Nicholas Valenti

Nicholas Valenti served faithfully and with honor in the United States Marine Corps.

From February 1969 to August 1979, Mr. Valenti was in the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division in the Coastal Waters of the Republic of Vietnam.

For his service, Mr. Valenti earned a Meritorious Promotion to Corporal. He is the recipient of a Vietnamese Service Campaign Medal and two Meritorious Masts for Outstanding Service as head of the Battalion’s Legal Services Division.

Upon his return to Auburn, Mr. Valenti continued in his personal and professional mission to service his fellow citizens and Veterans. He has served as the American Legion Post Commander (18 years) and the VVA 704 Chapter President. He has been a member of the NYS Veterans Service Officer Association and was the Cayuga County Veterans Service Officer.

Currently in his tenth year, Mr. Valenti is the NYS Central District Director for the Vietnam Veterans of America. He served with distinction as the Cayuga County Veterans Service Agency Director. He created and developed a transportation program still in existence that made it possible for veterans to go to medical appointments at the VA Medical Center in Syracuse.

Mr. Valenti was Co-chair in bringing "The Wall That Heals" to Cayuga County in 2017. This effort allowed 8,000 individuals to visit the exhibit and provided an opportunity for many who would not ever be able to visit The Wall in Washington, D.C. This exhibit also provided a sense of healing to many Vietnam veterans and their families who had the opportunity to visit "The Wall That Heals."

Mr. Valenti was the moving force in a 15-year project to design, create and bring to fruition "The Cayuga County Vietnam Veterans Memorial" and the "In Memory Program Monument." Dedicated in 2021, he worked to provide Cayuga County’s Vietnam veterans with the “Welcome Home Parade” they never had.

A dedicated veteran and community voice, Mr. Valenti has worked for 14 years to make the "Wreaths Across America Program" a success, which takes place each December, for all participants and the community.

In 2021, he worked diligently with two high school students on the Purple Heart Campaign Program for our veterans.