Nov. 6 Ceremony to Honor 2022 Veteran of the Year

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A ceremony honoring the Veteran of the Year for 2022 will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, at the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge #161 at 1 Elks Lane, Saratoga Springs. The event is free and open to the public. Face masks are optional.

Veteran of the Year 2022 is David T. Wallingford, Capt, USMC a resident of Malta. Wallingford was born and raised in Albany, graduated from the College of The Holy Cross, Worcester, MA in 1966 and in 1967 was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He served in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969 with the 3rd Marine Division in I Corps along the DMZ and was Honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1970 as a Captain.  

For his service in Vietnam, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation and various campaign medals and ribbons. 

Wallingford was wounded in Vietnam on March 25, 1969.  He was medevac’d through several RVN sites before being evacuated to the USNH Yokosuka, Japan. While convalescing at the USNH he met Navy Nurse Lieutenant Helene Hill. They have now been married 52 years and are the proud parents of four children and proud grandparents of eight grandchildren.

The annual award is co-sponsored by the Friends of the New York State Military Museum and the Capital District of New York Chapter of the Association of the United States Army. Presidents of the two co-sponsor organizations will present the award. Saratoga County Supervisors Chairman Todd Kusnierz will present a Proclamation from Saratoga County. New York State Senator Jim Tedisco will present a Proclamation from the New York State Senate. A US Congressional Proclamation and a flag will be presented by Congressman Tonko and remarks by the Adjutant General of the State of New York will be given.