Carmel, N.Y. – (11/14/11) – Twenty-seven veterans throughout the Hudson Valley were honored by Senator Greg Ball (R, C – Patterson) at the Veterans’ Hall of Fame ceremony on Thursday.
The Veteran’s Hall of Fame was created by Senator Ball, and designed to honor outstanding veterans from throughout the 40th Senate District. Each veteran that was honored will be included on a traveling wall that will tour local municipalities throughout the 40th district.
For the Town of Bedford Retired Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class James Thorne was honored with the induction into the Veterans’ Hall of Fame. He served in the United States Navy for four years and volunteered for two tours of duty in Vietnam.
As a member of Mine Squadron 11 Detachment Alfa, also known as the “Brown Water Navy,” Ret. EM2 Thorne patrolled the rivers of Nha Be, Vietnam, for enemy mines. For his service, Ret. EM2 Thorne earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal/Service Ribbon, and the Vietnam Service Medal/Ribbon with one bronze star.
A retired training officer in the City of Danbury Fire Department and a small business owner, Ret. EM2 Thorne was born on December 9, 1946 in Danbury, Connecticut. He is married for twenty-six years to Peggy, and is the father of Tommy and Jeremiah.
With just short of thirty-five years with the City of Danbury Fire Department, Ret. EM2 Thorne instituted and completed programs that will serve the people of Danbury for many years, including sending Danbury Recruits to Connecticut State Fire Academy, establishing physical ability tests for all new recruits, establishing the yearly fire hydrant testing program, and authoring standard operating procedures for the safety of the fire fighters and fire operations. Ret. EM2 Thorne also helped to design the Danbury Fire School.
During his opening remarks Senator Ball said, “The veterans who are here today were nominated by their communities, hand-picked because they chose a path of courage, honor, integrity and bravery; a path that helped shape America as we know it, protecting our way of life and liberty.”
