Delco veterans to be honored at Freedom Medal Gala Nov. 16
Delaware County Veterans Memorial Association announces its 2017 Freedom Medal honorees to be recognized during the fourth annual Freedom Medal Gala to be held Nov. 16 at the Springfield Country Club. County municipalities have joined the DCVMA in honoring this year’s recipients, presenting them with citations in advance of the awards gala.
Freedom Medal recipients for 2017 are: Marine Corps veteran Sean Sweeney of Springfield; Army veteran Jennifer Jones, Chester; Navy veteran Martin Costello, Radnor; Army veteran Jerry Sweeley, Marple; and Marine Corps veteran William M. Kinney, Jr., Middletown. Receiving recognition for Education, Tina Kane, principal of Paxon Hollow Middle School is this year’s Education award recipient, and the Videon Family is receiving the Community Service award. Delaware County Councilman David White of Ridley Township is the 2017 President’s Award recipient.
Gala vice chairs include County Council Chairman and DCVMA board member Mario Civera, an Air Force veteran; DCVMA Co-Vice President and Springfield Police Chief Joe Daly, Marine Corps veteran; and DCVMA President Guy Fizzano, Army veteran. Fox TV 29 Weather Anchor Sue Serio serves as this year’s Master of Ceremonies, joined by DCVMA Advisory Board member Bobby Rydell, an Army veteran.
This years honorees have distinguished careers in the military and community service:
• Jennifer Jones: Shortly after a year at Cheyney University, Jennifer Jones enlisted in the United States Army in 1986 and received an honorable discharge in 1993. Her tours consisted of Honduras and Hanau Germany, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Building a family tradition, her older brother, Major Reginald R.C. Jones, is currently serving in the Delaware Army National Guard and youngest brother Christopher is enlisted in the Army.
Jones left the military in 1993 receiving numerous awards: Army Service Ribbon, Army Lapel Button, National Defense Service Medal w/Bronze Service Star-3, M/16 Expert Badge, Parachute Badge, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal Saudi Arabia, and Overseas Service Ribbon. She is also an Airborne Solider, an accomplishment very few female soldiers achieved during the 1980s. This initiative inspired her son, Sgt. Abdullah Rafiq, currently serving, and nephew, Sgt. Hiram Whatley Jr., a veteran, to become Airborne Soldiers.
In 1999, Jennifer graduated from the Delaware County Police Academy and was hired by Chester Police Department. In 2004, she resigned from Chester Police Department and was hired at Cheyney University Police Department, where she became the first female supervisor of their Patrol Division.
In 2014 Jennifer returned to the City of Chester as a Community Police Officer. She currently works in the Juvenile Division as an investigator.
• Marty Costello: Marty Costello is a fixture in the Radnor community. He served in the United States Navy from 1967 to 1971 and served with Attack Squadron 82 as an aircraft mechanic AD2. Active with the Delaware County Veterans Memorial, he is also a past member of the DCVMA Educational Committee and assists with monthly Casket Flag Raising Ceremonies.
In 2011, as a member of the American Legion, he helped rebuild and rededicated the Radnor Township War Memorial and has instituted numerous ceremonies honoring hometown veteran heroes in Wayne. He also holds titles of Post Commander of Bateman Gallagher American Legion Post 668 Wayne and the PA Commander of the Delaware County American Legion committee; 8th District Deputy Commander American Legion PA; Adjutant of VFW post 7390 Broomall.
• William Kinney: William Kinney enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1965 and served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967 and released from active duty in January 1968. Joining the VFW shortly after his return from Vietnam, he is a member of the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans. As a member of the Smedley Butler Marine Corps League, Kinney served as a director for six years and is active in many areas of the detachment.
He has personally performed over 1,000 Military Funeral Honors and assists with the Adopt a Highway program, the Toys for Tots campaign, fundraising, color guard and honor guard. In 2011, he was awarded the Prestigious “Marine of the Year” for his detachment and in 2016 he was inducted into the Chapel of the Four Chaplains Legion of Honor, whose membership is awarded based on documented acts of selfless service.
• Sean Sweeney: Sean Sweeney was in the eighth grade when the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks took place and it was on that day that he knew he wanted to do his part to serve his country. In 2006, as a senior in high school, he enlisted into the United States Marine Corps and was assigned to 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Charlie Company, Platoon 1100.
In 2008, his battalion was sent to Fallujah, Iraq, where he served as a turret gunner on nightly missions to conduct route clearance and during this deployment. Sean’s battalion lost six Marines. However, his platoon was lucky to bring everyone back home safely. He was again deployed to Afghanistan, named a squad leader and placed in charge of 14 Marines. In 2009, he was sent to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, where his platoon was assigned to a mission in Now Zad, Afghanistan. Sweeney was honorably discharged in 2010.
• Jerry Sweeley: In 1965, fresh out of high school, Jerry joined the United States Army Security Agency (ASA) a Special Operations intelligence unit. A minor at the time, his mother reluctantly signed his enlistment papers. After months of Advanced Individual Training, he graduated as a Communications Security Specialist with a top-secret security clearance, and was sent to Vietnam. He completed his tour of duty in 1967 and returned home to his family, forever scarred from the experience.
Receiving an honorable discharge, some of his military awards include medals for Good Conduct, National Defense, Vietnam Service with three bronze battle stars, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and Vietnam Campaign. Jerry received the Meritorious Unit Commendation with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Certificate of Merit from the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division for Outstanding Performance of Duty. Sweeney maintains life membership in multiple veteran’s organizations including Veterans of Foreign War, Veterans of America, the Disabled American Veterans, and the American Legion. He has served the American Legion as post service officer, post commander, and District Commander of the 8th District, Eastern Section, Department of PA, representing 39 American Legion Posts.