The Chamber of Schenectady County, in conjunction with the Schenectady Military Affairs Council held Business @ Breakfast: To Honor and to Serve, at the Stratton Air National Guard Base, in Scotia, on Nov. 10, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Local veterans and servicemen were invited to the program with all branches of the armed forces, from the Coast Guard to Marine Corps, being represented.
The event also unveiled a portrait of U.S. Representative Samuel S. Stratton, for which the base is named. Artist Greg Zoltowski of Gemar Creations, Inc. and Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton unveiled the portrait.
Members of the council and local celebrities were on hand to help as `Special Guest Servers` to the servicemen in attendance including Stratton, Albany County Executive Micheal Breslin, and Assemblymen James Tedisco.
Breakfast was prepared by Glen Sanders Mansion with the assistance of Schenectady County Community College Culinary Students.
Colonel Anthony German, Wing Commander of the 109th Airlift Wing, New York Air National Guard also spoke of the missions that are deployed from the based, stating, that there has been at least one person from the based deployed in a theater since 1990. Members of the 109th are currently deployed in Afghanistan and the South Pole, where their C-130 Hercules aircraft are outfitted with skis to help with landing and takeoff.
Chairman of the S.M.A.C Roger A. Hannay spoke of the sacrifices involved in the line of duty. `Your families know of your sacrifice,` he said, `and we do too.`
“