FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- State and installation officials recognized a select group of central and northern New York veterans Thursday who had been nominated for induction into the New York State Senate Veterans' Hall of Fame.
"Today we are celebrating true American heroes," said state Sen. Patty Ritchie, who represents the 48th Senate District, during a ceremony at the USO on post.
The Veterans' Hall of Fame is an online tribute created in 2005 to honor New Yorkers who have distinguished themselves both in military and civilian life. Dozens of veterans from the area were nominated, based on their military service and civic involvement.
Only one veteran could be selected, however, and Ritchie announced that retired Col. Michael Plummer of Watertown had been named this year's inductee.
Before handing out plaques, certificates of appreciation and officially recognizing Plummer, the senator took a few minutes to praise each nominated veteran.
"I am truly honored to be able to recognize and thank each and every one of you," she said. "The Veterans' Hall of Fame is about your service and sacrifice. But it's also about what you continue to do after your military career to help make our communities a better place to live."
Ritchie said that after reading their brief biographies, she felt humbled to meet each veteran.
"We have today in our midst Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who played an important part and a role in America's history," she said. "With us today, we have survivors of the D-Day invasion; the Battle of the Bulge; a ... prisoner of war; veterans of Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Bosnia, Somalia and the war on terrorism; a guard for President Eisenhower; (and) a member of the bombing crew in the middle of the Cuban missile crisis.
"I am just so impressed and honored to have you in my district and to be able to represent you."
After Ritchie's speech, all 39 names were announced. More than 30 of the veterans attended the event. Two of the nominees were 10th Mountain Division (LI) Soldiers killed in combat.
The 39 nominees were nominated by friends, colleagues, comrades and Family Members.
After the ceremony, Col. (P) Richard D. Clarke, 10th Mountain Division (LI) deputy commanding general -- operations, said it was wonderful for the USO to host the event on the biggest military post in New York.
"This is the right place to do it," he said. "It was a great event to recognize all of these veterans."
Plummer, who won the Israel A. Shapiro Citizenship Award two years ago for his outstanding community leadership, took a minute after the ceremony to congratulate his fellow veterans on their nominations and to thank them for their service.
"It is certainly an honor to be recognized among so many other distinguished veterans," Plummer said.
The former 10th Mountain Division (LI) chief of staff went on to credit the veterans and the larger North Country community for readily supporting Fort Drum troops time and time again.
"This honor is basically a shared honor for me," Plummer said. "I'm being thanked for (helping to launch) the Adopt-a-Platoon program, but that doesn't work unless other people are adopting.
"I can manage all I want," he added, "but if people don't care enough and volunteer to do that, it doesn't work."
One nominated veteran in the room, a former tank driver with the Army's 4th Armored Division during the Battle of the Bulge, was captured by the Germans and survived for four months in a prisoner of war camp.
"I sure appreciated (this recognition)," said Rishel "Rick" White of Adams, whose brother survived the Bataan Death March and more than three years in Japanese captivity. "I give a hand to all the vets from the different wars who came out here today."
For more information, or to view past inductees into the New York State Senate Veterans' Hall of Fame, visit www.nysenate.gov/ honoring-our-veterans.
Following is a list of the 39 nominees, along with a brief description of their experiences provided by the veteran's sponsor.
Jefferson County
- Michael Plummer, Watertown -- Retired Army colonel who played a key role in bringing the 10th Mountain Division (LI) to Fort Drum. Plummer is also known as the founding father of the Adopt-a-Platoon program.
- Timothy Ambrose, Black River -- Vietnam-era veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Ambrose brought his firefighting skills back home to Black River.
- Michael Bice, Watertown -- New York State Police sergeant, volunteer firefighter and member of the Army National Guard. Bice is currently deployed. He has served overseas in Japan and Australia, and in combat missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan.
- Jeffrey Houghton, Watertown - U.S. Navy veteran who is now an American Legion chaplain and a member of the American Legion Riders.
- Paul Cortright -- Army veteran who has dedicated his life to veterans, rising from post commander to the American Legion's New York State Department commander.
- Luther Farnsworth -- Veteran of Kuwait, Iraq and the war on terrorism. He has continued to serve veterans as a past commander of his local American Legion post and serving in the Sons of the American Legion and the American Legion Riders.
- Cassandra Gould, Fort Drum -- After 22 years of service in the Army, she continues serving her fellow veterans through the American Legion.
- Judy Gonzalez-Wallace, Car-thage -- Army veteran who has continued to serve the veterans community as a member of the American Legion, the auxiliary and the American Legion Riders.
- Willie Hairston, Deferiet -- Vietnam veteran who has continued to serve in the American Legion, where he served as post commander, and in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, where he served in positions at both the county and state level.
- Stanley Kaminski, Watertown -- Veteran who served in Somalia, Bosnia, Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm before advocating for veterans as co-chairman of the Fort Drum Retirees Council.
