Families, friends and community members recognized the military service of 20 Soldiers during a retirement ceremony Friday at the Multipurpose Auditorium. The Soldiers have dedicated more than 431 years of service to the armed forces.
Honorees, as well as spouses and Family Members, received awards for serving their country, which was followed by remarks from Col. Mark Kneram, deputy chief of staff, 10th Mountain Division (LI).
"As we recognize the service and achievements of our honored retirees and their Families it may be interesting to remind ourselves why they volunteered," Kneram said, noting that most Soldiers' reasons range from a desire to serve, need for a job and / or family tradition.
"I know a couple of you probably succumbed to that clever marketing campaign of the 1980s and 90s, 'be all that you can be,'" he added, admitting that the slogan "worked on me a bit."
"No matter that original reason for raising your right hand some 20-plus years ago, what followed were years of faithful service to our nation and being an integral part of world events," Kneram said.
"Each of you fine Americans willingly gave your youth to a cause bigger than yourself," he told the retiring Soldiers. "You made a difference not only for the nation but for all the Soldiers you served beside."
He said that despite many conflicts over the past 20 years, the Soldiers found time to marry, raise children, and teach their Families to be more resilient in their absence.
"As important as your service has been over these years, it probably would not have happened without your Family's support," he noted.
Next, he addressed the spouses by telling them, "I am sure your Soldier has told you daily how much you mean to them and how important you all have been. I would like to echo those sentiments on behalf of a grateful nation that appreciates your sacrifices and support."
Upon closing, Kneram told the Soldiers, Families and friends that he wanted to sum up their service and sacrifice by quoting a line from a speech Ronald Reagan delivered to an audience of Marines in 1985: "Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world, but you here today don't have that problem."
"You have all made a difference, and we all wish you the best of luck and Godspeed in the next chapter of your lives," he added.
The following retiring Soldiers each received the Meritorious Service Medal:
wLt. Col. Keven H. Thomas, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 10th Mountain Division (LI), retires with more than 35 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Honduras, Korea and Panama and during Operation Enduring Freedom. Thomas will retire in Ira.
wFirst Sgt. Patrick A. Authement, 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, retires with more than 25 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Germany and Korea and during Operations Desert Storm / Shield, Joint Endeavor, Guard / Forge, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Authement will retire in Houma, La.
wFirst Sgt. Marc N. DiPietro, 10th Sustainment Brigade Troops Battalion, 10th Sustainment Bri-gade, retires with more than 22 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Belgium, Germany, Italy and Korea and during Operation Iraqi Freedom. DiPietro will retire in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
wFirst Sgt. Doyle R. Evans II, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, retires with more than 22 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Egypt, Hawaii and Korea and during Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Evans will retire in Howell, Mich.
wFirst Sgt. Harold L. Hill, 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, retires with more than 20 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Alaska and Korea and during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Hill will retire in Waxhaw, N.C.
wMaster Sgt. Kenneth J. Burd, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 10th Mountain Division (LI), retires with more than 20 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Kosovo and during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Burd will retire in Boylston.
wMaster Sgt. Anthony R. Campbell Sr., Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, retires with more than 20 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Germany and Korea and during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Campbell will retire in Fayetteville, N.C.
wSgt. 1st Class Miguel A. Aguirre Jr., 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, retires with more than 20 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Germany and during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Aguirre will retire in Tampa, Fla.
wSgt. 1st Class Champaphon-evilay Bond, 514th Maintenance Company, 548th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, retires with more than 23 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Germany, Korea, Panama and Saudi Arabia and during Operations Desert Shield / Storm and Enduring Freedom. Bond will retire in Black River.
wSgt. 1st Class Todd W. Doss, 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, retires with more than 20 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Bosnia, Germany and Kuwait and during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Doss will retire in Syracuse.
wSgt. 1st Class Miguel A. Fuentes, 10th Sustainment Bri-gade Troops Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, retires with more than 20 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Germany, Japan, Korea, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Fuentes will retire in Oswego.
wSgt. 1st Class James W. Johnson, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, retires with more than 20 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Korea and during Operations Joint Guard, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Johnson will retire in Erie, Pa.
wSgt. 1st Class Jeffrey R. Klein, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, retires with more than 21 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Alaska, Germany, Hawaii and Korea and during Operations Desert Storm / Shield and Iraqi Freedom. Klein will retire in Watertown.
wSgt. 1st Class Terry L. Raynor, 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, retires with more than 22 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Bosnia, Germany and Korea and during Operation Enduring Freedom. Raynor will retire in Orlando, Fla.
wStaff Sgt. Jerry L. Butcher, 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, retires with more than 20 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Germany and Korea and during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Butcher will retire in Sackets Harbor.
wStaff Sgt. Timothy R. Joslyn, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, retires with more than 20 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Germany and Korea and during Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Joslyn will retire in Watertown.
wStaff Sgt. Edward J. Mackel, 514th Maintenance Company, 548th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, retires with more than 20 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Korea and during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Mackel will retire in Watertown.
wStaff Sgt. Sean E. Manahan, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, retires with more than 21 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Korea and during and Operations Desert Storm / Shield, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and Implementation Force Bosnia. Manahan will retire in Philadelphia.
The following Soldiers each received the Army Commendation Medal:
wStaff Sgt. Stephen D. Flynn, Headquarter and Headquarters Company, 210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, retires with more than 20 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Germany and Korea and during Operations Desert Storm, Provide Comfort and Iraqi Freedom. Flynn will retire in Watertown.
wStaff Sgt. Scott A. Matthews, Headquarter and Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, retires with more than 20 years of active-duty service. He served overseas in Belgium, Ghana and Japan and during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Matthews will retire in Gouverneur.
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