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Grand Island Town Board: Two proclamations issued at meeting

by jmaloni

•Taken from the Aug. 8 Island Dispatch

Sat, Aug 16th 2014 02:40 pm

The Grand Island Town Board proclaimed Aug. 16 National Airborne Day in the town during its meeting Monday and encouraged Islanders to observe and commemorate the event.

In making the proclamation, the board noted that Grand Island is the birthplace and final resting place of Pfc. Charles N. DeGlopper and Lt. Col. Terrance K. Crowe. DeGlopper, a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, posthumously received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions in LaFiere, France, during the invasion of Normandy on June 9, 1944. Crowe, an Airborne trooper serving with the 98th Division, was killed by hostile fire while part of operations in Tal Afar, Iraq, June 7, 2005.

Town Supervisor Mary Cooke said the Town Board issues a proclamation every year to note Airborne Day, and it was "especially poignant this year because it's the 70th anniversary of D-Day. And also the VFW post, who remind us to do this every year, thought it would be most important to have a member of Terry Crowe's family here."

Crowe's sister Peg White accepted one copy of the proclamation, and VFW members Kelly Carrigg and Joe Synakowski accepted another.

In accepting the proclamation, White thanked the people of Grand Island for remembering the paratroopers and Crowe, and acknowledged, "that Grand Island truly never forgets, and we are deeply grateful."

Crowe's parents were on hand for the proclamation.

Carrigg thanked Cooke, the council, the American Legion, and the VFW for supporting funding a new memorial for Charles DeGlopper in France.

"Grand Island does not forget, the French have not forgotten the sacrifice of Charles N. DeGlopper 70 years later. If you go to Normandy, you will see Charles DeGlopper's memorials multiple places," Carrigg said.

Rustowicz honored for earning Gold Award

The board also presented a proclamation to Island Girl Scout Margaret Rustowicz after she earned a Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouts.

Noting that the Gold Award "represents excellence and leadership within Scouting as well as personal growth of the Scout," the board extended congratulations and best wishes to Rustowicz for her accomplishment, and "thanks her bringing positive attention to her hometown and wishes her the best in all of her future endeavors."

To earn a Gold Award, a Scout must complete an 80-hour community service project. In her project, Rustowicz co-directed "Peter Pan Jr.," a youth theater production for the St. Stephen's Parish Players. The daughter of Maura and Kevin Rustowicz, Maggie was awarded the Girl Scout Gold Award at a ceremony June 7.

 

Peg White, the sister of the late Airborne Trooper Lt. Col Terrance Crowe, accepts a proclamation from the Grand Island Town Board declaring Aug. 16 National Airborne Day in the Town of Grand Island. The proclamation was issued Monday at the Town Board meeting in Grand Island Town Hall. Pictured, from left: Councilman Gary Roesch, Deputy Town Clerk Becky Stufkosky, Councilman Dick Crawford, Town Supervisor Mary Cooke, White, Kelly Carrigg and Joe Synakowski of the Pfc. Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9249, and Councilman Chris Aronica. (photo by Larry Austin)

 

The Grand Island Town Board issued a proclamation to Girl Scout Margaret Rustowicz on the occasion of her receiving her Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouts. Rustowicz is joined by the members of the Town Board and her parents, Maura and Kevin, in receiving the proclamation from Supervisor Mary Cooke. (photo by Larry Austin)

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