- Russell Lynch, Antwerp -- Lynch received two Bronze Stars and was shot in the leg while battling the Nazis during World War II. He returned home to play an active role in his community, serving as president of the National Rural Letter Carriers Association.
- Leo Marc-Aurele Jr., Evans Mills -- Navy veteran who has continued to serve his fellow veterans in the American Legion.
- Charles McConnell, Brown-ville -- Veteran of the U.S. Air Force who served in Kosovo and Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm. McConnell has continued to serve his community as a village trustee, member of the fire department and member of the American Legion.
- William James Nasworthy Jr., Watertown -- After serving in the war on terrorism, he has been an exemplary civilian employee at Fort Drum, earning the customer service award and helping veterans through the VFW.
- Gerald F. "Jerry" Tighe, Watertown -- After 24 years in the Navy submarine service during the Cold War, he has continued to serve area veterans through the VFW.
- Edward Wallace, Carthage -- After serving in the Army in Germany, Egypt and Afghanistan, and on the front lines of Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War, he has continued to serve veterans in the American Legion.
- Rishel "Rick" White, Adams -- During the Battle of Bulge, he was taken prisoner by the Germans for four months before being liberated by the Russians. He has continued to educate new generations about the horrors of World War II.
- James Williams Jr., Felts Mills --Army veteran who has continued to serve veterans in the American Legion, where he serves as post commander.
- Charles Van Sickle, Black River -- Vietnam veteran who continued serving fellow veterans as past commander of his local American Legion, Sons of the American Legion and the VFW.
- Madison Cobb, Henderson -- A survivor of what many described as a suicide mission at Pointe du Hoc during the D-Day invasion, the Navy veteran returned home where he continued to serve his community.
- Raymond Gandia, Natural Bridge -- Army buddies described the Army Ranger as a "Soldier's Soldier." After 9/11, he volunteered as a civilian to help at ground zero in New York City.
- Tyler Pickett, Antwerp -- Killed in action during his second tour in Iraq, Pickett was active in the American Legion in Antwerp and the VFW in Corning.
- Joseph Theinert, Evans Mills -- Member of the Army National Guard who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving with the 10th Mountain Division (LI) in Afghan-istan.
St. Lawrence County
- Clarence Berry, Ogdensburg -- Army veteran of World War II, Korea and the Vietnam era, Berry is a longtime veterans activist and military historian.
- Nellie Coakley, Canton -- Army nurse during Vietnam who pioneered efforts to help veterans with post traumatic stress issues in northern New York.
- Donald Cooke, Ogdensburg -- Vietnam veteran, longtime member of the Army Reserves, and Ogdensburg veterans activist who helped bring the Vietnam Moving Wall to the city.
- Ronald "Joe" Fields, Lisbon -- U.S. Air Force veteran who waited for orders during the Cuban missile crisis on whether he would bomb Havana. Longtime veterans affairs and community activist.
- Jeremiah Pete Havens, Ogdensburg -- For 32 years, as New York state veterans counselor, he advocated for North Country veterans.
- Thomas Morrison, St. Law-rence County -- Army interrogator who saw the end of the Cold War in Europe. Morrison uses his experiences to inspire his social studies students in the classroom.
- Patrick Rourk, Norwood -- 24-year Air Force veteran and former St. Lawrence County Veterans Services director and veterans advocate.
- Arthur G. Wilson, Ogdensburg -- Navy veteran who served during World War II and Korea. Wilson is a longtime veterans activist and advocate for disabled veterans in St. Lawrence County.
Oswego County
- Richard Erb Sr., Fulton -- After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, he returned home where he was named Fulton's Veteran of the Year for his service to the American Legion and the VFW.
- Rev. Moritz Fuchs, Fulton -- After fighting to defeat the Nazis, he served as a bodyguard to the presiding judge of the Nuremberg War trials before returning home. He later joined the priesthood and continues to serve his fellow veterans.
- Francis Kehoe, Fulton -- A former U.S. Marine who served in Korea and later as a guard for President Eisenhower at Camp David. He later joined the Naval Reserves. He has spent his life serving veterans in the VFW and the American Legion.
- Russell Marsden, Mexico - Served as a helicopter crew chief in the air cavalry after joining the Army in 1969. He serves veterans as commander of the VFW Post in Mexico.
- John McGraw, Fulton -- A survivor of the D-Day invasion in which he helped clear Germans and landmines from Omaha Beach. He has continued serving his fellow veterans as Fulton's American Legion commander and Fulton's Veteran of the Year.
- John E. Rucynski, Parish -- Vietnam veteran and former Marine who served as the seventh command sergeant major of the Army Reserve.
- Ronald Sakonyi, Constantia -- After earning 10 Air Medals in the Navy during Vietnam and serving in the Army at the National Military Intelligence Center, he has continued serving his community as a county legislator and veterans leader at the local, county and state level.
- Michael Vaughn, Cleveland -- After earning a Silver Star for heroism in Vietnam, he returned home where he has served as a children's basketball coach and volunteer emergency medical technician.
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