It might be more traditional for a community to welcome back its enlisted soldiers, especially after having served in war. But for the third time, the Wayland community came together to honor its recruits. Four out of the six were able to attend.
“Salute To Our Recruits” conducted by Theodore Van Tassell American Legion Post was a free dinner that honored six Wayland-Cohocton graduates who will soon enter the military field.
“We were very, very pleased with the turnout,” Rochelle Sulli, an event organizer, member of the Ladies Auxiliary and Blue Star Mother said.
Sulli is a mother of five sons and three daughters-in-law currently serving in the armed forces, plus one daughter, Olivia, who will be entering the U.S. Air Force early next spring. She was one of the six honored that night.
"It was a nice little dinner," Olivia said. There were nice people, nice food, and good music, she also said. Plus being a small town, Olivia knew just about everyone there.
The purpose was to let the outgoing military personnel know that they are appreciated, and have the support of the community and American Legion behind them.
“I hope that other Legions will follow suite with this,” Mark said.
Sulli said she hopes this type of send-off will become an annual tradition for the Post.
The dinner was conducted, perhaps appropriately so, two days after the Fourth of July. An estimated 70 to 75 people including family members, current on-leave active service men and women, recruiters plus local veterans and community members attended.
Included in the active service personnel who attended were two soldiers, Pfc. Cody Henry who is home from a year long tour in Afghanistan and Pfc. Greg Mark, who is home from a year long tour in Iraq.
"It was overwhelming to see our local hometown troops come out and support our newest recruits," Sulli said. Three of her five sons and two of her three daughters-in-law also attended.
One local active-duty soldier, Marcus Buckley, arrived at Rochester International Airport just a couple of hours beforehand. His parents drove him to the Legion hall in time to have dinner with his younger brother, Kyle, who is one of the new recruits entering the Air Force.
One U.S. Marine veteran, Earl Lucas, completed four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was there in support of his younger brother, Dave Lucas, one of the new recruits entering Air Force.
The dinner included a speech by Wayland Mayor and American Legion member Brian McCoy, Legion Commander Kevin Mark and Sulli.
Olivia said her favorite speech was her mother's, who brought out the point that roughly three-quarters of people who try to join the military don't make it through the recruitment process for one reason or another. Standing there that night was the roughly one-quarter of Wayland's community who did, Sulli noted in her speech.
Olivia said she feels proud to be one of those few.
It might be more traditional for a community to welcome back its enlisted soldiers, especially after having served in war. But for the third time, the Wayland community came together to honor its recruits. Four out of the six were able to attend.
“Salute To Our Recruits” conducted by Theodore Van Tassell American Legion Post was a free dinner that honored six Wayland-Cohocton graduates who will soon enter the military field.
“We were very, very pleased with the turnout,” Rochelle Sulli, an event organizer, member of the Ladies Auxiliary and Blue Star Mother said.
Sulli is a mother of five sons and three daughters-in-law currently serving in the armed forces, plus one daughter, Olivia, who will be entering the U.S. Air Force early next spring. She was one of the six honored that night.
"It was a nice little dinner," Olivia said. There were nice people, nice food, and good music, she also said. Plus being a small town, Olivia knew just about everyone there.
The purpose was to let the outgoing military personnel know that they are appreciated, and have the support of the community and American Legion behind them.
“I hope that other Legions will follow suite with this,” Mark said.
Sulli said she hopes this type of send-off will become an annual tradition for the Post.
The dinner was conducted, perhaps appropriately so, two days after the Fourth of July. An estimated 70 to 75 people including family members, current on-leave active service men and women, recruiters plus local veterans and community members attended.
Included in the active service personnel who attended were two soldiers, Pfc. Cody Henry who is home from a year long tour in Afghanistan and Pfc. Greg Mark, who is home from a year long tour in Iraq.
"It was overwhelming to see our local hometown troops come out and support our newest recruits," Sulli said. Three of her five sons and two of her three daughters-in-law also attended.
One local active-duty soldier, Marcus Buckley, arrived at Rochester International Airport just a couple of hours beforehand. His parents drove him to the Legion hall in time to have dinner with his younger brother, Kyle, who is one of the new recruits entering the Air Force.
One U.S. Marine veteran, Earl Lucas, completed four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was there in support of his younger brother, Dave Lucas, one of the new recruits entering Air Force.
The dinner included a speech by Wayland Mayor and American Legion member Brian McCoy, Legion Commander Kevin Mark and Sulli.
Olivia said her favorite speech was her mother's, who brought out the point that roughly three-quarters of people who try to join the military don't make it through the recruitment process for one reason or another. Standing there that night was the roughly one-quarter of Wayland's community who did, Sulli noted in her speech.
Olivia said she feels proud to be one of those few.
