Lori Dispenza Honored for State Senate Veterans HOF Induction in Brocton Ceremony

A Portland native who was inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame earlier this year was honored in a local ceremony on Saturday. Family and friends of Lori Dispenza, along with fellow veterans and community members, turned out for the event at the John W. Dill American Legion Post 434 in Brocton. State Senator George Borrello, who hosted the ceremony, said Dispenza's story is about two chapters of service -- the first chapter is the time she spent in the U.S. Army, which began in 1998...

George Borrello: Dispenza's military service

Four years after leaving the Army, Dispenza joined the Chautauqua County Veterans Service Agency in 2014. She then served with the New York State Department of Veterans' Services before returning to Chautauqua County as a veterans service officer in Dunkirk. Chautauqua County Clerk Greg Carlson, who was Director of the county's Veterans Service Agency at the time, described his reaction when Dispenza told him she wanted to return to the county to fill that Dunkirk position...

Greg Carlson: I about passed out

Dispenza says what keeps her going is her desire to help veterans. She also expressed appreciation for those who have supported her...

Lori Dispenza: thanked her supporters

Borrello presented Dispenza with her Veterans Hall of Fame recognition and commemorative challenge coin. Other speakers at the ceremony included a representative from Assemblyman Andrew Molitor's Office, Fredonia Place Administrator Amanda Hall, and local veteran Keith Sowa.

Photos by Greg Larson