Walter Davendonis Is Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal

Walter J. Davendonis, 86, joined the Navy in 1942 at the age of 19. Wally received three Battle Stars and many ribbons for his service in the Navy from 1942 to 1945.
Wally served as an armed guard in a special branch of the U.S. Navy. He was a Gunners Mate 2nd Class aboard three merchant ships. Those ships carried supplies such as food, ammunition, gasoline, aircraft, locomotives and PT boats in convoys to places such as England, North Africa, the Philippines and Murmansk, Russia.
Wally’s ships survived many attacks from sea and air while other ships often lost their cargo and many lives.
Returning to Hoosick Falls after the war, Wally married the former Margaret (Peg) Whittet and started a plumbing business. They raised a family of three sons and four daughters. Wally was born and has lived his whole life in Hoosick Falls. He resides at 5 Carr St.