Luann VanPeursem of Churchville and David Brown of Chili were among the 32 area veterans Senator Pam Helming honored at her 10th Annual Veterans Recognition Ceremony on October 23 at the Fort Hill Performing Arts Center in Canandaigua. The ceremony brought together veterans, their families, friends, and community members to recognize their military service and continued contributions to their communities. Since the first ceremony in 2017, the program has recognized hundreds of veterans.
The honorees live in the 54th Senate District, which includes Livingston, Ontario, and Wayne counties, as well as a portion of Monroe County, including Chili, Churchville, and Riga. Community leaders, veterans’ organizations, family members, and friends nominated them. This year’s honorees include veterans who served during World War II, Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“So many of these veterans came home and kept on serving,” said Senator Helming. “They became firefighters, coaches, business owners, community leaders, and advocates for their fellow veterans. That commitment to serving others continued long after their military service ended. Our communities are stronger because of them, and I’m grateful for this opportunity to recognize all they have given.”
Together, this year’s honorees represent more than 300 years of military service across the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force. Senator Helming recognized each honoree individually, presenting them with a commemorative booklet and biography board highlighting their military and civilian accomplishments and helping preserve their stories for future generations.
“My father served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, and my son-in-law served in the United States Army as a Green Beret. As part of a military family, I know how much service asks of both those in uniform and their loved ones,” said Senator Helming. “Families make sacrifices of their own, standing beside our veterans through deployments, time apart, and the return to civilian life. They deserve our recognition and gratitude, too. This ceremony is a chance to share these veterans’ stories, honor their service, and let them and their families know how deeply grateful we are for all they have given.”
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