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COLONIE VETERANS MEMORIAL

This page was last updated on 16 May 2010.

Hopefully you are listening to "Wind Beneath My Wings" from the movie Beaches.

This page honors some of the women I have known who have passed on. Be sure to visit IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, THE PENTAGON, OKC, DESERT STORM, VIETNAM and EARLIER WARS to see the women who died serving our country.

• 6 Dec 09:

USA SGT Mary Margaret (Schisler) Salm,  of Nashville, TN passed away after suffering a stroke the previous Thursday in her apartment. I met Margaret online quite a few years ago and then in person in 1999. She was interviewed for my book Women At Risk. Margaret enlisted in the WAAC in February 1943 as a private and trained at Fort Oglethorpe, GA. When the WAAC became the WAC she was sworn in once again. Following training she was assigned to Stockton Field, CA where she did many jobs but became proficient in Teletype so she could go overseas. She returned to Ft Oglethorpe for more training, then Camp Shanks, NY before deploying to London where she was stationed with the 131st Army Airways Communication System Squadron. Margaret was in London for more than a year and endured V-2 bombings from the Germans. She was discharged from the WAC in November 1945 as a sergeant. Her service didn't stop there as she became a volunteer with other groups and a historian. Although she was a WAC Margaret spent many years heavily involved with the WAVES unit that was located in Nashville and had been their Newsletter Editor for many years. She had been married to a Veteran but John Salm passed away in 1990. She will be cremated and buried with her husband in the Nashville National Cemetery. Here are two photos Margaret donated to me for my book so you can see what she looked like during WW II and in 1999.

• 18 Jul 09:

Retired USA BG Mildred (Inez Caroon) Bailey, 90, died following a long illness in Washington, DC. Although she was a French teacher at the time she gave it up and became an officer in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corp in 1942. She had assignments in Florida, Germany, Georgia, Alabama, and Washington, DC but traveled extensively for the Army. I first met her when she came to my hometown area in the early 60s with a traveling WAC Exhibit Unit. She was another reason I chose to join the Army! I met her again many years later when the Army Women's Museum was dedicated at Ft Lee, VA. Her husband Roy Bailey was killed in an auto accident in the 60s. BG Bailey will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery later this year with the full military honors she earned. Special thanks to COL Pat Jernigan, USA (Ret) for providing this information and photo of BG Bailey from 1972.

• 12 Jul 09:

Retired USAF LTC Virginia Sweet, 88, died in Schenectady, NY. During World War II Virginia joined the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) and became a pilot. She flew many types of aircraft including the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-29 Superfortress, P-51 Mustang and many others. After the WASP was disbanded Virginia joined the Air Force and served during the Korean War followed by 30 years with the Air Force Reserve. Upon retirement from the military she continued to instruct others to become pilots at local airports in her hometown area. I interviewed Virginia for  "Women At Risk" and have come to be acquainted with her niece Betsey McBride. Virginia will be remembered by many of those she touched.

• 11 Mar 09:

Retired USA CPT Agnes M. "Irish" Bresnahan, 58, of Windham, NH died after a long illness from chemical exposure while on active duty. Irish attended Presentation of Mary Academy in Methuen, MA and graduated from Trinity College in Burlington, VT on the ROTC program in 1972. She studied at the University of Texas in the post-graduate program. Irish went to Fort McClellan, AL for basic training and served both stateside at Fort Ritchie, MD and in Germany from 1971 until 1977. She received the Army Commendation Medal four times and the National Service Defense Medal twice. After retiring from the Army she worked at the IRS as a computer systems analyst until 2005. She was a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Disabled Veterans of America, the United Female Veterans of America, and the American Legion, among other Veteran’s groups. She was a staunch advocate for Veteran’s rights. Irish is survived by her long time companion Pamela Sullivan of Windham, NH; mother, Agnes J. Bresnahan of Lawrence, MA; her brothers and sisters; many nieces and nephews; and many friends. Irish can be visited one last time at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home 233 Lawrence Street in Methuen, MA on Tuesday March 17 from 3:00 until 9:00 P.M. A funeral mass will be held at Saint Monica’s Church, 212 Lawrence Street in Methuen on Wednesday at 10:30 A.M. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Agent Orange Victims and Widows Support Network, Inc., P.O. Box 90, Davenport, FL. 33836 (agentorangequiltoftears.com) or Nam Guardian Angel (namguardianangel.com). Irish passed away after fighting with the VA for years. Right now all I can say is we must all soldier on in Irish's name to continue her fight and our's with the military and VA that say nothing happened to us or there's nothing wrong with us! Many of us were exposed to Agent Orange and other nerve agents without going to Vietnam  as we went through Fort McClellan and other installations in CONUS. Many were raped and assaulted. Many were just plain screwed by the military and then the VA not too mention some family members and friends who wouldn't believe there was something wrong with us physically and mentally. Some don't think PTSD exists. Those of us effected no better and Irish was the leader in so many ways. We can and should band together to continue her fight in her name. I will miss her phones calls and emails. RIP Irish! Photo donated by Irish Bresnahan.

