War vet honored for Halloween

Oct. 31, 2011

For Watervliet kindgarten student Kevin Bramer III, Halloween this year was about more than ghouls, goblins and candy.
The 6-year-old used the holiday this year to honor his grandfather – a Vietnam veteran and recipient of the Silver Star and Purple Heart – by wearing his grandfather’s medals during the school’s annual Halloween parade, Monday, Oct. 31.
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces. The Purple Heart is awarded to those serving in the military who have either been wounded or killed in the line of duty.
Bramer’s grandfather, city resident Bob DeChiaro, was on hand in Mrs. Pontore’s class to pin the medals on his grandson before the parade.
Mr. DeChiaro was the first area resident to bring home a Silver Star from Vietnam, which is awarded for heroism in combat, the family says. Mr. DeChiaro earned the medal in Vietnam after he took out an enemy machine gun position and rescued a soldier and ammunition from a downed helicopter.