The Rensselaer County Joseph Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Program invites the campus community, veterans, law enforcement, and the general public to a community remembrance and vigil today, Friday March 22, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Hudson Valley Community College Veteran Resource And Outreach Center (VETROC) in Siek Campus Center. VETROC will provide peer support for those impacted by this tragedy throughout the event. Staff from VETROC and Hudson Valley’s Wellness Center, local veteran organization members, law enforcement, and clergy will be on hand.
At 3:30 p.m., a moment of remembrance will take place with a vigil to honor New York Army National Guard Sergeant Jacob Pratt’s recovery from injuries sustained during the crash. Pratt is expected to survive and is recovering in a local hospital. The deceased are NY National Guard Chief Warrant Officers Casey Frankoski, 28, and John Grassia, 30, both of Rensselaer, and US Border Patrol Agent Chris Luna, 49.
“It has been a unifying, but solemn, time as the Capital District brought home Casey and John this week, and as we awaited news on Jacob’s recovery,” VETROC Assistant Director and Afghanistan War veteran Stephen Onley said. “Their sacrifices have had a ripple effect throughout all corners of our communities. So, our staff decided it was important to facilitate tradition, human connection and peer support in a timely manner ,which is key to people’s overall emotional and spiritual wellness.“
During aviation operations, a UH-72 Lakota helicopter assigned to help US Customs and Border Patrol agents on the southwest border crashed during aviation operations near Rio Grande City, 41 miles west of McAllen, Texas. Frankoski, of Rensselaer, NY, enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in October 2016 and quickly rose through the ranks, earning more than 10 service medals and military awards. Frankoski had trained to become a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot. In 2013, Grassia, of Schenectady, New York, enlisted in the New York Army National Guard as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintenance specialist. Grassia was promoted to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2 in 2020. Grassia was a trooper with the New York State Police. Frankoski and Grassia served in Kuwait and most recently were assigned to a company of the 1st Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment, which is part of Joint Task Force North. Pratt is also a GlobalFoundries employee. Luna was a U.S. Border Patrol agent from Edinburg, Texas.