Freedom Remembered

Born: August 7, 2024 in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Died: June 4, 2024 in Laghman, Afghanistan

Sgt. Devin A. Snyder, 20, of Cohocton, N.Y.; died of wounds suffered June 4, in Laghman province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked her unit with an improvised explosive device. Devin graduated from Wayland-Cohocton High School in 2008. She was assigned to the 793rd Military Police Battalion, 3rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. She joined the United States Army in August of 2008 and served at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri before arriving in Alaska in February of 2009. She deployed to Afghanistan in March 2011 and was due to come home on leave in July of 2011. She was posthumously promoted from Specialist to Sergeant.

Burial is at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Cohocton, New York

To be updated…

Spc. Brian D. Riley Jr., 24, of Longwood, Fla., died May 15, in Kunar province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He lived in Binghamton, New York, attending Binghamton High School before he moved to Florida in 2004. In Altamonte Springs, Florida, he attended Lake Brantley High School. He joined the army in 2008 as an Infantryman. His awards and decorations include, the Army Commendation Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.

Glenwood Cemetery

To be updated…

Born: May 20, 2024 in Westfield, New York
Died: May 2, 2024 in Kunar, Afghanistan

Sgt. Kevin W. White of Westfield, New York graduated from Westfield Academy in 2006 and joined the United States Army soon after. He served a 15 month tour in Iraq and had deployed to Afghanistan in early April of 2011. His training and awards include, the Air Assault training in 2010 and the Warrior Leader Course for Military Education in 2011 where he made Commandant’s list. Sgt. White was Awarded The Bronze Star Medal, Posthumous, The Purple Heart, Posthumous, the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (twice), the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/Bronze Service Star, the Iraq Campaign Medal w/Bronze Service Star, (twice), the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon,(twice), the NATO Medal, Posthumous, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Combat and Special Skill Badge, Basic Marksmanship Qualifying Badge Bar, Weapon: Rifle-Expert. He died at age 22 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.
Army
2nd Battalion
35th Infantry Regiment
3rd Brigade Combat Team
25th Infantry Division
Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

Burial is at Westfield Cemetery in Westfield, New York

To be updated…

Born: January 4, 2024
Died: April 4, 2024 in Faryab, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Michael S. Lammerts of Tonawanda, New York graduated from North Tonawanda after briefly attending Niagara Falls High School. While in school he participated in football. As an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan, Mike did all he could to show his support for the team that included purchasing several Jerseys. After the events of September 11th, he felt compelled to do his part by enlisting in the military. Mike had been in Afghanistan for less than a month, having previously served two tours of duty in Iraq. He died at age 26 of wounds suffered from small arms fire in Faryab province, Afghanistan. He leaves his wife, Melissa, two children, Savannah and Michael, his mother, Kendra Speck, a brother, Christopher and a sister, Heather. Lammerts was posthumously promoted to Staff Sergeant.
Army
1st Battalion
84th Field Artillery Regiment
170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Baumholder, Germany

Burial is at Elmlawn Cemetery in Kenmore, New York

To be updated…

Born: August 10, 2024 in Jamestown, New York
Died: February 7, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Aaron M. Swanson, 21, of Jamestown, N.Y., joined the Marine Corps on May 18, 2009. His awards and decorations include, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal and the NATO Medal - International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan. He died Feb. 7 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He leaves his parents, Gene and Julie Abers Swanson, his birth mother, Michelle Buckley Ford, his siblings, Luke Swanson, Torianna, Kiersten Bekoscke, Benjamin Swanson, and Nathan and Andrew Ford.
Marine
Forces Reserve
3rd Battalion
25th Marine Regiment
4th Marine Division
Buffalo, New York

