Council to honor vet leader, artist

The main speaker is John P. ‘JP’ Brown III, immediate past national commander of AMVETS.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Myron Young of Ellsworth, active in veterans affairs for many years, and Ray Simon of Youngstown, a nationally known local artist, will be honored as Veteran of the Year and Citizen of the Year, respectively, by the United Veterans Council of Greater Youngstown at its annual banquet Saturday.

Young is well-known for his participation in and leadership of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9571’s Honor Guard, which has provided military honors at more than 600 funerals for area deceased veterans, and also at the National Cemetery at Rittman.

Simon’s works, many of professional athletes and athletic associations, entertainers and paintings for the Department of Defense, are displayed in the White House, Pentagon, the U.S. Capitol Building, and the Fort Knox, Ky., United States Army Recruiting Command, among others. His military prints, depicting various wars and branches of service, are sold worldwide in Army/Air Force Exchange Services.

The main speaker for the banquet, which starts at 6 p.m. at ITAMS Post 3, 113 S. Meridian Road, is John P. “JP” Brown III, of Boardman, immediate past national commander of AMVETS, a veterans organization. Installation of officers will also occur.

Young is a 62-year charter/life member and commander of VFW Post 9571 in Ellsworth, where he has served as adjutant-quartermaster and several terms as post commander. He has also been County District Eight and Department of Ohio commander, and was elected to the VFW National Council of Administration.

He is a charter member and two-time president of the Berlin-Ellsworth Ruritan Club and has served as zone governor of Ohio Ruritan. He is also a charter member of the Ellsworth Volunteer Fire Department, from which he retired after 35 years, and has twice been president of the Ellsworth Historical Society, where he is a charter member. He is a member of the Ellsworth Presbyterian Church, where he has served as a trustee and elder.

Young and his wife, the former Carrie Elaine McJunkin, and family members own and operate Young’s Restaurant in Ellsworth. The Youngs have three children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Incoming officers for the United Veterans Council of Greater Youngstown are: Ed Savel, commander; Dan Stefanick, senior vice commander; Gus Guzman, junior vice commander; Dean McClain, adjutant; Jan Brown, treasurer; and Barry Landgraver, sergeant-at-arms.

Banquet tickets and reservation information can be obtained from McClain at (330) 799-9565.

alcorn@vindy.com