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iy tax rebate for families that make more than 5500,000. As many as 2.203 households fall into that category in the four-county Syracuse area, the statestate isn't violating the confidentiality of anyone's personal income ta.v information, llic 2010-2011 state budget required the tax department tothe assessment office.In hundreds of cases, the tax department couldn't determine whether a household made too much money. Those people.of the state assesstws associa-lion, said the privacy issue is greatest for those maiked as possibly over S5(X).000.People don't want to come'You're Our Hero, Daddy'World War II veteran awarded medals for valor in combatMUrGwnVn /J~r ftja-SliniMd WORLD WAR II veteran Patsy Pietromonica. 91. shows off the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals he received Sunday at a surprise party at his son’s home in la-Fayette. The Army replaced his Purple Heart that was lost years ago.By John O'BrienSta“ writerIt was a life-defining mo-mem for Patsy Pietromo-nica in a field near the Amo River in Italy.He was a scout for a U.S. Army platoon chasing German soldiers two weeks after D-Day in June 1944. The platoon was unawaie of Getmans in a machine gun nest in the woods ahead.Pictromonica. then 25. shot his M-l rifle into the woods and drew machine gun fire back, taking a round in his buttocks and leg and falling to the ground. He knew that to survive, he'd have to lie still long enough to convince iIk Germans not to shoot him again.By leading the way and draw ing lire. Pictromonica let his colleagues know where the enemy was hiding. His actions probably saved American lives, an Army spokesman said.Sixty-six yeats later, it was that moment that drew his family around him Sunday afternoon at his son’s home in 1-aFaycttc. They threw Pictromonica a surprise party.Army 2d Lt. Brian Kaufman walked through a kitchen filled with Pietromoni-ca’s five children and many of his 25 grandchildren. Kaufman stood beside Pie-tronionica. 91. seated at the head of a long table.It's my understanding you’re missing a few of your awards from your service to out country during World War II — is that correct? Kaufman asked.I guess so. Pictmmoni-ca said. He'd been given the Purple Heart after the war for his actions that day in Italy. But the medal disappeared in 1969. His daughter. Maty Ellen Delaney, cleaned his huusc while her mother was on vacation in Italy. Delaney said she must have mistakenly thrown the medal in the trash.Pictromonica used to keep it in his dresser, inside a metal case and leather holder. His wife Catherine knew soon after she got home that it was gone. Delaney said.1 went to the state office building to get my Purple Heart back, many ycais ago,” Pietromonica said.But it didn't come through. Then I foigot about it.Delaney saw a sign at the Veterans Adminisuatkin in Syracuse recently saying veterans who'vc lost their medals could apply to get them replaced. Pauly to relieve her own guilt, she applied.The Army responded not only with the Purple Hcatt. hut eight other medals that Pietromonica never knew he had coming. Among them was the Bronze Star, given to soldicts for acts of valor in combat.You're our hero. Daddy, and you’re out country’s hero! Delaney shouted after her father received the awards.I feel meek and mild and thankful, Pictromonica said.Alter he was wounded that day in 1944. Pietromonica spent six months recovering in hospitals across Italy. At one near Naples, he was invited to someone’s home for a spaghetti dinner.While I was eating, my future wife walked in the door, he said. I felt like a ton of bricks hit me. I said.'That's my wife, right there.' Catherine died fout years ago. Her husband recalled their meeting and how it wouldn't have happened if not for his wound.In that way. the bullet Pietromonica took near the Amo River not only earned him medals for his courage. It led to tie crowd of people gathered .wound him in the kitchen in Lafayette O'Brien can be reacted a*. fCbreoBsy'a: irte.com ct lt;70-2187
Newspaper Details
Syracuse Post Standard
Syracuse, New York, US
Mon, Feb 14, 2011
Page 3
Full Page
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USA 23 Apr 2017
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