Commemorative Partner Cohosts 2014 Veteran of the Year Award Ceremony

On Saturday, Nov. 15, the 2014 Veteran of the Year Award Ceremony was held in the New York State Military Museum.  The annual award is co-sponsored by the Friends of the New York State Military Museum and the Capital District of New York (CDNY) Chapter of the Association of the US Army.  The CDNY Chapter is a certified commemorative partner of the Vietnam War Commemoration.

The guest speaker was the Adjutant General of New York, Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy.  The event was open to the public, and about 125 people were in attendance.

The 2014 Awardee was retired Col. Charles R. Johnson, a 26-year Army officer who served as a Vietnamese ranger advisor, operations officer in a special operations group and as a battalion commander in the 9th and 25th Infantry Divisions.

Retired Brig. Gen. Barry Hartman, CDNY Executive Board Member, was the master of ceremonies.  Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Bob Van Pelt, CDNY Chapter President, presented Johnson with an AUSA plaque, a copy of Jim Ryan's painting, "Jungle Warriors: Service and Sacrifice,"  and a check in his honor for $200 to the Albany, New York,  Vietnam Memorial Fund.

U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, who is a retired Army Colonel, spoke at the event and presented Johnson a U.S. flag that flew over the Capitol.

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