Retired U.S. Army Chaplain Patrick Van Durme has been named Livingston County Veteran of the Month, the Board of Supervisors announced Wednesday.
A Dansville native, Van Durme’s military career spanned decades and took him from upstate New York to Iraq, where he served as a chaplain and the only Roman Catholic priest in his area of operations.
Van Durme first joined the U.S. Army Reserves in 1989 before returning to the seminary in 1996. He was ordained in 2000 and later commissioned as a captain in 2008, eventually deploying to Mosul, Iraq.
During his deployment, Van Durme flew over 250 missions to provide spiritual support to service members and civilian contractors. His dedication earned him a Bronze Star, among numerous other military honors.
In 2014, Van Durme was medically discharged after sustaining injuries in a hard helicopter landing. His military awards include the Iraq Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Since returning to Dansville, Van Durme has been an active volunteer with the Community Answers Needs Network, an organization founded by his sister. He also enjoys beekeeping and woodworking.
The Livingston County Board of Supervisors commended Van Durme for his dedicated military service and commitment to his community.
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