Correction: A previous version of this story misidentified Bernice Milburn Pesesky’s service. She was a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps from 1943 to 1946.
FLORENCE — The annual breakfast for veterans at the Elk’s #997 Lodge Saturday morning honored the 100th anniversary of World War I.
Many veterans of all branches of the military and their family members gathered to commemorate the ending of the war on Nov. 11, 1918, known as Armistice Day, and more widely celebrated as Veterans Day.
Hosted by the Veterans Council of Northampton and Central Hampshire Veterans’ Services, the breakfast had remarks from Brad LeVay, president of the Veterans Council of Northampton, Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz, World War II veteran Eugene Defilippo, and Steven Connor, director of Central Hampshire Veterans’ Services.
The Gazette profiled veterans at the breakfast to learn about their service in recognition of Veterans Day.
Branch: Army, Air Force Rank: Chief master sergeant in the Air Force
Duration of service: Joined Air Force in 1974 and retired in 2002.
Born: Northampton Residence: Westhampton.
What Veterans Day means to him: “It means quite a bit to me because my uncle was killed in France on Armistice Day so it’s always been in the family. My mother’s brother served in the Air Force.”
How military shaped him: “I got drafted into the Army in ’63, and after I got out, I went back. I had a couple of friends in the service so I stayed. I stuck it out. I was 20 when I got drafted. I believed in it, and I was fortunate enough to advance through the ranks. My rank is only one percent of the enlisted force.”
“One of the highlights of my career was the time I spent in Israel. I enjoyed it. We were working with the (Israeli Defense Forces) and I was there for Israel’s 50th anniversary in ‘97. My last duty station was Langley Air Force Base in Virginia and, after that, I retired.”
Branch: Army Nurse Corps Rank: 1st Lieutenant
Duration of service: 1943 to 1946. Deployment: Oran, Algeria. Naples and Pistoia in Italy.
Born: Shoshoni, Wyoming. Residence: Easthampton
Why she decided to join the service: “I was a nursing major at St. Louis University and the university was sponsoring a hospital to go overseas and I just decided I would like to be a part of the group.”
On her experience in the nurse corps: “It was an adventure. I don’t say I enjoyed it, but I wanted to be part of the action.”
On Veterans Day: “It means a lot because my father was a veteran of World War I so I’ve always been aware of it, which we used to call Armistice Day. I think of all the soldiers who didn’t come back.”
After her service: “I taught nursing students for 25 years in Elmira, New York, at St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing.”
Advice for new enlistees: “Always think of all your patients as individuals who have families at home and who are in the service for the same reason you are: to serve your country.”
Branch: Marine Corps, Purple Heart recipient. Rank: Sergeant.
Duration of service: 1952 to 1956. Deployment: Korean War.
Born: Leeds.Residence: Leeds.
On joining the service: “There were five brothers in my family, I’m the youngest, and every one of them wen through a war. They were all World War II boys, and I had to follow the guys, I had to do what my brothers did so I joined the Marine Corps. They were in every branch of the service. I was the youngest and I had to go.”
On Veterans Day: “I’ve got a lot of friends who are still in the service. I’ve got two relatives at Annapolis (Naval academy) graduating this year, so it’s a military thing for me.”
Advice for new enlistees: “It’s up to the individ ual, but you can join the service today, and they hav e so many jobs so they can have a trade when they get out.”