Each weekday starting Monday October 28th through Monday, November 11th, Ted and Amy will choose one Veteran to spotlight and recognize.
To all Veterans, thank you for your service. We will never forget.
Lori Yager of Parish writes:
My sister followed our father and oldest brother’s footsteps by serving in the military after college. She went in as a nurse. There, she met her husband, who was also in the service. He was from Iowa. They both served in the Gulf war, sending their precious dog home for me to care for while they were deployed. After their served time was over, they had two children and moved home to Camden. They continue to serve those in need, by working in the medical field and fostering dogs. Their two children also went on to serve in the military, one working with animals and the other with computers. They are truly a special family.
Kathryn Nagy of Minoa writes:
Our awesome father and grandfather Mark Kowaleski was in the Air Force and worked on the airplanes. He is an all American citizen. He worked so hard for his country and he works so hard for his family. We are so proud to honor him during this Veteran’s Salute!
Amanda McCarthy of Pennellville writes:
This is my husband James McCarthy. He served in the U.S Army for 12 years. During his service he deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia, as well as two tours in South Korea. We have 3 sons and he truly is our Hero and we are so proud of his service!
Paul Barbour of Boonville writes:
My dad served in the Army in World War II. He was in the First Division of the Infantry, the legendary Big Red One. He fought in North Africa and Italy, and was at Normandy at D-Day. He fought at Anzio and the Battle of the Bulge. He helped save the world and then came home to have a family and raise five kids. He became a professor at LeMoyne College and taught hundreds of students who became teachers. Through those teachers, his goodness and honor have sent out ripples of love and care to future generations.
I would love to have you honor the man that I loved so much, Staff Sargent Breese F. Barbour. The photo is of my dad before he deployed for the war. He is with my grandfather, Breese F. Barbour, Sr., who was in First Division in World War One.
Stephanie Burke of Manlius writes: In 2000 my husband, Michael Burke of Syracuse enlisted in the army at the Syracuse Army Recruiting battalion and in July 2021, he retired from where he started as executive officer of the Syracuse Army recruiting battalion after 21 1/2 years of service. Mike proudly served his country as a US Army ranger and deployed multiple times to Kosovo, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan where he listened to 93Q on iHeartRadio for a little taste of home . Mike truly loves the US Army and fully embraces his “soldier for life “ status. His love of the army has not stopped since he retired, as he gladly talks to any young person, considering joining the military – Including our own two sons who are both active duty Army. No one is more proud of their soldier than I am. Not only did I get to meet my hero, I was lucky enough to marry him.
Elaine Spadafora of Chittenango writes:
This is my husband, Sergeant Vincent Spadafora, who proudly served in the US Army from 1967 to 1970 during the Vietnam War. He served as a Photo Journalist and Broadcaster. He wrote several articles for the Stars and Stripes newspaper. Vinnie survived two close calls, once a radio station he was working in was blown up and another time a helicopter he was in was shot down. He was injured and had to live the rest of his life with shrapnel still in his body. Vinnie’s “Blackhorse” 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment saw action in the summer of 1968 when the North Vietnamese were threatening Saigon. After two days of heavy fighting, the Regiment drove them away. On May 1970, the Blackhorse stood ready to spearhead the Allied incursion into Cambodia. Massive fire strikes by B-52’s had already prepared the target area, then the Blackhorse crossed into Cambodia. The Regiment was ordered to force-march 40 kilometers in 48 hours further north to capture the City of Seoul. Vinnie was awarded Purple Heart Medal/Ribbon, Air Medal, Ribbon, Army Commendation Medal/Ribbon, Army Good Conduct Medal/Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal/Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal/Ribbon and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal/Ribbon. When Vinnie returned home he spent more than 40 years as a teacher/Professor/Department Head of the now Broadcast Media Department at OCC. Vinnie passed away on March 15, 2013.
Ashley Stoddard of Syracuse writes:
I would like to honor my new husband Michael Crisafulli and tell everyone how proud I am of him. Michael served in the US Army as a combat medic. He served in Panama, Haiti and Somalia. Michael is a proud veteran and currently works for the VA Hospital where he helps other veterans just like himself. Thank you for your service!
Aurora Deshaies of Syracuse writes:
My grandpa Jeffrey Sanford of Syracuse served many years in the United States Marine Corps. He is a lovely man who dedicates his time to helping others around him. He loves listening at 93Q on the way to the gym. He was diagnosed with cancer and is fighting that battle to the best of his ability. I love you POPS!
Anne-Marie Lee of Liverpool writes:
This is my dad Frederick Strowbridge from Westvale. He served in Vietnam in the U.S. Army. Like many of our Vietnam Veterans his “Welcome Home ” was without fanfare. I had the opportunity to go with him on Honor Flight Mission Sixteen on 4/30/2022 and that “Welcome Home” is an experience to never be forgotten.
Pamela Conner of Deerfield writes:
Ray Plevyak was my great uncle, my grandma’s brother, whom I unfortunately never had the honor and privilege of meeting. He was a First Lieutenant in the Air Force and was the pilot of an F-51D Mustang fighter with the 67th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 18th Fighter Bomber Wing in the Korean War. On March 1, 1952, while on a combat mission with three other aircraft, their aircraft took anti-aircraft fire. Uncle Ray never returned and was listed as Missing in Action and eventually was presumed Killed in Action on December 31, 1953. His remains have never been found, nor was his aircraft. I heard all my life that he wasn’t meant to be flying that day, it was his day off. He had been asked to cover for someone else in his squadron and had agreed. I always wondered if that was true. I recently found out that in the official report from all members of his squadron after he went missing, this was indeed the case.
On August 9, 2024, the House of Representatives honored his life and sacrifice with an official entry in the Congressional Record. On October 23, 2024, more than 72 years after he was last seen, he finally received a full honors service, including a memorial headstone marker, honor detail, priest, military band, and gun salute at Arlington National Cemetery. Nearly 50 family members attended. Only 2 of Uncle Ray’s 10 siblings are still alive and the ceremony was held on his surviving sister Helen’s 105th Birthday.
The DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) works diligently to recover unaccounted Department of Defense personnel listed as prisoners of war or missing in action from designated past conflicts, from countries around the world. We continue to hope that one day Uncle Ray will be brought home.
Thank you 93Q for the Veteran’s Spotlight and thank you to all of our Veterans and their families. Freedom is not free and we must always recognize and honor our Veterans!
Here is a link to a short video news story about Uncle Ray that was on Fox5 News in Washington, DC the day of the ceremony: https://www.fox5dc.com/video/1536787
Shelly Revette Childers formerly of North Syracuse writes:
Both of my sons, Nik and Aaron Revette are veterans of the US Army. Nik served as a Medical Laboratory Specialist and Aaron as an Infantryman. Both were stationed at Schofield Barracks, HI, along with several others, but to have siblings stationed at the same base is quite unique.
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