TRIBUTES – Jon Thorfinnson, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars 2716, stands at the podium, with a group of seven memorial wreaths placed in tribute to area veterans, during Monday’s Veterans Day service held at the Millsop Community Center. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — Residents gathered in the Weirton Room of the Millsop Community Center Monday, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, to pay tribute to all who have served in the nation’s Armed Forces, while remembering their sacrifices.

Mayor Harold Miller and Councilman Chris Jonczak represented the City of Weirton in offering a proclamation officially recognizing Veterans Day in the city.

Jonczak, a retired Marine, noted that, in the United States currently, the number of veterans and active-duty service members makes up only 6 percent of the nation’s population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, West Virginia’s veteran community accounts for approximately 7.2 percent of the state’s residents.

“For all who have served, Semper Fi, thank you, God bless you,” Jonczak said.

They also took a moment to recognize one family, in particular, for its three generations of military service.

FAMILY HONORED – Bob Kaminski, at left, accepts a proclamation from the City of Weirton in honor of the military service of several members of his family. The presentation was made by Councilman Chris Jonczak, center, and Mayor Harold Miller during Monday’s Veterans Day service. -- Craig Howell

The Kaminski family has connections to the U.S. military tracing to World War II, with Stanley Kaminski’s service in the Navy, which included fighting on Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands in the western Pacific Ocean.

Joseph Kaminski served in the Air Force for more than 20 years, earning three Distinguished Flying Crosses, working in the Pentagon and earning the rank of colonel.

Joseph’s brother, Robert, who accepted the honor Monday, served in the Army, earning his Parachute Wings and serving as a medical corpsman with the 307th Medical Battalion, 82nd Airborne.

Robert’s son, Robert Andrew “Gus” Kaminski, graduated from the Naval Academy, completed SEAL Qualification Training and earned his Triden Pin, before serving with SEAL Team 5 for three deployments in the Persian Gulf.

Miller, noting it would be his final Veterans Day service as mayor, recalled the service of many residents of the community, much of which began with a ride on the Pittsburgh and Weirton bus line to get their military physicals as part of the draft.

He also made particular mention of some who never made it home, naming David Olenick and Thomas Brooks, both of Weirton, and Michael Campos of Burgettstown.

Brooks, a Marine, died in November 1966 in Quang Tin, while Olenick, who was in the Army, also died in Quang Tin in May 1969, according to online records from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

Campos was killed in Binh Duong Province in March 1968 while in the Army.

“Keep that in mind as we move forward,” he said. “There were some really great individuals.”

To help preserve their memories, Jim Bissett, of the American Legion Post 10, announced the Legion would purchase memorial bricks, in their honor, to be placed at the Honor Roll Memorial on Three Springs Drive.

Jon Thorfinnson, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars 2716, who served as master of ceremonies, also took a moment to offer thanks to the spouses of the military personnel, noting their own sacrifices to the nation.

The service concluded with the placement of seven memorial wreaths, and a salute to the dead and playing of taps by the American Legion Honor Guard.