ALBION — The medal presentation at the Albion American Legion Sheret Post No. 35 Monday gave the Orleans County community the chance to thank their local veterans.

In a special luncheon ceremony that began with a rifle salute by the color guard at the Veterans Service Agency, 15 Orleans County veterans were presented a complete set of medals they earned while at war.

Many were completely unaware they had received the awards at all, said Veterans Service Agency Director Paul F. Fulcomer. The annual ceremony honors the veterans with a replacement set issued by the U.S. government free of charge.

“After all these years, it still chokes me up,” Fulcomer said.

The awards were presented by U.S. Rep. Thomas Reynolds, state Sen./ George Maziarz and county legislators Henry Smith Jr. and Kenneth Rush. The medals reissued to veterans who have passed away were received by family members.

Lt. Col. Craig Alan Bias with the U.S. Air Force presented his dad, William E. Bias, with the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal. A graduate student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, who will graduate with a doctorate in nuclear chemistry this May, Craig flew home for the weekend as a surprise.

“I was happy to give something back to him,” Craig said. “There was never really the opportunity for ceremony. It’s really about spending time with Dad, and for him to reminisce of it and tell stories.”

William said 26 of his family members drove in from all over for the occasion, a far cry from the ribbons given to him after the Vietnam War without explanation.

The war changed him for good, he said. He left an 18-year-old boy and returned four years later as a man. In the end, it cost him his first marriage.

“When you come back, you’ve seen things young men shouldn’t have seen,” William said. Following his release from the Air Force in July 1968, the Lyndonville High School graduate went on to become a county deputy sheriff and a senior maintenance technician at Eastman Kodak company in Rochester. “I’m thankful a lot of the attitudes have changed. People are supportive of the soldiers now, even if they don’t support the war.”

Albion resident Stephen Coville was presented with a two-star banner representing his two sons currently serving with the U.S. Army. Sgt. Major Stephen Coville Jr. is on his second tour in Iraq and Pvt. Johnathan Coville is stationed in Mississippi.

John Hucknall named Fulcomer Outstanding Legionnaire of the Year for his work with veterans as a service officer. A veteran himself, Fulcomer served two tours in Vietnam — one of his proudest accomplishments.

“The four years I spent in the U.S. Navy were some of the best of my life,” Fulcomer said. “I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”

Contact reporter Nicole Colemanat 798-1400, ext. 2227.