Suffolk Native Awarded Medal For Merit From The State Of New York

Long Island NY

07 April, 2022

7:21 AM

Description

Barry Donadio Awarded Medal For Merit From The State Of New York On March 30th, 2022 Barry Donadio was awarded New York State’s Medal For Merit by the Division of Military and Naval Affairs 20 years after he served in the military. The medal commemorates his honorable service in the Armed Forces and the State of New York. Barry Donadio is a home grown New York Long Islander. He was born in Bay Shore, grew up in Oakdale and lived in Port Jefferson Station as a teenager. After attending Comsewogue high school, he served in various patriotic positions through out his career. Those positions included serving in the N.Y. Army National Guard 42nd Infantry Division Scout Platoon located in Patchogue N.Y.. He then served in the 340th Military Police in Jamaica, Queens. After that, he served at the 106th Security Police in Westhampton Beach, NY.. He led the Emergency Services Team there and was Sniper certified by the FBI and the Suffolk County Police. Later, he took a position United States Secret Service at the White House. He made a name for himself while serving on the Secret Service Emergency Response Team (ERT) as one of the top marksman while he protected President Bush and President Obama on a daily basis. Donadio was awarded the Gold Shield which is fixed in the middle of the ribbon. Upon receiving the medal Donadio stated; “I love New York and always will!” “I am very proud to receive this gracious honor from my native state of New York. I will always love, serve and protect New York and its citizens.” Donadio’s newly awarded medal will serve as a memento of his honorable service in the Armed Forces and the State of New York. It is noteworthy that Donadio is a descendant of the original settlers of New Amsterdam (today’s New York) through his fraternal grandmother. Because of this reason, getting this medal from his home state of New York deeply touches him. This is the second medal Barry Donadio has received after his military service. On June 24th 2017, Donadio was awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. The medal was awarded 17 years after Donadio completed his military service. Congressman Andy Harris of Maryland presented the medal to Donadio in person. Donadio will add to his credentials the newly awarded NY Medal For Merit along with his already existing Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Medal, and four honorable discharges to name a few.