ARMED FORCES

ARMED FORCES

VETERANS

Wreaths Across America Day

On Saturday, members of the Mahoning County Ohio State University Extension-Master Gardener Volunteers will honor veterans during the holiday season as part of the annual Wreaths Across America Day.

The volunteers will conduct wreath ceremonies at Poland’s Old Church Graveyard, 2 Poland Manor, and Cornersburg Cemetery, 3898 Tippecanoe Road, Youngstown.

The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the Old Church Graveyard and will proceed to the Tippecanoe Road location about 11:15 a.m.

In addition to wreaths on individual veterans’ graves, seven specially designated wreaths for the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine and POW/MIA will be placed on memorials during a ceremony that will be coordinated simultaneously at more than 750 participating locations across the nation.

For information, call Mike Beaudis at 330-793-2062 or the OSU Extension at 330-533-5538.

Nominations sought

YOUNGSTOWN

The United Veterans Council of Greater Youngstown is seeking nominations for its veteran and citizen of the year awards.

Anyone who feels there is a deserving individual in the area who has contributed in works or deeds impacting patriotism or the veteran community during the past year may nominate a person or veteran to the council by Dec. 31.

Nominations may be submitted by mailing them to the UVC, P.O. Box 55, Youngstown, OH 44501 or by fax to 330-788-3979.

Nominations must have this information to be considered: name of the person or veteran and his/her address and phone number; the name of the company/organization or affiliation of the nominee; a summary of the nominee’s accomplishments or actions in 300 words or less; and the name of the person nominating the candidate with his/her organization or affiliation.

People also may contact their local veterans organizations for nomination forms and assistance with the process.

RETIREMENTS

Air Force Reserve Chief Master Sgt. Kimberly M. Graves, a native of Youngstown, recently retired from the military after four years of active duty and 24 years as an active reservist.

Her last assignment was as staff transportation manager for the 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, Texas. From June 2001 to November 2003, she was first sergeant of the 73rd Aerial Port Squadron.

The bulk of her Air Force Reserve career, from September 1990 to June 2001, was spent with the 301st Logistic Readiness Squadron where she progressed from a freight transportation specialist to the noncommissioned officer in charge of freight services at NAS JRB Fort Worth-Carswell Field.

A 1986 graduate of The Rayen School, Graves, from November 2003 to November 2014, provided managerial support and specialized guidance for the development and training of numbered Air Force units.

Graves, the daughter of Doris M. Oliver of Youngstown and the late Maylon J. Rogers, received numerous military decorations during her career.

She also has 11 years of federal service and is employed by the Environmental Protection Agency as program officer for information-technology management services.

She has a sister, Tasha D. Oliver, and a niece, N’Dia S. Ingram, both of Youngstown. Graves and her husband, Anthony G. Graves, live in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Navy Chief Petty Officer Auandre Carlton, a native of Youngstown, retired Friday after a 20-year military career.

Carlton is a 1988 graduate of South High School in Youngstown. His father, Marvette, lives in Youngstown; and his mother, Arthurene, Thompkins is a Pittsburgh resident.

His last assignment was as the C5I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Collaboration and Intelligence) assistant for the Center for Surface Combat Systems in Dahlgren, Va.

BASIC TRAINING GRADS

Air Force: Airman 1st Class Christopher S. Kurimski (Canfield High School, ’08), son of Lori and Stephen Kurimski of Canfield.

Army: Pvt. Tyler A. Burnett (Campbell Memorial High School, ’14), son of Dwayne and Lisa Burnett of Campbell.

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 William Alcorn at alcorn@vindy.com