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We are gathered here together…to celebrate the birthday of Dominic Bersani.<\/p>\n
Who is Mr. Bersani when he’s at home? Mr. Bersani is an interesting fella, a recent high school graduate who celebrated his birthday November 20th.<\/p>\n
Bersani, from East Greenbush, New York, was given an honorary diploma from Columbia High School and military medals during an event held by the Rev. Francis A. Kelley Military Honor Society and the Lois Wilson Memorial Breakfast Club at the Melvin Roads American Legion Post.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Might also mention that Mr. Bersani is a former Seabee – from WWII. This is his 99th birthday.<\/p>\n
Bersani received his diploma from the Operation Recognition Program, a project that helps veterans who never completed their high school education due to joining the service finally receive their long-overdue diplomas. He is now a proud graduate of Columbia High\u2019s Class of 2025. He joined fellow veteran Abram Seeberger, 88, of Schodack, New York, who also received an honorary diploma earlier in the year.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Mr. Bersani wasn’t fond of academics, and dropped out of school after eighth grade. He found employment gluing on shoe soles at a shoe\u00a0 factory. Then came the war.<\/p>\n
Japanese forces were winning battles in the Pacific and getting dangerously close to U.S. soil. After Japan captured Attu and Kiska in the Aleutian Islands in late spring 1943, both the U.S. and Canada sent troops to drive out the Rising Sun.<\/p>\n
Part of the Seabees, Bersani was sent to Adak Island to construct a staging area complete with air bases, forts, and deep-water ports to assist in defense strategies to thwart Japanese forces from the string of islands off the southern coast of Alaska. Powered by 35,000 U.S. and Canadian troops, the allied forces drove out about 9,000 Japanese soldiers.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The only WWII battles fought on U.S. soil, I believe.<\/p>\n
The Seabees, Naval Construction Battalions, were vital during the Second World War, constructing military infrastructure and lending a hand in combat missions throughout both the Pacific and European theaters. The Seabees’ motto is \u201cCan Do!\u201d and members certainly lived up to it during the war.<\/p>\n
After the war, Bersani served in the Aleutians until he received an honorable discharge in 1946. He came home to Maine and his job in the shoe factory.<\/p>\n
Bersani reenlisted in the Navy in 1949 and was promoted to ship serviceman third class. He was stationed in Florida where he worked on fixing and shipping landing crafts off to the Navy during the Korean War.<\/p>\n
With Cold War tensions on the rise, Bersani was deployed to missions in Cuba and the Caribbean in 1954 before receiving another honorable discharge.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Obviously our kind of glutton for punishment!<\/p>\n
Following his military career, Bersani became a bridge builder, working for Cinbro Construction in Maine. He later retired and relocated to East Greenbush. Seven decades removed from the service, Bersani is still active in local veterans groups.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
It may be an overworked cliche, but it seems appropriate to say he is 99 years young.<\/p>\n
Happy Birthday from all of us at TAH!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"