By Ray Lenarcic The other day, while finishing my speech for the commemoration of longtime Herkimer County Legislator John Brezinski’s glorious tribute to working military dogs and their handlers (October 14th at 2 PM at the...
Read MoreBy Ray Lenarcic Every year, when October rolls around, I can’t help but be reminded of one of the great tragedies that occurred in my hometown of Little Falls. On Sunday morning, December 22nd, 1991, the six McCleod children...
Read MoreBy Ray Lenarcic The word hero has often been misused and, similarly, properly applied. As an example of the former I cite the following based on Dee Brown’s classic “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.” At Wounded Knee, South Dakota...
Read MoreBy Ray Lenarcic Imagine if, on a beautiful summer’s morn, they came in and took your children away, taken to a boarding school where they’d learn a new language, have to wear new clothes, be subjected to a new culture, forced to...
Read MoreBy Ray Lenarcic One of my favorite Christmas stories is an account of the origin of the candle in the window tradition. As you’ll later read, its theme has resonance today. Set in a small mountainous village during the early...
Read MoreBy Ray Lenarcic They helped us big time. Now it’s our turn. They are the Afghan translators who worked and were deeply respected by our servicemen and women who fought in that mountainous hellhole. The former were integral...
Read MoreBy Ray Lenarcic Benedict Arnold betrayed his country. But before he did, he helped to save it. Twice. Prior to explaining how some necessary background information is needed. Our War for Independence was long and difficult, with...
Read MoreBy Ray Lenarcic Your child has cancer—four words no parent ever wants to hear. I know. I heard them. My youngest daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor several years ago and has survived to date. I’ve worried about her every...
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I was not a Vietnam combat veteran, nor was I a veteran. My over 30 years of veterans’ advocacy...
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