Thirty-two veterans from four counties were honored at state Sen. Pam Helming’s 10th annual Veterans Recognition Ceremony on Oct. 23 at the Fort Hill Performing Arts Center in Canandaigua.
The honorees collectively represent more than 300 years of service in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force, according to a news release. Their service includes World War II, Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Community leaders, veterans organizations, relatives and friends nominated the honorees, who live in the 54th Senate District. The district includes Livingston, Ontario and Wayne counties and parts of Monroe County.
Helming recognized each veteran individually with a commemorative booklet and biography board describing military service and civilian accomplishments. The program has honored hundreds of veterans since it began in 2017.
“So many of these veterans came home and kept on serving,” Helming said. “They became firefighters, coaches, business owners, community leaders, and advocates for their fellow veterans.”
She also recognized military families’ sacrifices, citing deployments, time apart and the transition to civilian life. Her father served in the Air Force during the Korean War, and her son-in-law served as an Army Green Beret, she said.
Ontario and Wayne county honorees
Ontario County’s honorees were Peter Bresette, Chad Christensen, Thomas Schwab, Jim Swing and John Cipollina of Canandaigua; Eric Heieck, Kenneth Gayhart, Charles Hippert and David Haag of Geneva; David King and Dakota Orbaker of Seneca; Kyle Wirth, John Schlesing and James Galasso of Farmington; David Hefti of Naples; Timothy Brown of Victor; and Cierra Pierce of Bloomfield.
Wayne County’s honorees were Kay Rathke of Ontario; Scott Peters of North Rose; Thomas Putnam and William Gleichauf of Williamson; and Eugene Van Deusen and Roger Pritchard of Wolcott.
Livingston and Monroe county honorees
Livingston County’s honorees were Anthony Gaiter of Conesus; Mike Falk of Lima; Robert Ciecierega and Dennis Staley of Geneseo; Brandon Mastin of Springwater; and Ted Conrad of Mount Morris.
Monroe County’s honorees were Luann VanPeursem of Churchville; David Brown of Chili; and Richard Gatto of Honeoye Falls.
Local Civil Air Patrol cadets helped usher the veterans. Color guards from Canandaigua American Legion Post 256, Shortsville American Legion Post 34 and Marine Corps League Memorial Day Detachment 468 participated.
Wayne County Sheriff Rob Milby and Pastor David Cialini of Heritage Baptist Church in Palmyra also took part in the ceremony, which brought together veterans, relatives, friends and community members.
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