Remembering the Forney military legacy

The Groton Rotary Club (GRC) honored veterans on Veterans Day this year by partnering with the Bun Appetit Bakery to host a “Wreaths Across America” event.

Rotarians Gary Wood, Mona Forney and her son Brian Forney were at the bakery to sell the wreaths, which will be placed on the graves of United States veterans at the Bath National Cemetery on Dec. 19. Enough was raised that day to place 69 wreaths.

At the conclusion of the event, Mona and Brian were joined by Mona’s middle son, Kevin, who collectively filled me in on the impressive 267 years of combined military service of the Forney family.

Many in Groton will remember Mona’s husband, Will, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident on Route 222 in 2009.
Mona and Will grew up in Carthage, New York, and “always pretty much knew each other because he lived right around the corner,” Mona said.

“But we didn’t start dating until Will came back from basic training in 1955, and we were married in 1958,” she said.

Will was a Chief Warrant Officer 3 in the Army National Guard, serving part time while working full time at Durkee’s Bakery in Carthage. The bakery left Carthage for Cortland in 1960. Thus, the Forneys relocated, making their home in Groton.

Durkee’s closed in 1976, after which Will stepped up to full time with the Guard, traveling all over the country for his military assignments until he retired in 1998.

Finding himself bored in retirement, Will attended Tompkins Cortland Community College, where he earned a travel and tourism degree, and he also launched several businesses over the next decade: Will Forney Enterprises (catering), Forney’s Snowmobile Parts and Services, and a logging business.

During all of that, the Forneys raised their three sons, all alumni of Groton High School: Shawn ’77, Kevin ’79 and Brian ’81. They all entered the Army upon graduation because Will informed them that that was what they would be doing.

“We all got ‘the speech’ from Dad,” Kevin said. “You will join the Army, serve your country and learn about yourselves and how to serve others. When you come back, if you want to go to college, we’ll talk about it then.”

As it turned out, all three made the United States Army their career path, a legacy not only passed to them by Will but also through Mona’s side of the family.

Mona’s great-grandfather, John Dutton, was a soldier in the Civil War. Her brother, Harry Dutton of Newfield, served in the Air Force for 20 years as a combat photographer, and her late brother, Ronald, was a Navy corpsman for six years.

In addition to those years of service were those of many more, via relatives too numerous to name. But the Forney boys, along with each of their wives, added their own years to the tally, as well as the boys’ late step-sister, Mary Ellen McPhail, who was a medic in the Women’s Army Corps, and her husband, Doy, who was an Army Green Beret in Vietnam.

Mona’s oldest son, Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Forney, who was unable to join us for the interview, served for 20 years, primarily as a guidance counselor in the Army National Guard, working out of the Federal Building in Syracuse. His wife, Patricia, was a captain in the Air Force. Today, Shawn still works in Syracuse as a claims processor for the Department of Labor.

Colonel Kevin Forney served 26 years, and his wife, Suzanne, was a sergeant in the Military Police. Kevin recalled one of the highlights of his career following the 9/11 tragedy.

“I was a battalion commander for the 108th Infantry, which was the first unit in the entire country to respond to the 9/11 terror attacks,” Kevin said. “I went to New York City with 1,200 soldiers for ‘Operation Atlas.’ We guarded airports, nuclear power plants, air force bases, subways, trains and anything else that needed guarding for two years.”

Kevin has been a contractor for the Department of Defense since 2005, traveling the country teaching battle simulations to Army staffs. He is also a member of the Groton American Legion Post 800, president of 7-Valley Snowgoers Club and a member of both the Dryden-Caroline Snowdrifters and Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club.

In July 2001, Kevin arranged for the military helicopter flyover on Main Street for the dedication of the memorial of U.S. Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient, 2LT Terrence (Terry) Graves.

Mona’s youngest, Sgt. Major Brian Forney, served 29 years, first in Albany in recruiting and retention and then at the National Guard Bureau at the Pentagon. His wife, JoLynn, was a master sergeant for 24 years in medical recruiting and served at the Pentagon for part of her tour.

Brian has lived in Columbia, Missouri, since 2000. He currently travels the country as a full-time RV’er, building houses for Habitat for Humanity. He is the only brother who left the area but nonetheless has not lost his connection to it.

Brian is an active member of the Groton Rotary and is the director of its annual golf tournament. He also arranged for a static display of military helicopters in 1988 to showcase the job opportunities in the military for students in Mona’s classes.

Mona was a teacher for 20 years at Groton High School. With five certifications, she taught business history, keyboarding, test prep, business math, home and careers and more.

Mona has also co-authored the “Izzy’s Adventures” children’s book series with Janet Watkins. There are five books published, but Mona said the sixth book is in progress, so be on the lookout in the months to come for that.

Kevin and Brian want everyone to know what their response always is when anyone thanks them for their military service, and that is, “You’re worth it, and America is worth it.”

Groton on the Inside appears weekly. Submit news ideas to Linda Competillo, lmc10@cornell.edu or 607-227-4922.

In brief:

TST/GHS Students of the Month

The following Groton students were recognized as outstanding students of the month for October at the TST BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center: Brennan Brockway, Heavy Equipment; Samantha Cargian, Auto Technology; Mya Griffin, Nurse Assisting and Health Occupations; Isaac Hall, Welding; and Robert Houston, Heavy Equipment.

These students are chosen based on qualities such as character, leadership, citizenship, work ethic and attendance, and should be compassionate, honest, trustworthy, responsible and positive role models.

Now more than ever, TST BOCES believes it is important to recognize student success. These students have been resilient in the face of uncertainty, and the CTE staff applauds their efforts to remain focused and determined during this unusual school year.
Each student received a certificate and a CTE Center backpack and had their photographs posted on social media through Facebook at TST BOCES Career and Tech Center and on Instagram at tst_cte.

Cops, Kids & Toys

The application deadline for Cops, Kids and Toys is Sunday, Nov. 22. If you live in Tompkins County and need help with holiday gifts for your children this year, please apply before the deadline.

All applicants will receive a text or email after their application has been accepted. Applications take less than 10 minutes to complete, and incomplete applications cannot be accepted. A reminder email will be sent for the Tuesday, Dec. 15 pickup with detailed instructions.
Children infant through age 18 are eligible for this program. Applications and more detailed information may be found at copskidsandtoys.org.

Groton apparel fundraiser

The Groton High School Class of 2021 is running a Groton apparel fundraiser, which will end at 11:59 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23. Visit grotonwinter2020.itemorder.com/sale to view and order.

Youth and adult sizes are available for most items. There is no delivery fee. Apparel will be delivered to the school before Christmas and subsequently personally delivered to you.