Francisco “Frank” Morales, a decorated veteran of the U.S. Army and director of the Military Aligned Students Program at St. 博纳旺蒂尔 University, was inducted Tuesday into the 纽约 state 森ate’s Veterans Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Albany.

Morales was nominated by 森. George Borrello in recognition of his outstanding service and dedication to the nation and fellow veterans. The annual recognition, established in 2005, is bestowed upon a veteran from each 森ate district in the state who has not only served valiantly in the military but has also made outstanding contributions on behalf of their community as a civilian.

“Frank Morales enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantryman and served 20 years with tremendous distinction, ultimately attaining the rank of master sergeant. Among his many awards is the Silver Star Medal, bestowed on him for his heroic actions on Aug. 26, 2006, when Morales’s unit was ambushed by over 60 Taliban soldiers. Morales was able to lead his men through the battle and save four wounded soldiers,” Borrello said.

“The motto of the U.S. Army is ‘This We’ll Defend.’ It’s a vow that Frank Morales embraced as an active member of the military and as a civilian in his role as director of St. 博纳旺蒂尔’s Office of Veterans Services, where he mentors his fellow veterans and helps them prepare for a successful transition back into civilian life. It was my honor to be able to recognize him and have his story memorialized in the state’s history,博雷洛补充道.

Morales’s Army tenure also included deployments in the Balkans, 非洲, and twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Morales’s final U.S. Army assignment was to St. 博纳旺蒂尔 as a senior Military Science instructor in the university’s Army ROTC program.

Morales also received the Bronze Star for meritorious service in combat. After 20 years of service, he received numerous awards for achievement and earned the Combat and Expert Infantry badges, the Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, and the Drill Sergeant Badge.

After concluding his Army tenure, Morales earned a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and worked in counseling for several years before becoming director of the St. 博纳旺蒂尔 Office of Veterans Services.

“Frank is an incredible leader, and we are fortunate to have him leading our Military Aligned Program that supports veterans and their families. He is an advocate for all veterans and a valuable resource throughout the Southern Tier,” said Bernie Valento, vice president for Enrollment at St. 博纳旺蒂尔.

A member of the university’s ROTC Hall of Fame, Morales lives in Portville, 纽约, 和他的妻子, 水晶, and their children Christian, Julian and Isabella.

森. Borrello will honor Morales at a special ceremony at St. 博纳旺蒂尔 at a date to be announced. 

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关于 the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. 博纳旺蒂尔 University is a community committed to transforming the lives of our students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a lifelong commitment to service and citizenship. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, St. 博纳旺蒂尔 was ranked #6 for value and #14 for innovation by U.S. 全球网赌十大网站 and World Report (2024).