ARMED FORCES

ARMED FORCES

VETERANS

CANFIELD

Aut Mori Grotto has established a veterans unit. Aut Mori, located at 5050 Shields Road, has several units, the best-known of which is its Clown Unit, which participates in numerous civic activities. Veterans interested in the Aut Mori veterans unit can call 330-799-3660.

POLAND

Sons of American Legion Mahoning Valley Squadron 15 is conducting its ninth annual Flag Disposal Ceremony at 8:45 p.m. June 25 at the War Memorial Building Post 15 Home, 35 Cortland St.

The public is invited to attend and participate in the ceremony, at which worn, frayed, torn and faded American flags are honorably retired, said Squadron 15 Cmdr. Jeff Vrabel Jr.

People with flags to be disposed of may drop them off at the post home in the receptacle marked “flag disposal,” or by calling 330-757-8722. The flag-disposal ceremony is done in conjunction with the annual Celebrate Poland event, which includes a parade at 7 p.m. and fireworks display at 10 p.m., Vrabel said.

DEPLOYED

GIRARD

Army Sgt. Robert Kirkpatrick, formerly of Girard, was among 200 soldiers of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, who recently returned to Fort Carson, Colo., after nearly a year in Afghanistan. This was Kirkpatrick’s third deployment to the Middle East but his first to Afghanistan.

Kirkpatrick, the son of Bob and Joyce Kirkpatrick of Girard, graduated from Girard High School in 2002, the same year he entered the Army. Besides state-side duty, he has served 18 months in Korea in 2004-05, two tours in Iraq between 2005 and 2008, and then in Afghanistan in 2009-10.

He is married to the former Natalie McClaskey of Peoria, Ill. The couple has an infant daughter, Karadee, who, when he returned home, Kirkpatrick held for the first time when she was 2 weeks old.

Kirkpatrick will attend a noncommissioner officer course this summer before being transferred to Fort Jackson, S.C.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Air Force: Reserve Airman Brian L. Clinkscale (Liberty High School, ’08), grandson of Elzenia Hills of Youngstown and son of Darlene Clinkscale of Columbus.

Marine Corps: Pvt. Peter Tedde (Youngstown Ursuline High School, ’09), son of Pete and Linda Tedde of Hubbard Township.

Navy: Seaman Recruit Jeffrey T. Martin (East High School, ’08), son of Megan B. and Brian T. Martin of Youngstown.

ACADEMY NEWS

BOARDMAN

Coast Guard Ensign Matthew S. Delahunty of Boardman was the Distinguished Honor Graduate for the Coast Guard Academy Class of 2010.

Delahunty, a 2006 graduate of Boardman High School, is the first recipient from Ohio to receive the distinguished honor graduate award since its creation in 2000. The distinguished graduate designation recognizes the cadet who graduates with the highest Military Precedence List Average.

Delahunty, son of Christine Granchie of Boardman and Martin Delahunty of Cleveland, gave an address to the graduating class during commencement May 19. The MPA is calculated using the cadet’s cumulative grade-point average, military precedence index and physical-fitness exams.

During his school years at the academy, Delahunty worked on multiple school projects and various community-service events, such as a project developing secure e-mail communications with nonmilitary partners and working with Aramark to provide food for the homeless at a local shelter.

After graduation, Delahunty will be reporting to flight school and, once completed, he will be sent to fly Coast Guard aircraft at one of its air stations around the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico. Graduates go directly to positions of leadership after graduation and are obligated to eight years’ service, five of which must be active duty.

Items 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