Scarf project honors late husband

A widow found a helpful and creative way to help herself grieve after her husband, a Vietnam War veteran, died from lung cancer possibly caused by the effects of Agent Orange.

Virginia (Ginny) Ogno’s husband passed away Oct. 12, 2009, at the age of 59. Army Staff Sgt. Jeffery S. Ogno served four tours and was wounded four times in South Vietnam. He was highly decorated.

The soldier for a time served as a Ranger, a Special Forces Green Beret and a sniper. He also was a medic who often served aboard medical evacuation helicopters that picked up and flew wounded soldiers from battle fields, often while under enemy fire. Ogno earned a Distinguished Flying Cross, an Army Commendation Medal with V device for valor, 21 Air Medals for combat missions, and three Good Conduct Medals.

“He actually received four Purple Hearts but gave one to my nephew, Jason Mcenaney, who was shot and severely injured during a hostage situation at the University at Albany in 1995,” she said.

She said she wanted to turn her grieving into something good for others.

“In memory of my husband and his service, I wanted to do something to help our veterans and also help me get through the loss of the love of my life,” Ogno said. “I am an avid weaver and knitter. I came up with an idea to help keep our vets warm during these severe upstate winter months in New York.”

She launched a project called “Knit A Row n Go."

“I put (knitting ) baskets in salons, restaurants, businesses, offices, etc.,” she said. “I fill the baskets with yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks and directions to add to a scarf that I start and leave in the basket.”

Ginny started her project in Cobleskill in 2015, thinking it would just be for one time.

“Well, here I am, five years later and we are still going strong. The very first year my goal was to deliver 100 handmade scarves. I delivered more than 250 scarves to homeless vets, needy veterans at the Veterans Miracle Center in Colonie and patients at the Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albany, where I walked every single floor to give every single patient a scarf. That was an amazing day.”

Her efforts promoted help from an organization. Three years ago, she was contacted by a group in Oneonta who affectionately call themselves “The Chain Gang.”

“Each year they call me to pick up items they've worked on all year,” she said. “Every year they fill my entire car. This year they donated 224 scarves, hats, mittens, gloves, lap blankets, headbands, afghans, children’s items and more. They also purchased new items that they feel our vets can use. All the handmade items are crocheted by them.”

There are also several hair salons in Cobleskill that have donated each year. Even amid the pandemic, the salons managed to get bags and bags of handmade items for her to bring to Veterans Miracle Center.

“One day, I bumped into the owner of Kristy's Hair Kreations in Cobleskill Walmart and she stopped me to wait for her to run to her car and bring me more bags of supplies,” she said. “Isn't that amazing ? So something I thought would be a onetime donation has lovingly grown into a fifth year. I'm so proud of all who have joined me in this small effort to help our veterans.”

To date, she has given more than 1,400 items to several groups of homeless vets and other vets in need.

“The Veterans Miracle Center has been a huge help,” she said. “They're always ready to accept bags and bags of our handmade creations and make sure our vets and their families receive them.”

The Veterans Miracle Center at 10 Interstate Road in Colonie provides clothing, household goods, furniture, food and other items to needy veterans and their families.

After the war, her husband went to work and the couple later raised hundreds of sheep on their farm in Summit, Schoharie County.

Wall of Honor

Jason Grant, owner of the Crisp Cannoli Café in East Greenbush, was looking for a way he could honor veterans. John Mullen of Troy, co-chairman of the Rev. Francis A. Kelley Military Society of St. Joseph Church, Troy, wanted a place to establish a Wall of Honor where the society could exhibit photos and stories of the group’s seven Hometown Heroes and serve as the group’s headquarters.

Lois Wilson of Schodack, a veterans advocate and café customer, heard about the two searches. She asked Grant if he would be willing to help.

Grant immediately responded with a yes. As a successful businessman, he said, he wanted to give back to the community.

The heroes being honored on the wall are Army Capt. William B. Allendorf, Army Capt. Jacob C. Asby, Army Sgt. David O. Barnum, Army Lt. Col. John Brownrigg, Army Brig. Gen. Richard Butterfield, Marine Sgt. David T. Fox, and Army Staff Sgt. Raymond Chip Lynch.

A booklet highlighting the combat veterans’ accomplishments is available at the café.