I am proud to call Irish my friend. Because of that relationship I purchased a brick to honor her and her service to our country. It was placed at the Colonie Veterans Memorial here in my town that I was involved with getting built.

 Special tributes to Irish and her full obit can be found at:

A SOLDIER DIED THIS WEEK-TRIBUTE FOR "IRISH"

Agent Orange Victims & Widows Support Network

Agent Orange Victims & Widows Support Network CHAT

HELPPP!, the Herbicide Exposure Legislative Proposal & Promotion Program

Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, Methuen, MA

NamGuardianAngel

Sisters After War A special video by from Chaplain Kathie

Testimonial Page To Irish..Jackpot 29 A special program was done on the first anniversary of her death.

The Valley Patriot

Veterans Info--Tribute to Irish

Welcome to the Vietnam Babylift Website

YouTube - Capt Agnes Bresnahan Burial at Arlington 61509

• 19 Oct 08:

I've met many women in my life who I cared about but most were just in passing. One woman Elizabeth "Betty" Crowley always stuck with me. We first met in 1965 and I began working with her in 1966. I would have gone to the ends of the earth for her. When she left her partner in 1967 I wanted to be with her but it wasn't to be as she had already met someone else. That relationship lasted a number of years then she went with someone else. Over the years we corresponded by mail at holidays and the last time I saw her she was waiting for her partner at a local Breast Clinic. I knew Betty had some health issues but was shocked this week when I read her obit in the paper. She is survived by Evie Wright, several sisters and brothers, as well as many other family members and friends. Rest in peace my friend. I located a photo of Betty from 1969--I know I have others so I'll continue to look. Photo by Noonie Fortin.

• 11 Jul 08:

There are not many men that I have enjoyed being hugged and kissed by but COL Earl P Hopper, Sr was one big exception. From the first day I met him so many years ago he accepted this old first sergeant into his life and arms and for that I'll be forever grateful. Since that first meeting we've spent many great times together at various Veteran events. Earl served proudly in the Army during WW II, Korea and Vietnam. However his heart was broken when his oldest son USAF LTC Earl Hopper, Jr went missing in Vietnam in 1968. He co-founded Task Force Omega, Inc and until recently continued fighting for all military families for a full accounting of our POW-MIAs from all wars. COL Hopper leaves behind his wife Patty; sons Michael, Larry, Daniel and David; step-daughter Tracy; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; and thousands of us who came to know him. He will be missed! Photo taken in 1998 at the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Reunion donated by Noonie Fortin.

• 10 Aug 07:

A number of years ago I began corresponding with Patricia "Pat" (Craig) Parmeter from Malone, NY. I interviewed her for my book Women At Risk. I invited her to attend a few women's forums that I did at the NYS Military Museum and she actually spoke at one of them. We continued to correspond but then I stopped hearing from her. On 1 Sep 08 I received an email from her sister Jane informing me that Pat had passed away a year ago. Pat served our country in the Women's Army Corps as a military secretary at the Pentagon. She served her state as a volunteer nurses aide at the Albany Veteran's Hospital. She also served within her community on her town council, as the town supervisor and ran her own Legal Services business covering three upstate counties. She was a member of the WAC Veterans Assn, WIMSA and several other organizations. Pat is survived by her husband John, son John, a brother, sister and best friend Jane, as well as many others. She will be missed. Photo donated by Pat Parmeter.

