Veteran feted ahead of his 100th birthday
An Army Air Corps veteran of World War II celebrated his 100th birthday a few days early.
Former Capt. Edmund Steffler was honored by friends and family in The Hangar 743, 743 Albany Shaker Road, near Albany International Airport in Colonie on Thursday.
His celebration was held near a display of several World War II military planes that are being preserved in the hangar.
The site was appropriate for Steffler’s celebration.
“I appreciate I am going to reach that age (100),” he said before the celebration started. “It’s a factor I had no control over.”
He said his life’s highlights include “good health and a nice family.” “I am thankful for being around for a while,” he added.
Steffler served with the 24th Bomb Squadron, 6th Bomb Group in the war.
The celebration site has aviation ties to that war. Dave Prescott of the Prescott Foundation established a Warbird Factory in the Hangar at 743 where World War II military aircraft are restored and preserved.
Steffler was born in Watervliet on April 9, 1921 to Michael Stefanowicz and Sophie Miezwa who originally emigrated from Poland to Hazelton, Pa. Steffler, who graduated from Watervliet High School In 1939, entered military service with the New York Army National Guard’s 105th Infantry, 27th Division, on Oct. 15, 1940.
After World War II broke out a year later, he was assigned to the Army Air Corps. He served as a member of a B-29 Superfortress heavy bombardment squadron the flew missions out of Hawaii, and the Island of Tinian in the Pacific.
Steffler began military duty as an enlisted soldier and quickly rose in rank to first sergeant before he was commissioned as a staff officer. As a captain, he was the squadron’s adjutant.
His missions focused on the strategic bombardment of the Japanese islands and the destruction of Japan’s war-making capabilities. The squadron flew its final combat mission on Aug. 14, 1945 when hostilities ended. His crews then flew relief supplies to Allied prisoner of war camps in Japan and Manchuria.
Steffler was honorably discharged with in November 1945. He entered Siena College, Loudonville, where he earned a bachelor of art degree in accounting in 1949. A lengthy career in business and finance followed. He was employed by Farm Credit Association, Equitable Life Insurance Company, and 30 years as treasurer of Farm Family Insurance Company, until his retirement in 1984 as treasurer and vice president. He was a founder of Farm Family Insurance Company.
He was active in the community as a member of the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, Colonie Elks, and Our Lady of Assumption Church, Colonie, where he served as eucharistic minister and usher.
Recognizing Vietnam veterans
Vietnam-era veterans will be honored during a ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday, at Committal Shelter 1 at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Road, Schuylerville.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions this ceremony will not be an in-person event but will be streamed live beginning at 11 a.m. on the Cemetery Facebook page: www.facebook.com/natcemsaratoga.
Vietnam War veterans and Vietnam-era veterans who served between Nov. 1, 1955 and May 15, 1975 will receive lapel pins in recognition of their service.
Terry Brown, Times Union Duty Calls columnist and Vietnam War veteran, and his therapy dog, Rosie, will present a program on “Benefits of Therapy Duty.”
Bugler Hayleigh Girard of Hudson Falls will play “Taps.”
Active Army soldiers and retired Army veterans will place a memorial wreath.
Pastor Clyde Mccaskill of Hoosic Valley Community Church will present the eulogy.
Scott Lamb, cemetery director, will present pins to the veterans following the ceremony.
Veterans with last names beginning with A-G can pick up pins between 1 and 2 p.m.
Veterans with last names beginning with H-N can pick up pins between 2 and 3 p.m.
Veterans with last names beginning with O-Z can pick up pins between 3 and 4 p.m.
For information, call Scott Lamb at 518-5819128, Ext. 207.