Story by Dylan Smith, editor and publisher of the Tucson Sentinel. Photos by Howard Owens. David Bellavia, a Batavia resident, on Tuesday, became the first living veteran of the Iraq War to receive the Medal of Honor, as President Donald Trump presented the award in a ceremony at the White House. Trump said it was his "privilege to award the highest military honor to an
CELORON A COVID-19 vaccination clinic was held Sunday in Celoron, with hundreds of doses administered by the Veterans Affairs office. Among those to get a
CELORON A COVID-19 vaccination clinic was held Sunday in Celoron, with hundreds of doses administered by the Veterans Affairs office. Among those to get a
jyoung@post-journal.com
Steve Kriner of the Olean VA delivers a COVID-19 vaccine to 100-year-old veteran Joseph Brunacini of Jamestown at American Legion Herman Kent Post 777 on Sunday.
P-J photos by Jay Young
Hundreds of veterans from around the Southern Tier visited American Legion Herman Kent Post 777 on Jackson Avenue Sunday to receive their COVID-19 vaccines.
The clinic was the largest rural outreach program that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs has undertaken thus far, with 800 doses of the Pfizer vaccine on site for distribution.
“You can see it here, it is a pretty well-oiled machine where they are only on site for 20 minutes, 25 minutes tops,” said Sean Lindstrom, COVID-19 vaccine coordinator for the VA Western New York Health System. “We are able to flip these veterans through very quickly and receive a high number of patients through. What we heard on Friday was that this was going to be the largest rural outreach that the VA has ever done. Not
By Kitty O Neal, News 93.1 KFBK
Jan 26, 2021
David Bellavia addresses soldiers from the Iowa National Guard in August 2008. (Photo courtesy of David Bellavia)
Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas presents David Bellavia a jersey before a game, November 2007. (Photo courtesy of David Bellavia)
Staff Sgt. David G. Bellavia was born, Nov. 10, 1975, in Buffalo, New York. The son of a successful dentist and the youngest of four boys, Bellavia grew up in western New York and attended Lyndonville Central High School and Houghton Academy.
Following his high school graduation in 1994, Bellavia attended Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire, and the University at Buffalo, where he studied biology and theater before turning to the military.