• 6 Dec 04:

A heart condition took Susan M Christiansen. She was a photo-journalist who wrote columns for BRAVO Veterans Outlook. Susan was heavily involved with the POW-MIA issue and was often in Washington, DC during Rolling Thunder. She also wrote the Introduction to my book Memories of Maggie and I allowed her to write a chapter for my book Potpourri Of War. We were last together in April 1999 when we were taping our interviews for the A&E Biography Martha Raye: In Love and War which aired in June '99. I located this photo of her taken in 1993--she is wearing a boonie hat standing next to me and on the other side of the photo is Belle Pellegrino. Photo donated by Noonie Fortin.

• 17 Mar 04:

Chris Banigan died suddenly in her home in Fresno, CA. She was an Army nurse who served two tours in Vietnam: 69-70 at the 18th in Camp Evans and QuangTri and 70-71 first at the 27th Surg in ChuLai before her final stop at the 91st in TuyHoa. She is survived by her parents and more friends than she ever knew existed--most of us Veterans. Photo donated by illyria.com.

• 12 Mar 04:

Peggy Jo (Martin) Davis was an honorary US Navy Seal. Peggy Jo had been born on 27 December 1950. She is survived by her husband, Medal of Honor recipient Sammy L Davis, a daughter, two sons, three grandchildren, three sisters and several in-laws. Photo donated by Sammy Davis.

• 3 Mar 04:

Susan (Tortorella) Chapman lost her battle to lung cancer. Even though she was last married to a Vietnam Veteran, she was not a Veteran herself, however she was a Veteran supporter of the best kind. She attended many Veteran activities.  Sue was born on 9 January 1959 and prayed that she would live to see age 45. She made it though she didn't survive long enough to see her kids graduate and get married. She is survived by her step-father, two daughters, a son, her brother, a sister and many friends in the Veteran community. Sue's mother Rae took care of her after Sue moved back to California and I believe Rae put off her own health care to do so as she passed away a few weeks after Sue. Photo by Noonie Fortin.

• 1 Mar 04:

Retired Army Nurse Corps LTC Frances Liberty had served in WW II, Korea and Vietnam. Born on 14 September 1923 "COL Lib" is survived by her sisters, nieces, nephews and those of us in the Veteran community who knew her well. Photo donated by NYS Military Heritage Museum.

• 4 Mar 03:

A lung condition took another friend, Dawn Lindsay. She was heavily involved with the POW-MIA issue and is survived by her beloved dogs and many friends in the Veteran community. Photo by Noonie Fortin.

• 7 Jun 98:

My friend C. Linda Sacco was born on 10 January 1950. She was not a Veteran but believed in what I was doing to serve our country. She was an avid roller skater and a member of the Roller Derby League in the early 1970s until she was severely injured by an opposing skater. She began her professional skating career with the Jolters but was named "Rookie of the Year" while a member of the NY Chiefs. Linda lost her life suddenly when an Amtrak train hit her car. She was survived by her mother, brother and many close friends. The photo on the left is by Noonie Fortin.

The pictorial tribute on the right was put together by Phil Berrier of the Yahoo Groups Roller Derby Forum--thanks Phil for creating this wonderful tribute which was posted in time for the 7th anniversary of Linda's death. I provided Phil with the color photos. There are so few photos of Linda skating as a Jolter but Phil found one--that is her wearing #3 in the bottom right corner of the tribute.

• 19 Oct 94:

Entertainer and the love of thousands of Veterans Martha "COL Maggie" Raye died in Los Angeles after many years of illness. I was so glad she received her Presidential Medal of Freedom in November 93 that I worked so hard to get for her. She will always be missed by those of us who really got to know her. She is survived by her daughter, grandson and the last guy she married. To learn more about her please visit COLONEL MAGGIE!

• 11 Jan 86:

Marcia Oropallo was an Army Veteran who helped guard our soldiers while stationed in West Germany. Born in Albany, NY on 5 May 1961, she joined Aimee in a Holy Union on 27 December 1985. She died in Loudonville, NY due to a house fire. Her family wouldn't acknowledge her Veteran status or her life-partner during the wake or funeral so we in the gay community held a very special memorial service for her to help Aimee deal with her loss. Marcia is survived by her life-partner Aimee and many friends. Photo donated by Aimee Lewis.

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