Niagara Frontier Publications salutes the men and women serving to protect our land and liberty

Dispatch, Tribune, Sentinel, July 1-3, 2004

Air Force Airman First Class Hassan A. Ali, the son of Ahmad Ali of Niagara Falls, a 2000 graduate of Niagara Wheatfield High School. Ali graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Air Force Cadet Robert A. Bettinger, the son of Timothy and Phyllis Bettinger of Niagara Falls, a 2003 graduate of Niagara Wheatfield High School. He earned honors with placement on the Commandant's List at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo., for demonstrating excellence in military leadership qualities and maintaining a 3.0 military performance average for a semester.

Air National Guard Airman First Class Jessika J. Bulera, the daughter of Julie Bulera of Grand Island and grand-daughter of Jean White of Buffalo, a 2000 graduate of Grand Island High School. Bulera graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Navy Seaman Nicole M. Clive, daughter of Lorraine L. and Robert J. Clive of Youngstown, a 1994 graduate of Lewiston Porter High School. Clive and her fellow crewmembers aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise , homeported in Norfolk, Va., recently received the Navy's Retention Excellence Award for fiscal year 2003.

Air Force Airman Sheena M. Collins, daughter of Corrine Collins of Ransomville, and Lynn Collins of Friendship, a 2003 graduate of Wilson High School. Collins graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Air Force Airman Melissa L. Conrad, the daughter of Lester and Mary Conrad of North Tonawanda, a 2002 graduate of Niagara Wheatfield High School. Conrad graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. She arrived for duty at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Great Falls, Mont., where she serves as a security forces apprentice assigned to the 341st Missile Security Forces Squadron.

Army Pvt. Karl A. Crummett, the son of Kelvin W. Crummett of Fortuna, Calif., and Robin A. Hansen of Wilson, a 2003 graduate of Fortuna Union High School, Fortuna, Calif. Crummett graduated from basic combat military training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.

Marine Corps Pvt. Robert J. Daege, the stepson of Michael G. Daege and Susan K. Hall of Sanborn. Daege recently complete 12 weeks of basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C.

Marine Corps Reserve Pfc. Michael L. DuVal, Jr., the son of Susan M. Hendler of Niagara Falls, and Michael L. DuVal, Sr., of North Tonawanda, a 1996 graduate of Niagara Wheatfield High School.

Air National Guard Airman Jessica G. Feeley, the daughter of Cheryl and Alan Pless of Grand Island, a 2003 graduate of Grand Island High School. Feeley graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Air National Guard Airman First Class Brad R. Gildner, the son of Marc and Connie Gildner of Youngstown, a 2003 graduate of Alpha Omega Academy, Youngstown. Gildner graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Ensign Matthew Hamm, the son of Kenneth and Carol Hamm of Grand Island, a graduate of Canisius High School and the University of Michigan. Hamm was recently commissioned in the U.S. Navy at a ceremony in Ann Arbor, Mich. Hamm is stationed on the USS Ashland homeported in Little Creek Amphibious Base, Norfolk, Va.

Army Sgt. Anita L. Harutjunian, daughter of Dolly Phillips of Niagara Falls and Haigas Harutjunian of Ransomville, a 1994 graduate of Niagara Falls High School. Harutjunian was honored at the 2004 Philip A. Connelly Awards program in Denver, Colo., for being one of the winners of the Army dining facilities food preparation competition. She is a food service specialist assigned to the 62nd Engineer Battalion at Fort Hood, Killeen, Texas.

Army Spec. Steven C. Hayes, the son of Kristina M. Barraclough of North Tonawanda. Hayes returned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vicenza, Italy, after completing a deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with additional participation in Operation Northern Delay.

Navy Seaman Tim L. Hutchins, the son of Susan R. Standora of Grand Island and John L. Hutchins of Niagara Falls, a 1999 graduate of Niagara Wheatfield High School. Hutchins recently returned home after a routine, scheduled deployment to the Mediterranean Sea while assigned to the guided missile destroyer USS Cole, homeported in Norfolk, Va.

Air Force Airman Brian T. Jablonski, the son of Jackie and Thomas Jablonski of Ransomville, a 2003 graduate of Wilson High School. Jablonski graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Air Force Airman Peter W. Kuehne, Jr., the son of Peter and Jude Kuehne of Grand Island, a 2003 graduate of Grand Island High School. Kuehne graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Air National Guard Airman First Class Jacob N. Letcher, the son of Jim Letcher of Wheatfield, a 2003 graduate of Niagara Wheatfield High School. Letcher graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Coast Guard Seaman Apprentice Joshua D. Lewis, a 2003 graduate of Lewiston Porter High School. Lewis recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N.J.

