VETERANS

VETERANS

Accepting nominations

YOUNGSTOWN — The Tri-State Marine Detachment will accept nominations for 2009 officers at its meeting Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. at ITAM Post 3, 115 S. Meridian Road. For more information, call (330) 533-3433 or (330) 720-3558.

Unmet Needs program receives $250,000

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Mid-America Franchise Association of Burger King restaurants presented $250,000 to the VFW Foundation for its Unmet Needs program during a National Hockey League game between the Minnesota Wild and the Edmonton Oilers. Last year, Burger King restaurants raised $110,000 for the program during its “buy a burger; donate a buck” initiative.

HONORS

Robinson receives wings

Air Force Lt. Mark Paul Robinson II, a 2000 graduate of Boardman High School and a 2006 graduate of Kent State University, was awarded his wings and the rating of pilot during a ceremony at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.

Robinson, the son of Mark and Rosemary Robinson of Boardman, enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard in May 2003. He worked as a jet mechanic for five years and earned an associate degree in aviation maintenance technology and a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical studies and flight technology. He also earned his commercial flying license and became an instructor.

In 2007, he was selected to attend Air Force flight training and is now flying the KC-135 stratotanker out of Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus.

DEPLOYED

Army National Guard Sgt. Robert D. Reents has been mobilized and activated for deployment overseas to a forward operating base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Reents, a shop foreman with eight years of military service, is regularly assigned to the 135th Military Police Company, Chagrin Falls.

He is the son of Timothy and Aimee Hum of Canfield, and a 2000 graduate of South Range High School, North Lima.

BASIC TRAINING

Air Force: Airman Michael D. Peters (Mercer High School, Mercer, Pa., ’08), son of Teresa Peters of Mercer, Pa.

Army: National Guard Pvt. Jared T. Kline (Sharon High School, Sharon, Pa., ’06), son of Donna Kline of Sharon.

Navy: Seaman Douglas I. Williams (Lakeview High School, Stoneboro, Pa., ’08), son of June A. Williams of Grove City, Pa., and Gerald Williams of Mercer, Pa.; Seaman John A. Filomeno Rivera (East High School, ’08); Airman Recruit Raymond E. Wallroff (Hubbard High School, ’07), son of Nancy A. Wallroff of Hubbard.

ROTC NEWS

New graduate

Meredith K. Simon, daughter of William D. and Natalie L. Simon of Mercer, Pa., graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Leader Development and Assessment Course, known as “Operation Warrior Forge,” at Fort Lewis, Wash.

Simon, a student at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va., graduated in 2005 from West Middlesex High School, West Middlesex, Pa.

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.