This just in on CNN:

WASHINGTON (CNN)—An Army lieutenant general has become the first woman in U.S. military history to get four stars.

The military on Friday promoted Lt. Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, who has served in several command positions in her 33-year Army career.

She will command Army Material Command, responsible for equipping, arming and outfitting soldiers.

The story, which can be found here, notes that Dunwoody is a native New Yorker who graduated from SUNY Cortland in 1975 and planned to spend two years in the Army.

The defense opened its case in Staff Sgt. Alberto Martinez’s fragging court-martial yesterday and its clear that it is trying to paint him as a dim-witted, profanity prone soldier who was none-the-less affable, and hardly the type who would plan the cold-blooded murder of two superior officers.

The problem with that picture is that the prosecution has brought forth enough witnesses who have testifying that they were personally aware about the ongoing feud between Martinez and his commander, