NYS Veterans' HOF welcomes newbees

ALBANY - They are men and women from all walks of life but what they all have in common is a heightened level of valor and selfless sacrifice.

"In their hearts, they have proven time and again that they have lived and still live today by an awesome set of values that every American should live by," said Colonel Lee Schiller, commander of the Watervliet Arsenal.

Every state senator in New York, once a year, gets to select a constituent to join the ranks of the Senate Veterans' Hall of Fame.

Sergeant Rocco D'Onofrio, of Tupper Lake, who escaped twice from German POW camps during WW II was the choice of Senator Betty Little (R - Queensbury)

For Senator Kathy Marchione (R - Halfmoon), decorated decorated US Army Lieutenent William Allendorph of Averill Park was an easy choice.

"He was the only person who ever went in and rescued a prisoner of war and brought them back out," Marchione boasted, "When ever we can take time to say thank you to true American heroes, there's nothing better in life for me."

"I think I'm standing here because I'm very lucky," Allendorph stated, "Some of my friends said, "You must be very proud." I said, "I'm very lucky. I could have been dead a long time already."

Joseph Forte enlisted in the Army Air Corps at age 16, became a distinguished marksman, and served 27 years. He has also played his bugle at more than 1,000 military funerals.

"I'm very overwhelmed by this," Forte says, "I can think of quite a few people that deserve this."

"The highlight of Joe Forte was unbelievable," said Senator George Amedore (R - Rotterdam), "He fought in WW II, Korea, Vietnam, and he still plays the bugle."

Rosetta Burke was the senior ranking officer to be honored. She became the first female in the nation to become a major general.

"I came in as a first lieutenant," Burke recalls, "I had no idea that I would go to this rank."

Whether being honored as a trailblazer or for battlefield heroics, their military endeavors preserved democracy and helped shape the American landscape.