by David Flint
At a ceremony at the Half Moon Town Hall on May 14 State Senator Kathleen Marchione recognized the service of 14 veterans from around the 43rd State Senate District. The occasion was to announce the Senator’s choice for induction into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame. Nominated to represent the Veterans of Stephentown were World War II veterans Vincent Devlin and Franklyn Mooney.
[private]Vince Devlin is a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Force, later the U.S. Air Force. He signed up in 1944 for the Aviation Cadet Program. Trained in aircraft mechanics and maintenance, he worked during the War on the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, our
first operational jet fighter. He stayed on in the US Air Force as a career man and during the Korean War he maintained F-80 and F-84 fighter jets on Okinawa. He retired in 1968 with the rank of Master Sergeant.
Frank Mooney served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. Following basic training at Newport he was sent to Portsmouth, VA, for Hospital Corps training. He then was stationed at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital, a center for amputation, orthopedic and prosthetic services for Navy, Marine and Coast Guard personnel. He spent his Naval career there in a unit that designed and crafted artificial limbs, and he speaks with pride of the quality work that was done there. Mooney was not able to be present at the ceremony due to a prior commitment.
In nominating Mooney and Devlin, officers at the Veterans of the Stephentown Area stated that, “Some people think that an extraordinary act makes a hero, but it is the everyday acts of selfless people who keep our military always moving forward who are the true heroes, for without their daily efforts extraordinary things don’t happen.”
As indicated on Marchione’s Senate website, “The Veterans’ Hall of Fame – online at www.nysenate.gov/honoring-our-veterans – is designed to pay tribute – and honor the selfless service and personal sacrifice – of New York veterans whose courageous service in America’s Armed Forces is complemented by their service to the community.”
All 14 veterans were honored, and all received a New York State Senate Liberty Award medal, but Marchione could select only one to be added to the Hall of Fame for 2013. That one was James A. Haggerty of Kinderhook who, according to the citation, “served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1951 to 1954 and is a Combat-Disabled veteran of the Korean War. His awards and citations include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, United Nations Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, New York State Medal for Merit and the New York State Conspicuous Service Star.
A veterans advocate for decades, Jim is the Co-Chair and one of the original organizers of the Capital Region Homeless Veterans Stand Down. He is the President of the Eastern New York Homeless Veterans Coalition, President of the Veteran Care Board at Stratton VA Hospital, Executive Vice President and Past President of the New York State Council of Veterans Organizations, representing 38 veterans groups. He is the Vice Executive Director of the Marine Coordinating Council and a member of the Columbia County Honor a Vet Committee. Jim is a life member of 15 veteran national service organizations including Disabled American Veterans, Marine Corps League, American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Jim has been a very active volunteer in his community, serving as a member of St. John’s Pastoral Council, Kinderhook Lake Corporation, Kinderhook Board of Assessment Review and the Kinderhook Zoning Board.
He retired from the New York State Department of Labor as the Assistant Director of Veterans Programs and Training. Jim currently holds the position of District Veteran Director for Congressman Chris Gibson. He has been married to Norah Haggerty for 59 years. They have four children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.”[/private]