Veteran Spotlight: Army Sgt. Al DiMuzio

"It wasn't 100 percent consistent but I was afforded the opportunity to get to know other people with different religion, beliefs, backgrounds and culture and to be able to embrace that."

Veteran Spotlight: Army Sgt. Louis Vairo

Louis Vairo served his country in the Army from 1966 to 1968, achieving the rank of sergeant, specialist E5.

Veteran Spotlight: Army Spc. Robert Dutra

A graduate of Lawrence High School, he initially joined the Army National Guard. His basic training would take him to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

Veteran Spotlight: Naval Reserve Cmdr. Ronald Nasif

Growing up in Boston, he majored in biology at Boston College, where he also lettered in football for the Eagles. He would go on to Tufts Medical School but took a year off graduate school and taught during the busing crisis of the 1970s.

Veteran Spotlight: Lt. Col. Brent Finemore

Brent Finemore served his country in the Army from 1982 to 2002, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

Veteran Spotlight: Army Lt. John Shoemaker

He would go onto serve his country for four years as a combat platoon leader and company commander in the 196th Light Infantry Brigade of the "Americal" Division in Chu Lai.

Veteran Spotlight: Command Sgt. Maj. Steve Valley

Steve Valley served his country in the Army from 1985 to 2015, retiring as a command sergeant major.

Veteran Spotlight: Marine Corps Reserve Lance Cpl. Timothy Whelan

Former state Rep. Timothy Whelan served his country in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1989 to 1994 as a lance corporal.

Veteran Spotlight: Army Cpl. Robert Savino

Growing up in upper Manhattan in New York City, he attended and graduated from what was then All Hallows Institute, a private boy's prep school. He did his basic training at Fort Riley, Kan.

Veteran Spotlight: Air National Guard Maj. David Mendoza

He grew up in Hampden and graduated from what was then North Adams State College. His dad had four years active service during the Vietnam War era.

Veteran Spotlight: Spc. Dave DiMestico

He is proud of the people in his family who have served — his father, Paul, was in the Army Air Forces in World War II, his brother Peter was a Marine during the Vietnam era and his son Mike has been serving in the Navy 13 years, as well as numerous other relatives.

Veteran Spotlight: Marine Staff Sgt. Dennis Pregent

He grew up in North Adams and quit high school at 17 years of age in the middle of his senior year and enlisted in the Marines. He did his basic training at Parris Island and remembered the intensity of boot camp.

Veteran Spotlight: Lt. Col. Maria Adame-Emery

She grew up in Santa Ana, Calif., did her basic training in ROTC and was commissioned at the New Mexico Military Institute.

Veteran Spotlight: Army Spc. Fred Wexler

Fred Wexler served his country in the Army from 1961 to 1964 as a specialist, 4th grade.

Veteran Spotlight: Marine Sgt. Joe Henebury

Sgt. Henebury and other Marines would be on a ship 22 days, stopping briefly in Okinawa to get supplies and ammunition, before making an amphibious assault in Vietnam.

Veteran Spotlight: Seaman 1st Class John Keating

At 92 years of age, he is tremendously kind, genuine, highly intelligent and possesses an extraordinary memory.

Veteran Spotlight: Airman 1st Class Tim Flynn

Tim Flynn served his country in the Air Force as an airman first class from 1963 to 1967 and is a Vietnam veteran.

Veteran Spotlight: John Harding Jr.

John Harding Jr. served his country with bravery and distinction as a corporal in the Marine Corps from 1963 to 1966 and in the Vietnam War.

Veteran Spotlight: Marine Lance Cpl. Gene Gavazzi

Gene Gavazzi served his country in the Marine Corps and Marine Reserves from 1983 to 1989.

Veteran Spotlight: Army Lt. Col. Dorothy Courtemanche

Born in Dedham, she did her basic training at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Ga., which received all orthopedic Vietnam War combat injuries.

Veteran Spotlight: Navy Cmdr. David Vermilyea

It was an honor to interview this week's Veterans Spotlight guest. Navy Cmdr. David Vermilyea served his country for 27 years, from 1962 to 1989. He was in the Vietnam from 1965 to 1967, flying an amazing 300 missions.

Veterans Spotlight: Col. Jeff Petrucci

He landed in Vietnam in April 1970 (he would spend 12 months there); he was a platoon leader in an automatic weapons battalion. The main job of the battalion was to provide convoy escort support and general support of ground troops.

Veteran Spotlight: Dr. Charles Parton

Veteran Spotlight: Army Sgt. Christine Zecker

Christine Zecker served her country in Army as a sergeant from 1989 to 1998. She enlisted on Halloween night at 21 years of age and was sent to basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., where she was platoon leader for her class.