ARMED FORCES DIGEST

armed forces digest

VETERANS

Park award

CLINTON, OHIO

The World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, and its partner, Northern Ohio Golf Charities, named Ohio Veterans’ Memorial Park a recipient of 2012 tournament funds and donated $19,858 to enhance community outreach efforts in 2013.

The money will enable the entire community to drive or walk to the other side of the park, and the driveway will provide walkers and bikers accessibility to the back of the acreage and the trailhead to the Ohio and Eric Canal ways. Disabled visitors now will be able to visit both sides of the Wall and the park.

The Ohio Veterans’ Memorial Park was established in 2006 to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Ohio men and women of the Armed Forces.

Vietnam Vets Days

COLUMBUS

Vietnam Veterans Days in Ohio are Tuesday through Friday. This year is the first state-level commemoration of the day enacted by the Ohio General Assembly. The Wall that Heals, panel discussions and special ceremonies will highlight the four days.

The commemoration is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Veterans Services and the Vietnam Veterans of America, Buckeye State Council. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Ohio Charities has underwritten a significant portion of the cost of the events, which are at the Ohio History Center at Interstate 71 and 17th Avenue and at the Statehouse.

The highlight of the commemoration is the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall, known as the The Wall That Heals, at the Ohio History Center. The Wall, escorted by veteran motorcyclists from the Patriot Guard Riders and Rolling Thunder, will arrive at the Ohio History Center at about 2 p.m. today. Another key component of the commemoration is panel discussions at the Ohio History Center from Tuesday through Thursday. After the panels, Vietnam veterans will be able to record their experiences in Living History interviews to be on permanent file at the Ohio History Center.

PROMOTIONS

Lt. Col. Richey

Army Lt. Col. Joseph C. Richey was promoted to his current rank while stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, with his wife, Allison, and sons, Carter and Collin.

A graduate of Austintown Fitch High School, he is the son of John and Elvera Richey of Austintown.

HUMANITARIAN MISSION

Montenegro service

Navy Seaman Apprentice Jonathan J. Leydic, son of Lori E. and David M. McLaren of Sharpsville, Pa., and Petty Officer 1st Class Richard K. Possert Jr., son of Debra L. Martin of The Villages, Fla., and Richard K. Possert Sr. of Hubbard, along with other sailors attached to the guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99), recently visited Bar, Montenegro.

They experienced Montenegro’s culture, including sporting events with Montenegrin sailors, and toured several towns and a vineyard. They also planted trees in two community engagement projects while in Bar in a sporting complex and at a local elementary school. Both projects were joint efforts between the United States and Montenegrin natives.

Leydic is a 2010 graduate of Sharpsville Area High School, Sharpsville, Pa., and Possert is a 1994 graduate of Hubbard High School.

HONOR

Spouse of the Year

MANSFIELD

Molly A. McCue, a social worker and wife of Col. Gary A. McCue, 179th Airlift Wing commander, has been selected as the Air National Guard nominee for the 2013 Joan Orr Air Force Spouse of the Year Award.

The award, sponsored by the Air Force Association, honors the late Joan Orr, wife of former Secretary of the Air Force Verne Orr. As the Air National Guard nominee, McCue will compete against an Air Force Active Duty nominee and Air Force Reserve nominee.

McCue revitalized the long dormant 179th Airlift Wing’s Officer Spouse’s Group, and has advocated for the 179th Airlift Wing by attending annual National Guard Association of the United States conferences and senior leader conferences and participating in spouse programs.

Distinguished Service

PORT CLINTON

Ohio Air National Guardsman Staff Sgt. Josh Blankley, with the 200th Red Horse Squadron, was awarded the Ohio Distinguished Service Medal with the “V” device for valor in a ceremony at Camp Perry for rendering lifesaving assistance to the victim of an auto accident June 22, 2012.

While traveling on Interstate 75, Blankley saw a vehicle lose control, travel into the median and roll over several times before coming to rest on its side. He stopped to render assistance, saw the driver was trapped inside, and entered the overturned vehicle to assess the driver’s injuries and cared for the victim until first responders arrived.

ADVANCED TRAINING

Sgt. Antonio Cruz Jr.

Air Force Reserve Tech. Sgt. Antonio S. Cruz Jr. graduated from the Water and Fuel Systems Apprentice Course at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Cruz is the son of Antonio Cruz Sr. of Campbell, and is a 1995 graduate of Campbell Memorial High School.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Air Force: Airman Chanel M. Brown (Columbiana High School, ’12), daughter of Jodi Taylor of Columbiana.

Army: Pfc. Elliott J. Graham (East High School, ’12), son of Juanita Graham of Youngstown.

Navy: Seaman Apprentice George A. Clark (Sharpsville High School, Sharpsville, Pa. ’12), brother of Stephanie M. Thornton of Sharpsville.

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