SMETHPORT (EC) – U.S. Army Lt. Col. Sean P. O’Day, Retired,
spoke at the annual Veterans Day dinner Saturday at the Bucktail
Post #138 Smethport American Legion.

A 22-year veteran, O’Day was a specialist in ordnance systems
and weapons procurement for the armed forces during his military
career.

“Being deployed to Iraq was the highlight of my career,” he
said. “We are succeeding in our mission over there, even though
it’s not being reported enough in the media. Six million children
have returned to their schools. All hospitals in that country are
open, and there are new water wells, and filtration plants are
operating. It is mandatory that all military units, in addition to
their combat duties, have projects that benefit the
population.”

The current servicemen carry on the legacy and standards of
earlier generations of veterans who have fought for our nation’s
freedom, O’Day said.

During the program, Commander David Ford introduced post
officers, and Sonja Covert, past commander, introduced past
commanders.

Conducting the POW/MIA service was Deborah Tufts, a past
commander and a U.S. Air Force veteran who served during the
Vietnam era and in conflicts in Lebanon, Grenada, Panama and the
Persian Gulf.

Ford, George Tufts, Seth Digel and Howard McCollough presided at
the Post Everlasting Ceremony during which six members who have
died in the last year were honored.