Series: Rochester

In 1995, Wayne Stillman helped form the committee that would one day create the Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial in Rochester.

1920: Two years after his son’s death in World War II, Andrew Haggerty, a Rochester postal carrier, had Clarence returned home for a flag-draped funeral. Here’s Britt Aamodt.

Terry Throndson served in the Navy, 1971-75. It was during the Vietnam War, and he decided to volunteer and choose his own path rather than be drafted.

2009: Navy vet Al Procopio knew his cancer was caused by exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Only it would take him 20 years and a legal fight to convince the Veteran’s Administration of it.

When Terry Throndson was stationed in Scotland with the Navy, he met a local celebrity—the Queen Mother.

Terry Throndson got along with the pilots aboard his Navy carrier. He became good friends with a pilot he first met when he arrested him during shore patrol.

Terry Throndson was put into a Naval fire department where his job put him above enlisted who had more rank on him.

Terry Throndson took damage control school seriously. He was going to be sent to a carrier and this training showed him how to plug leaks when a ship took on water.

Terry Throndson was out to sea for three months when the shipped pulled into Barcelona, Spain. As soon as he hit ground, he started to sway. His sea legs didn’t work on terra firma.

Terry Throndson spent time aboard a carrier, where he had to strap himself in on deck when he recorded in the logbook to make sure he wasn’t swept away.