< Previouswww.ausa.org10 AUSA Extra | May 9, 2024 ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY Retired Lt. Col. Ken Niles, left, president of AUSA’s Col. Edward Cross chapter, presents the chapter’s Soldier of the Year Award to Sgt. Brendan Tuttle of the New Hampshire National Guard. (AUSA PHOTO) Chapter honors outstanding National Guard soldiers T he Association of the U.S. Ar- my’s Col. Edward Cross chap- ter recognized top-performing soldiers from the New Hampshire National Guard during its annual dinner at the Puritan Conference and Event Center in Manchester, New Hampshire. Award recipients included Staff Sgt. Davis Jollimore, the chapter’s CSM Gus Schunemann NCO of the Year; Sgt. Bren- dan Tuttle, who earned the PFC Dilboy Soldier of the Year Award; and Staff Sgt. Steven Pierce, the Recruiter of the Year. Second Lt. Victoria Cantalupo accepted the awards on behalf of Jol- limore and Pierce. “We are proud to further AUSA’s mission by honoring these outstand- ing soldiers,” said retired Lt. Col. Ken Niles, the chapter president. “The Col. Edward Cross chapter ap- preciates their tireless efforts on be- half of the Army and the New Hamp- shire National Guard.” During the event, Niles also recog- nized retired Lt. Col. Greg d’Arbonne, former chapter president and current president of AUSA’s First Region, with the chapter’s Ambassador Jo- seph Petrone Award for dedicated service to AUSA and the Army. Retired Col. Warren Perry, deputy adjutant general of the New Hamp- shire National Guard, was the event’s keynote speaker. He discussed the many successful programs and ini- tiatives benefiting the state’s veter- ans, such as employment assistance and state technical certification for military specialties. Following the keynote, AUSA chap- ter leadership was joined by senior staff of the Army’s Recruiting Com- mand to recognize several soldiers for exceptional performance over the past year. Col. Edward Crosswww.ausa.org ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY May 9, 2024 | AUSA Extra 11 AUSA members host commemoration for Vietnam vets Chapter supports Fort Liberty Mud Run Volunteers with AUSA’s Fort Liberty chapter in North Carolina staff a booth during the installation’s annual Mud Run at Beckwith Lodge in late April. (AUSA PHOTO) N ineteen Vietnam veterans were honored for their ser- vice by the Association of the U.S. Army’s Capital District of New York chapter during an event com- memorating the 50th anniversary of the departure of the last American troops from Vietnam. The chapter partnered with the nonprofit Friends of the New York State Military Museum to host the ceremony at the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge. Each veteran received a Vietnam War- era lapel pin from retired Command Sgt. Maj. Bob Van Pelt, the chapter president, and a Saratoga County Vietnam Medal, presented by Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Phil Barrett. Two of the honorees are chapter members: Larry Arnold, an AUSA Life Member who served in the Army from 1968 to 1974, and Frank Colby, who served from 1968 to 1972. Retired Brig. Gen. Barry Hart- man, the chapter’s vice president of retiree and veteran affairs who served as master of ceremonies for the event, said ceremonies like this are important because of the differ- ence in public perception of service members between the Vietnam era and today. “The vast majority of us received no formal recognition of our service or no welcome-home ceremonies. Many were encouraged to travel home in civilian clothes rather than uniform and slipped quietly back into the lives they had left although they were profoundly impacted by their experiences,” Hartman said, as re- ported by The Saratogian. The ceremony stems from DoD’s 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemoration efforts, a multiyear program to thank and honor veterans and their families. The commemora- tion will continue through Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2025. “Now, as authorized by Congress and the president, and on behalf of the nation, we have the opportunity to do what should have been done all those years ago—to welcome our Vietnam veterans home. To honor and thank them and their families for their sacrifices,” Hartman said, as reported by The Saratogian. Capital District of New York Vietnam veterans are recognized with a Vietnam War-era lapel pin and a Saratoga County Vietnam Medal during a commemoration ceremony hosted by AUSA’s Capital District of New York chapter. (THE SARATOGIAN/EMMA RALLS) Fort LibertyNext >