The Catskill Chronicle

Reflected in this fire fighter’s glasses is the 11th Annual Woodbourne Veterans Parade as it makes it way down Main Street towards the Woodbourne Firehouse at the edge of town.

Story and photos by Ted Waddell

A huge American Flag was suspended between the raised steel towers of aerial apparatus from Loch Sheldrake and Ellenville.

WOODBOURNE – It was a glorious day to honor the nation’s proud veterans, countless legions of men and women who have answered America’s call to arms, defending our freedom under Old Glory.

Led by a Fallsburg Police Department patrol vehicle and color guard, the line of march stepped out smartly down the main drag, and the parade wrapped up at the local firehouse, passing in review before a huge American Flag suspended from the raised towers of aerial apparatus from Loch Sheldrake and Ellenville.

Grand Marshall US Army Sgt. James K. Richardson fought as a combat infantryman in Vietnam.

US Army Sergeant James K. Richardson was this year’s Grand Marshall, and he drove an Army Mule mounting a heavy caliber machine gun down main street. Just the ticket for summer time motoring in the Catskills.

At the age of 18, Richardson left Liberty High School and enlisted in the US Army, and in the wake of training and several assignments both stateside and overseas, was sent to Vietnam and assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry, 199t Infantry Brigade USARPAC. On March 27, 1968, he was painted by light from an exploding land mine, thus earning the Purple Heart.

Richardson earned several other awards and decorations, and is a life-time member of Vietnam Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans.

A couple of other local vets served as guests of honor during Woodbourne’s Veterans Day Parade of 2009.

US Army Sergeant Sharon G. Doyle served in Iraq.

US Army Sergeant Sharon G. Doyle graduated from Liberty High, and on October 10, 1990 was company honor graduate at Paris Island in South Carolina. Before starting a career in NYS Corrections, she completed specialized intelligence training with the US Navy and US Marine Corps.

In 2003, Doyle joined the Neversink Fire Department, and two years later the Army Reserve Unit 854th Engineering Battalion of Kingston, NY. She was attached to the 479th EN BN out of Watertown, NY for deployment to Iraq. Once overseas she served as the lead gun truck driver for a convoy security team, logging more than 10,0000 combat mission miles.

Sergeant Doyle holds several awards including the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with Star, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, National Defense and Overseas Service Ribbon.

Dressed as WWII combat soldiers driving a vintage Jeep are Lance Corporal Bottaro and Paul Bottaro.

USMC Staff Sergeant Wayne W. Doyle wasn’t able to attend, but was recognized by the community as the parade’s second guest of honor. On October 22, 1999, he completed recruit training at Paris Island, later attending military police school.

The Staff Sergeant was stationed aboard the MCAS Futenma and MCAS Iwakuni, serving as a military police patrolman and military customs inspector. From August2004 to March 2005, he was deployed with the31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to Iraq and participated in Operation Phantom Fury and Operation Al Fajr.

Subsequent to completing explosive ordinance disposal school, Staff Sergeant Doyle was sent to Afghanistan as an explosive ordinance disposal technician, and on March 20, 2009 was injured on dismounted patrol in Golestan, Afghanistan.

Coming or going, these two young men know a salute is a sign of respect

He is the recipient of numerous awards including the Combat Action Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Purple Heart.

To view more photos or to purchase prints from the 11th Annual Woodbourne Veterans Day Parade visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.