ARMED FORCES

ARMED FORCES

VETERANS

Award for employer

NEW WILMINGTON, PA.

Dairy Farmers of America, New Wilmington, Pa., is the American Legion Employer of Veterans Award recipient in the category of 51 to 200 employes for July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009.

The company will receive the award locally April 7 at its office, 925 state Route 18, and again July 16 by the National Committee at the Hilton Hotel in Harrisburg.

Dairy Farmers of America was nominated for the award by Gary Zarilla of Pennsylvania CareerLink Lawrence County, a Department of Labor veterans employment representative.

Criteria for the award include at least 10 percent of the nominee’s work force must be veterans; the nominee must have been in business for at least five years; the nominee cannot restrict employment to veterans only; and the nominee must be a private-sector employer.

‘Presumptive’ illnesses

YOUNGSTOWN

Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with Brucellosis, Campylobacter jejuni, Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), malaria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, nontyphoid Salmonella, Shigella, visceral leishmaniasis and West Nile virus can apply for service-connected disabilities with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The VA associates these new “presumptive” conditions due to prevalence in those countries and simplifies the application process.

Veterans should apply as soon as possible to maximize benefits, said Barry E. Landgraver, executive director of the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission. For assistance with filing claims, contact Anthony Nagle at (330) 740-2450, ext. 8388.

DEPLOYED

Quake relief aid

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher A. Vidovic, son of Crystal L. and Adrian J. Smith of Jefferson, and a 2006 graduate of Jefferson High School, participated in Operation Unified Response as part of the Bataan Amphibious Relief Mission.

Operation Unified Response is a joint U.S. military effort designed to provide relief in response to the 7. 0-magnitude earthquake that struck the Caribbean nation Jan. 12. USS Bataan is based in Norfolk, Va.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Air Force: Airman Justin J. Stanley (Beaver Local High School, Lisbon, ’09), son of Christine and Gary Stanley of Negley; Airman Zachery D. Archuleta (Girard High School, ’09), son of Charlotte Shafer of Struthers; Reserve Airman Casey L. Hillman (Crestview High School, Columbiana, ’03), daughter of Kelly Hillman of Leetonia; Airman Lacey D. Beadle (Southern Local Junior-Senior High School, Salineville, ’08), daughter of Jay Beadle of Salineville, and granddaughter of Constance Briggs of Lake City, Pa.

Army: Pvt. Justin E. Burnett (Reynolds High School, Greenville, Pa., ’09), son of William and Donna Burnett of Greenville.

Marine Corps: Pvt. Gregory M. Bing, son of Donna L. Cox-Bing and Richard C. Bing, both of New Waterford; Pvt. Michael R. Cain, son of Bob and Kathy Cain of Canfield; Pvt. Joseph E. Miller, son of Laura L. and Kenneth C. Miller of Hermitage, Pa.; Pvt. David M. Chick, son of Patricia L. and William F. Chick of East Palestine.

Navy: Seaman Recruit Matthew E. Lin, son of Nancy I. and Stephen S. Lin of Lowellville; Seaman Recruit Ian G. Dunn (Mercer Area High School, Mercer, Pa., ’09), son of Christi M. Horsley of Mercer, Pa., and Richard A. Dunn of West Hide-A-Way, Texas; Seaman Apprentice Alexander J. Dubiel (Poland Seminary High School, ’02), son of Marianne and William J. Dubiel of Poland.

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.