Walton Town Supervisor Joseph Cetta was recently inducted into the state Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame.
Cetta said during the bridge dedication ceremony in July, Sen. Peter Oberacker asked him for his military service information. The bridge on Bridge Street/state Route 206, was named in honor of First Lieutenant Stephen H. Doane, the only Medal of Honor recipient from Delaware County. Cetta helped get the bridge named for Doane.
“He said he was nominating me but also said he can’t promise,” he would be inducted, Cetta said.
Oberacker announced in a media release Lt. Col. Cetta, who served with both the United States Marine Corps and the New York Army National Guard was the 2023 inductee from the 51st Senate District.
“Lieutenant Colonel Cetta is a true patriot and his service to our nation and his community deserves the highest recognition. It is my esteemed honor to select him as my 2023 inductee to the New York State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame,” Oberacker said in the release. “Joseph’s contributions, both at home and abroad, during his nearly four decades of service epitomize the definition of hero. Today he continues to make lives better serving as Walton Town Supervisor and as a firefighter with the Walton Fire Department. Service is near and dear to his heart, and we are all better off because of his efforts.”
During his service, Cetta, a Walton native, received the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Human Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the release said.
Cetta spent four years on active duty with VFMA-312 with two Western Pacific deployments that included duty in Japan, the Philippines, Okinawa, South Korea, Guam and Wake Island before being honorably discharged in June 1983, the release said. Two months later, he joined the New York Army National Guard and over the next 32 years held a number of leadership positions and was deployed to missions throughout New York State in response to natural disasters. Additional deployments took him to Panama, Honduras and Guatemala on nation building missions. Later, he was ordered to active duty and deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan serving as Liaison Officer with the 42nd Infantry Division during each tour.
“I have always felt the need to serve, from military service to local public service,” Cetta said.
Cetta has served as a village trustee and is the town supervisor. He is also a firefighter with the Walton Fire Department.
The state Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame inductees may be former members of any branch of the United States Armed Forces, the release said. The men and women are chosen for this honor based on either service in combat or notable work performed after discharge from the service.
“I’m sure many deserve the recognition but am fortunate and happy that I was selected,” Cetta said.
The Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held virtually and is available for viewing at https://tinyurl.com/ynwdz5vc. Additional recognition will take place in Walton at a later date.