County honors Korean and Vietnam Vets | People

Albany County Executive Mike Breslin, Congressman Paul Tonko and the Honor-A-Veteran Committee recently commemorated the lives of Korean War veteran Leo McCarthy and his son-in-law Vietnam War veteran Michael Jacon at a ceremony on Tuesday at the E.T. Ruane American Legion Post in Cohoes.

McCarthy was born in Cohoes and attended Cohoes Catholic schools. A proud veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, he served his country during the Korean Conflict. McCarthy was employed for many years as a sheet metal worker with the Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 83 in Albany. He was a member of the VFW in Waterford, the American Legion E.T. Ruane Post 476 in Cohoes and the Knickerbocker Steamer Company.

Jacon was born in Troy and was educated in Cohoes. He proudly served in Vietnam with the U.S. Marine Corps. Jacon worked as a truck driver at Sysco for 40 years and at A.R.G. Trucking in Rensselaer. He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, 1st Vice Commander of the American Legion E.T. Ruane Post 476 in Cohoes and a member of the Cohoes Veterans Memorial Committee. He was married to McCarthy's daughter, Tara, for nine years.

Albany County’s Honor-A-Veteran ceremony is held every first Monday of the month to honor a deceased veteran of the community.