TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Troy community celebrated the extraordinary life of a veteran Sunday who left his mark not only in the collar city, but around the world. Ignatius DeGenero was a World War II army veteran who died this past August.
Ignatius DeGenero was 99 years old when he passed away. He served in the second Infantry Division in South Korea. When those soldiers heard about his passing, two of them flew about 16 hours to Troy on Sunday, honoring DeGenero's life and legacy for his family.
"The grit, the resiliency, obviously the humility, those are definitely things that soldiers today can learn from," said Lt. Col. Billy Blue, commander of 602nd Aviation Support Battalion, as part of the Second infantry division in South Korea.
Family and friends hoped to honor DeGenero not just as a soldier, but as a family member, community member and friend. DeGenero left behind an admirable legacy.
"A true family man, true love," said Elizabeth DeGenero, who was married to Ignatius for 70 years.
"He was a humble man, he had a gentle spirit, a man of few words but when he spoke, we listened," said Tom DeGenero, Ignatius's son.
DeGenero grew up in Troy and graduated from Troy High School. He even knew the people that the C.R.A.B. (Ciccarelli, Rea, Agars, Bevevino) Garrison Post 1954 organization in Troy is named after. Both Lt. Col. Blue and Command Sergeant Major Don Adkins flew in from the Second Infantry Division in Troy to speak about DeGenero's memory and the lessons he taught.
"If it wasn't for a gentleman like himself, we definitely would not have the life that we have today, and the ability to wear the uniform that we wear today," said Sgt. Adkins.
"Purpose is sort of what motivates us and I think as a soldier and a civilian, Iggy's life was full of purpose," said Lt. Col. Blue.
Even after being captured in Normandy and held as a prisoner of war in Germany, DeGenero held onto that purpose of making it back home to Troy. Ignatius's son Tom recalled when someone once asked his father how he made it through being captured.
"She asked, 'How did you persevere?' And he said 'I just had faith to believe I would eventually come home and see my family," said Tom.
For the soldiers at the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea, they said they will now always have something that connects them to Troy.
"We'll have those ties that bond us and I think that's what keeps us grounded as soldiers and that's kind of what we're fighting for, for places like Troy, New York," said Lt. Col. Blue.
The CRAB Garrison Post 1954 gifted the DeGenero family with plenty of things including a plaque and medallions to remember Ignatius by. His family and friends hope the Troy community can always remember the sacrifice soldiers like DeGenero make every day.