Factoid Friday: Veterans Day

By Annmarie Dean

Happy Veterans Day! We are using this week’s Factoid Friday to honor both veterans who work for WNED and WNED military families. Here’s a fun fact: November 11th marks the anniversary of the singing of the armistice that ended World War I.

Jay Clontz, WNED courier- Served in the United States Navy from 1974-76 and was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. After his active duty obligation, he served three years active Navy Reserve at the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center in Buffalo. From 1987-89, he served as U.S. Army National Guard, stationed out of the Connecticut Street Armory also in Buffalo.

 

Jerry Craig, underwriting marketing assistant- Served in the United States Army from 1989-93.  He was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma; the Republic of Turkey and Fort Riley, Kansas.

 

 

John Craig, vice president of education and outreach - Served in the United States Navy and Navy Reserve from 1982-88. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Dale CG-19 out of Mayport, Florida and completed a Mediterranean tour of duty as well as a Guantanamo Bay, Cuba training mission. He also performed monthly duties at Buffalo’s Naval Reserve Station.

 

Gabe DiMaio, Classical 94.5 WNED program director - Served in the United States Marine Corps from 1987-1991 and is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm. He also served in the U.S. Army from 1995-1998.

 

 

Ron Santora, vice president of broadcasting/station manager - Served in the United States Navy Reserve from 1963-69.  He was stationed at Sandpoint Naval Air Station in Seattle and Treasure Island Naval Station in San Francisco.

 

 

Mike Sutton, executive vice president and COO - Served in the United States Army Reserve from 1970-76. He was stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey; Fort Knox, Kentucky; Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania and Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

 

 

Max Gabriel, volunteer - Served in the United States Navy from 1967-73.  He was stationed on an attack oiler in the Tonkin Gulf in Vietnam, in the country of Vietnam and was aboard the U.S.S. Wasp.

 

 

• Jack Chichester - father of John Chichester, underwriting account executive. Served in the United States Army Air Corp from 1941-45. He was stationed in the United Kingdom, north of London.
• Lasca Baker Congelli - mother of Sharon Congelli, director of human resources. Served in the Women’s Army Corp during WWII and was stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.
• Robert Craig - father of John Craig, vice president of education and outreach. Served in the United States Army from 1946-48 and was stationed in occupation of Japan after WWII.
• Paul Fern - husband of Martina Fern, manager of foundation development. Served in the United States Army from 1986-1992. He was stationed in Germany and Washington, D.C.
• Brandon T. Lake - son of Lori Bannister, director of foundation and community development. Served in the United States Marine Corps 2006-10.  He served one tour in Ramadi, Iraq and two tours in the Helmond Province in Afghanistan. 
• Gerald Lord - father of Nanci Lilga, receptionist. Served in the United States Navy during WWII aboard the U.S.S. Missouri. He was aboard the Missouri during the singing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender which marked the end of WWII.
• Charlie and Larry Santora - father and brother of Ron Santora, vice president of broadcasting/station manager. Ron’s father, Charlie, served in the Army during WWII and was part of the landing at Normandy in June 1944. His brother, Larry, served in the Navy aboard an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War.
• Matthew Weinheimer - brother of Megan Wagner, director of corporate communications. He is a Reserve Officer in the United States Navy. Weinheimer completed Officer Development School in Newport, RI this past summer and is a second-year optometry student at the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, IL. After graduation, he will serve a minimum of four years as a military optometrist.