Lake View Cemetery

To be updated…

Born: October 28, 2024
Died: January 28, 2024 in Parwan, Afghanistan

Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Venetz Jr of Wading River, New York enlisted in the United States Army in February of 2001, out of Prince William, Virginia as an infantryman, and attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. His first assignment was with the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment out of Fort Hood, Texas, where he was assigned to a scout platoon. During this time he deployed to Cuba and twice to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2007, Venetz volunteered to become a Special Forces Soldier. He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in March, 2009, and was assigned to A Co, 2nd Bn., 7th SFG (A). His military education includes, the Warrior Leaders Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Combat Lifesaver Course, Basic Airborne Course, Army Sniper Course, and the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Course. His awards and decorations include, two Bronze Star Medals, one with valor, two Purple Heart Awards, four Army Commendation Medals, with two for valor, Army Good Conduct Medal , National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Award, Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. He leaves his wife and two children among others. SFC Venetz died at age 30 in Parwan province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained in a non-combat incident. Tony leaves his wife Deb, two children, Alexa and Jace, his parents, Anthony Sr and Marion, and two sisters, Erika and Andrea.
Army
Company A
2nd Battalion
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Sec 60 Site 9509

To be updated…

Born: September 10, 2024
Died: December 5, 2024 in Paktia, Afghanistan

Sgt. Nicholas J. Aleman of Brooklyn, New York joined the United States Marine Corps on August 16, 2024 and was promoted to the rank of sergeant on April 1, 2009. He had previously deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from November 2007 to June 2008 where he served as an intelligence specialist and was deployed as an individual mobilization augmentee. His awards include, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. He died at age 24 while supporting combat operations in Paktia province, Afghanistan.
Marines
Deployment Processing Command-East
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Burial is at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York - Sec R Site 42H

To be updated…

Born: September 7, 2024
Died: November 16, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Javier O. Ortiz Rivera of Rochester, New York is a graduate of Edison School of Imaging and Information Technology. Javier joined the United States Marines in 2002. And as a Marine, he was serving his second deployment to Afghanistan, having previously served a tour in Iraq. He leaves his wife, Veronica, three children, his mother, Gloria Rivera, his father, Orlando, a brother Orlando and a sister Glory. He was expected to be back stateside in April of 2011. He died at age 26 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
1st Battalion
8th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Sec 60 Site 9485

To be updated…

Born: April 25, 2024 in Syracuse, New York
Died: November 10, 2024 in Logar, Afghanistan

Sgt. Edward H. Bolen of Chittenango, New York is a 2003 graduate of Chittenango High School where he was Captain of the football and baseball teams. He then attended St. John Fisher College from 2003 to early 2005 before he transferred to the State University College at Cortland. Eddie has several family members who have served in the military, uncles and cousins. And Eddie himself was named after his great uncle, Army 2nd Lt. Edward Bolen, who was killed in action during World War II. Eddie enlisted in the United States Army in November of 2006. After training he arrived at Fort Polk in June 2007 and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom later that year. He deployment to Afghanistan in October of 2010. His awards and decorations include, the Army Commendation Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. He military education includes, the Warrior Leadership Course, the Emergency Medical Technical Basic Course, the Force XXI Battalion Command-Brigade Level Course and the Airborne Course. Eddie was married in early September 2010, just prior to his deployment overseas. His longterm goal was to complete his studies, and then to join the New York City Fire Department. He leaves his wife, Andrea and his parents, Walter Bolen and Jeanine among others. He died at age 25 in Logar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire and an improvised explosive device.
Army
2nd Battalion
30th Infantry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry)
Fort Polk, Louisiana

Burial is at Oakwood Cemetery in Chittenango, New York

Born: September 4 1989 in Detroit, Michigan
Died: November 5, 2024 in Ghazni, Afghanistan

Spc. Blake D. Whipple of Williamsville, New York moved with his family to New York during elementary school and spent his formative years in Baltimore prior to moving back to New York his junior year. He attended Williamsville East High School, graduating in 2007 before taking classes at St. Bonaventure University, Erie Community College and Buffalo State College. While at St Bonaventure, he had his own radio show on a station that was manned by the students. An avid rock-n-roll fan, this kind of thing was right up his alley. Blake was also a sports fan who loved baseball, football and hockey in addition to playing video games. He was eager to get his life started and decided to join the United States Army in 2009. He deployed to Afghanistan in May of 2010 with a break in September to celebrate his birthday. He leaves his parents, David Whipple and Kim, and two brothers, Sean and Brian. He died at age 21 in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
Army
7th Engineering Battalion
10th Sustainment Brigade
10th Mountain Division
Fort Drum, New York

Burial is at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Kenmore, New York

To be updated…