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The Veterans I am most proud of.....
November 11, 2008
Above you see a young, attractive couple. They're sitting at Fenway Park in this photo, awaiting the start of the sixth game of the 2007 American League Championship Series. My wife Joan and I had one of our "weekly dates" and attended the game, and asked them to come along.
On the left = Captain Jonas Patruno. He grew up in Chicopee. As an enlisted man, he proudly served his country in 1991 as part of Operation Desert Storm. After coming home, attending UMass, and earning his bachelor's degree in 1999, he proudly accepted a reservist's commission. In 2005, he had become Captain Patruno, and was called up as a crew chief and medivac pilot as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
On the right = Major Jill Caliri. She chose to serve our country as an Army officer. She didn't do so out of need, but out of desire. Upon graduation from UMass in 1999, she accepted an Army commission and spent over six years on active duty. There were tours of duty in South Korea, Germany, Georgia, Texas, and finally Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She left active duty after completing her Iraq tour in 2005. Along the way in her Iraq tour, she earned the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service. She remains a reservist for a short period of time, and will return fully to civilian life in January. She plans to return to college in pursuit of a career as a Physician's Assistant.
On October 11 of this year, they wed.
They're my daughter and son-in-law. Regardless of how you stand politically, please, take the time to salute them today, and all veterans of all of our wars, and all those who also gave service for countries friendly to ours.
Did I mention -- they're Red Sox fans, too?
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