. Test and Thomas D. Whiteman, both of Hermitage, Pa., is a member of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C., deployed to the Navy’s 5th and 6th Fleet area of operations in support of Maritime Security Operations and the Global War on Terror. Whiteman joined the Marine Corps in January 1998.

BASIC TRAINING

Air Force: Airman Michael R. Wilson (United Local High School, Hanoverton, ’08), son of Gary Wilson and stepson of Angie Wilson of Salem; Airman Chad A. Hiles, son of Mary Moeller of Rogers; Airman Lucas D. Higginbotham (South Range High School, North Lima, ’08), son of Connie Weber of North Lima; Airman Hope A. George (East Liverpool High School, ’07), daughter of Thomas and Barbara George of East Liverpool; Airman Joel E. Young (Salem Senior High School, ’05), son of Deanna Young of Hammondsville, Ohio, and Terry Young of Salem.

Army: Reserve Pvt. Philip C. Peterson (student at Grove City High School, Grove City, Pa.), son of Scott Peterson of Sandy Lake, Pa., and Lisa Hicks of Grove City, Pa.; Reserve Pvt. Justin G. Wells (student at Jamestown High School, Jamestown, Pa.), son of Joan Wells of Jamestown; National Guard Pvt. Bianca M. Beish (student at Cardinal Mooney High School), daughter of Robert and Fran Beish of Boardman; National Guard Pvt. Zachary A. Hubbs (student at Sebring McKinley High School), grandson of Judy Hubbs of Sebring; National Guard Pvt. Corey T. Goss (student at Austintown Fitch High School), son of Brandy Petrisin of Austintown and grandson of Drenda Goss of Niles; Pvt. Bradely A. Stewart, son of Randy Stewart of Wellsville and Vonda Stewart of Irondale, Ohio.

Navy: Seaman Amie B. Hardman (John F. Kennedy High School, Warren); Seaman Recruit Joseph M. Cummings (Hubbard High School, ’06), son of Cathy A. and William P. Cummings of Hubbard.

XItems of note for the Armed Forces Digest can be sent to The Vindicator, Regional Desk, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780, or e-mailed to alcorn@vindy.com.