Jeremy M. Lis, the son of Jo Ellen and Martin S. Lis of Niagara Falls, a 1997 graduate of Niagara Catholic High School, has enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Lis is an aerospace maintenance apprentice assigned to the 914th Maintenance Squadron, Niagara Falls.

Air Force Reserve Airman First Class Justin M. Long, the son of Theresa Long of Grand Island, a 2000 graduate of Grand Island High School. Long graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Army Reserve Pvt. Derrick J. Marvin, the brother of Wayne Carr of North Tonawanda, a 2001 graduate of Niagara Wheatfield High School. Marvin graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Francis M. Meehan, son of Elizabeth Meehan of Niagara Falls, and Daniel R. Meehan, also of Niagara Falls, a military member since 1983. Meehan recently received the Navy and Marine Commendation Medal while assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, San Diego.

Army Pfc. Steven J. Michlin, the son of Ronald and Elaine Michlin of North Tonawanda, a 2001 graduate of North Tonawanda High School. Michlin graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

Army Pfc. Michael R. Moore, the son of Theresa E. and Robert J. Moore of Niagara Falls, a 2002 graduate of Niagara Wheatfield High School. Moore deployed to Iraq to support the mission of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and is regularly assigned to the 84th Engineer Combat Battalion at Schofield Barracks, Wahiawa, Hawaii.

Army Pvt. Mickey J. Myers, the son of Lesli Myers and Oak Harbor, Wash., and Daniel Myers of Lewiston. Myers graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

Air Force Airman Justin L. Pietrowski, the son of Dawn Pietrowski of Sanborn and Edward Pietrowski of Newfane, a 2003 graduate of Niagara Wheatfield High School. Pietrowski graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Meghan L. Powell, the daughter of Kimberly L. Powell of Pueblo, Colo., and Donald G. Powell of Youngstown, a 2003 graduate of Centennial High School of Pueblo, Colo. Powell recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

Air Force Airman Thomas J. Ryan, the son of Nancy Ryan of Grand Island, a 1995 graduate of Grand Island High School. Ryan graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Air Force Airman Joseph R. Schmit, the son of Paul Schmit of Grand Island, a 2003 graduate of Grand Island High School. Schmit graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Army Reserve Pvt. Bikramjit Singh, the son of Brijindev Singh and Amarjeet Kaur of Grand Island, a 2003 graduate of Grand Island High School. Singh graduated from the power-generation equipment repairer advanced individual training course at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Md.

Navy Seaman Recruit Jason R. Sprague, a 2003 graduate of Grand Island High School. Sprague recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

Army Pvt. Daniel Strzelczyk, the son of Emma Mylchreest of Youngstown. Strzelczyk graduated from One Station Unit Training at the U.S. Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga.

Douglas M. Trippany, II, the son of Daniel A. and Jane L. Trippany of Carthage, and husband of Nicole, a 1993 graduate of Lewiston Porter High School. Trippany received the 2003 George C. Marshall ROTC Award at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Va. The U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Monroe, Va., and the George C. Marshall Foundation work in conjunction to sponsor the annual awards seminar.

Army Pfc. Christopher D. VeRost, the son of Kimberly K. and Drew M. VeRost of Sanborn, a 200 graduate of Starpoint Central High School. VeRost graduated from the utilities equipment repairer advanced individual training course at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Md.

Air Force Airman First Class Justin H. Weackler, the son of Teresa Barrett of Ransomville, and Ken Weackler of Green Bay, Wisc., a 2003 graduate of Lewiston Porter High School. Weackler graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Navy Airman Apprentice Phillip J. Williams, the son of Chere M. Laroe of North Tonawanda and Don P. Williams of Clarence, a 2003 graduate of Star Point High School. Williams recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

Army Pvt. David J. Woodley, Jr., the son of David J. and Helen N. Woodley of Lewiston, a 2002 graduate of Lewiston Porter High School. Woodley graduated from One Station Unit Training at Fort Knox, Ky.

Air National Guard Airman First Class Kristin L. Zilliox, the daughter of Deanna Geblein of Grand Island, a 2001 graduate of Grand Island High School. Zilliox graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Samuel P. Zito, the son of Samuel P. and Charlotte N. Zito of Lewiston, a 2003 graduate of Lewiston Porter High School, has enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He is an integrated avionics systems apprentice assigned to the 914th Maintenance Squadron, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.