Iraq war veteran and former local resident Stephen Valyou was honored Saturday at the fifth annual Sunday in the Country Chicken Barbecue Cook-Off at American Legion Post 178 on East Main Street.
Valyou was an EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) sergeant in Iraq when, in March, he was shot in the shoulder during Improvised Explosive Device (IED) operations. He has been since confined to a wheelchair due to the injuries from the incident.
Last weekend, 43 volunteers constructed a wheelchair ramp at Valyou’s in-law’s house, the home of Rebecca and Don Totman. Valyou is visiting the Totmans with his wife and son. The family will then return to Florida, where he's been recuperating. There's been talk of the Valyous moving back to Millerton on a permanent basis.
Event organizer NASCAR Dave MacMillan said the material for the ramp was donated by Herrington’s in Millerton.
"We wanted to find a way to thank him for the service he put in for his country," MacMillan said. "The Lion’s Club and the fire department also put flags all along Main Street to welcome him home like he should be welcomed home."
Valyou served as a guest judge during Saturday’s event and was given a total donation of $4,800 raised by students from Salisbury School for an electronic chair lift to be constructed at the Totman’s home.
School employee Gina Tierney said the school’s students raised the money.
"The kids thought what he did for the country was important so we decided to go with this," Tierney said. "The kids collected $2,018 and the rest was from an anonymous donation."
State Sen. Vincent Leibell was at Saturday’s event to personally welcome Valyou home.
"I think that it’s great the community is all here to honor a veteran and a hometown hero," Leibell said. "I hope he gets better real soon because he served his country with honor and distinction."
Valyou said he deeply appreciated the community’s support.
"This is amazing, absolutely amazing," Valyou said. "I didn’t anticipate this. I originally thought I would have a quick visit with my family and go back to Florida. It’s amazing how they constructed a ramp in such a short period of time."
Valyou was a soldier with the U.S. Army, stationed out of Fort Drum in Watertown. He was sent to Iraq in November.
By SHAW ISRAEL IZIKSONOctober, 11, 2007 This short article was reprinted from the Millerton News.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a full list of local area men and women currently serving in the Military so that we can send them out holiday cards and remembrances from home. If you know of any names and addresses, please post here. There is still time before Christmas to send packages to war zones and to The Guard serving in disaster areas here at home.
Valyou was an EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) sergeant in Iraq when, in March, he was shot in the shoulder during Improvised Explosive Device (IED) operations. He has been since confined to a wheelchair due to the injuries from the incident.
Last weekend, 43 volunteers constructed a wheelchair ramp at Valyou’s in-law’s house, the home of Rebecca and Don Totman. Valyou is visiting the Totmans with his wife and son. The family will then return to Florida, where he's been recuperating. There's been talk of the Valyous moving back to Millerton on a permanent basis.
Event organizer NASCAR Dave MacMillan said the material for the ramp was donated by Herrington’s in Millerton.
"We wanted to find a way to thank him for the service he put in for his country," MacMillan said. "The Lion’s Club and the fire department also put flags all along Main Street to welcome him home like he should be welcomed home."
Valyou served as a guest judge during Saturday’s event and was given a total donation of $4,800 raised by students from Salisbury School for an electronic chair lift to be constructed at the Totman’s home.
School employee Gina Tierney said the school’s students raised the money.
"The kids thought what he did for the country was important so we decided to go with this," Tierney said. "The kids collected $2,018 and the rest was from an anonymous donation."
State Sen. Vincent Leibell was at Saturday’s event to personally welcome Valyou home.
"I think that it’s great the community is all here to honor a veteran and a hometown hero," Leibell said. "I hope he gets better real soon because he served his country with honor and distinction."
Valyou said he deeply appreciated the community’s support.
"This is amazing, absolutely amazing," Valyou said. "I didn’t anticipate this. I originally thought I would have a quick visit with my family and go back to Florida. It’s amazing how they constructed a ramp in such a short period of time."
