SERINO HONORS DISTINGUISHED LOCAL VETERAN

ALBANY, NY—Senator Sue Serino (R, C, I—Hyde Park) announced today that Diana B. Gaetano of Poughkeepsie has been inducted into the New York State Senate’s Veterans Hall of Fame.

The New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame was established to recognize veterans from across the state who have distinguished themselves throughout their time in the military and beyond. Ms. Gaetano was in Albany on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 for an induction ceremony and to accept the award.

“With Memorial Day approaching, it is important to be doing all that we can to remember, recognize and honor our servicemen and women whose selfless sacrifices have shaped our nation and our communities,” said Senator Serino. “A true champion for women in the military, Diana B. Gaetano, served as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force at one of the most tumultuous times in our nation’s history. In her near decade of service, Ms. Gaetano worked to plan, develop and administer a successful Women’s Air Force Recruitment program throughout Eastern New York which shaped the lives of countless women in the area.”

After completing her service in 1969, Ms. Gaetano spent time managing her family and pursuing a rigorous course load independently. She settled in Poughkeepsie with her husband, Maj. Frank Gaetano, who graduated from Citadel and was in the Army until 1975 when he joined the reserves. She worked for over twenty years at Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation.

Ms. Gaetano’s commitment to serve, extends far beyond her time with the military. As a member and treasurer of the Kiwanis International Club of Pleasant Valley, Ms. Gaetano’s passion for volunteerism helped her promote and expand the organization’s values of justice, patriotism and good will to the benefit of the local community. For the past six years, she has been a dedicated member of the Pleasant Valley Firemen’s Ladies Auxiliary, playing a vital role in ensuring the health and safety of those who lay their lives on the line to fight fires throughout the community.

In 2014, Ms. Gaetano was awarded a ‘Certificate of Congressional Recognition’ for her role in actively “advancing the universal hope of freedom and liberty for all” during the Vietnam War.

Serino concluded, “She is a veteran of distinguished character and service both within, and beyond, her time spent in the military. I am honored to have the opportunity to recognize her service by inducting her into the New York State Senate’s Veterans Hall of Fame.”

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