  Veteran Spotlight: Guardsman Pvt. Shy Ann JacksonBorn in Falmouth, she entered basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., in August 2014 after graduating from Mashpee High School.  Veteran Spotlight: Army Master Sgt. David LevesqueDavid Levesque served his country in the Army and Army National Guard for 28 years from 1979 to 2007, retiring as a master sergeant.  Veteran Spotlight: Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael LewisMichael Lewis served his country in the Navy as a petty officer, second class, from 1977 to 1994.  Veteran Spotlight: Coast Guard Lt. Joseph PontiHe grew up in Lawrence and graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy as an ensign. His first assignment would take him aboard a weather ship, the USCG Casco.  Veteran Spotlight: Army Lt. Col. Paula SmithPaula Smith served her country in the Army for more than 20 years and retired as a lieutenant colonel.  Veteran Spotlight: Air Force Staff Sgt. Cory AhonenCory Ahonen, chief engagement officer for the state's Executive Office of Veterans Services, served his country in the Air Force from 2008 to 2014 as a staff sergeant.  Veteran Spotlight: Army Sgt. John MagnarelliJohn Magnarelli served his country in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division and the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam from May 4, 1969, to April 10, 1970, as a sergeant.  Veteran Spotlight: Army Sgt. Al DiMuzio"It wasn't 100 percent consistent but I was afforded the opportunity to get to know other people with different religion, beliefs, backgrounds and culture and to be able to embrace that."  Veteran Spotlight: Army Sgt. Louis VairoLouis Vairo served his country in the Army from 1966 to 1968, achieving the rank of sergeant, specialist E5.  Veteran Spotlight: Army Spc. Robert DutraA graduate of Lawrence High School, he initially joined the Army National Guard. His basic training would take him to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.  Veteran Spotlight: Naval Reserve Cmdr. Ronald NasifGrowing up in Boston, he majored in biology at Boston College, where he also lettered in football for the Eagles. He would go on to Tufts Medical School but took a year off graduate school and taught during the busing crisis of the 1970s.  Veteran Spotlight: Lt. Col. Brent FinemoreBrent Finemore served his country in the Army from 1982 to 2002, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.  Veteran Spotlight: Army Lt. John ShoemakerHe would go onto serve his country for four years as a combat platoon leader and company commander in the 196th Light Infantry Brigade of the "Americal" Division in Chu Lai.  Veteran Spotlight: Marine Capt. Carter HuntHis first assignment would be commanding a rifle platoon with Echo Company, 5th Marine Division. His first day entailed a truck ride out to Hill 52, where his company commander introduced him to his platoon sergeant.  Veteran Spotlight: Army Staff Sgt. Arthur Wiknik Jr.Arthur Wiknik Jr. served his country in the Army's 101st Airborne as a staff sergeant from 1968 to 1970.  Veteran Spotlight: Command Sgt. Maj. Steve ValleySteve Valley served his country in the Army from 1985 to 2015, retiring as a command sergeant major.  Veteran Spotlight: Navy Radioman Robert MercurioRobert Mercurio served his country in the Navy as a radioman, first class, from 1942 to 1946. He would also serve four years in the Reserves, being discharged in 1950.  Veteran Spotlight: Marine Corps Reserve Lance Cpl. Timothy WhelanFormer state Rep. Timothy Whelan served his country in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1989 to 1994 as a lance corporal.  Veteran Spotlight: Air Force Staff Sgt. Kris TebbettsKris Tebbetts served his country in the Air Force as a staff sergeant from 1965 to 1968.  Veteran Spotlight: Army Cpl. Robert SavinoGrowing up in upper Manhattan in New York City, he attended and graduated from what was then All Hallows Institute, a private boy's prep school. He did his basic training at Fort Riley, Kan.  Veteran Spotlight: Air National Guard Maj. David MendozaHe grew up in Hampden and graduated from what was then North Adams State College. His dad had four years active service during the Vietnam War era.  Veteran Spotlight: Spc. Dave DiMesticoHe is proud of the people in his family who have served — his father, Paul, was in the Army Air Forces in World War II, his brother Peter was a Marine during the Vietnam era and his son Mike has been serving in the Navy 13 years, as well as numerous other relatives.  Veteran Spotlight: Marine Staff Sgt. Dennis PregentHe grew up in North Adams and quit high school at 17 years of age in the middle of his senior year and enlisted in the Marines. He did his basic training at Parris Island and remembered the intensity of boot camp.  Veteran Spotlight: Lt. Col. Maria Adame-EmeryShe grew up in Santa Ana, Calif., did her basic training in ROTC and was commissioned at the New Mexico Military Institute.  Veteran Spotlight: Army Spc. Fred WexlerFred Wexler served his country in the Army from 1961 to 1964 as a specialist, 4th grade. |
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