Valyou was a soldier with the U.S. Army, stationed out of Fort Drum in Watertown. He was sent to Iraq in November.
By SHAW ISRAEL IZIKSONOctober, 11, 2007 This short article was reprinted from the Millerton News.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a full list of local area men and women currently serving in the Military so that we can send them out holiday cards and remembrances from home. If you know of any names and addresses, please post here. There is still time before Christmas to send packages to war zones and to The Guard serving in disaster areas here at home.
22 comments:
shouldn't you credit the photographer you stole the picture from as well?
Remember Their Sacrifice Original Artwork: "Remember Their Sacrifice" , Artist unknown (derived from the beautiful picture that circled the internet via email) ... Therefore, we would have been happy and honored to give credit to the artist if there was a feasible way. Thank you for logging in to MillertonNY
You know, you could start by writing your own damn copy for the blog instead of using the "cut-and-paste" finger.
And I really don't care to hear the "I'm better than you because I'm the essence of small-town values" drivel.
Thank you for your logged-in condescension, country chitchat.
Dear PS a/k/a Anonymous, can I call your attention to the Banner of this Blog? "It's "The Talk of The Town", make it a place where you have a chance to be heard in a constructive & useful way."
Except for the reprint of a worthwhile article in the Millerton News, the rest of this blog IS original copy.
I don't see how this posting represents that "Small Town Values" are better than anyone else's values. Millerton happens to be a "Small Town" and it may be that our individual values are influenced by how we live as well as the more global exposure that we have. If I were you I would hesitate to "group" us all together!
Now if you object to the reprint of the Millerton News Article in particular, perhaps you don't support the "Soldier" if not the War! No matter your opinion on the War, our Soldiers need our support whether they are here at home or in conflict. If that is too "Small Town" for you then I pitty you.
In the future, comments posted in a negative manner against our soldiers whether Home Grown in a Small Town or from City or Farm will be deleted!
And, oh by the way, if you want to continue your own drivel and spew your negative venom, have the guts to leave your name; but we would all much rather you stayed positive. I believe you live here too.
If you have topics you would like to see on this Blog, please email MillertonNY@gmail.com and we will be happy to post for you. Same goes for anyone else. Negative thoughts with proactive positive fixes are always welcome.
Again, thank you for Blogging in; but make no mistake my disdain/condescension and lack of respect for your contempt of our soldiers is not veiled!
How wonderful that a community cares about their grown children; how wonderful that citizens with much to do in their lives organize events and blogs such as these to celebrate life and acknowledge sacrifice. I live in a town much smaller than Millerton but I commute to NYC where I work with poor, homeless and inner-city soldiers with no parades, no caring neighbor, and most of the time…no hope. Yet it was a homeless vet who gave me your web page. This weathered Viet Nam Veteran was happy and proud that somewhere in NY State, a community remembered a fellow veteran, and he spoke as if he had finally been honored himself. Millerton is not only a community, it is the animation of that wonderful work in progress called America. All you Millerton folks...you keep working, serving, helping and inspiring others to reach out for seniors, veterans and the disenfranchised. You keep waving Our Flag...and show the world how it's done! God Bless You All. Larry in NYC
PS…Here’s some math for those nay sayers:
Family + Spiritual + Small Town Values = America!
Rivcando: Thank you for telling this story on our blog. It is more than gratifying to know that this page is reaching Vets in a way that matters. God bless you for working with the poor and disenfranchised! Please let us know if there is some way that we here in the country can help those that you are in contact with in the city. Please blog in often, we would love to hear from you and those you care about. Most sincerely and with great appreciation. Country ChitChat
Dear Chit Chat,
I'm sorry that Anonymous feels so much animosity and anger. Blogs often reprint articles from other sources. It's a shame he or she can't provide more positive and constructive input to the blog. Thank you for sharing the article. I missed last week's news since I was working in the city, and I felt really proud of Millerton for its support of a local Vet. Even though I have been opposed to the War, I am 150% in support of our soldiers and Vets, and believe they should get all the support they deserve.
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