Senator Grisanti recognizes Michael Lewandowski for being named to Senate’s Veterans’ Hall of Fame

Mark Grisanti

June 17, 2011

Michael Lewandowski of the City of Tonawanda was recently named to the New York State Senate’s Veterans’ Hall of Fame.

Michael Lewandowski was born in Amherst on December 12, 1982. Michael spent his childhood in Cheektowaga and attended Kenmore West High School. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in February 2003 after receiving his Associates Degree from Erie Community College in Buffalo. He was sent to boot camp in May 2003 in Parris Island, South Carolina for 13 weeks. After completing his first year of studies at Hilbert College in Hamburg, he completed eight weeks of infantry school at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

He took off the Fall 2004 semester from school and traveled to southern California for infantry specialty school for two weeks and then traveled to North Carolina for Arabic Language Course for three weeks.

His reserve unit was activated on January 3, 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He trained in southern California for two months before he was deployed to Iraq in Al Anbar Providence for seven months. He returned home in October and received an Honorable Discharge in December 2005.

In May 2009 he received a tentative selection for a job with the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection as a customs officer. He went to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina in March 2010 for advanced Infantry training for two weeks. In May 2010 he volunteered to be activated in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He trained in Camp Pendleton California for three months and then was deployed to Helmand Providence Afghanistan for seven months.

He has received numerous awards for his military service, including a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, a Combat Action Ribbon and was twice selected for a Marine Corps Reserve Medal for good conduct. He also received a National Defense Medal, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal, an Iraqi Campaign Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, two Armed Force Reserve Medals, a NATO Medal and three letters of appreciation.

Michael is currently on active duty with the rank of sergeant until June 5, 2011. He is anticipating a Honorable Discharge later on this year.

He makes his home in the City of Tonawanda.

For more on Mr. Lewandowski, click on this link to watch this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZf6YK68wQE

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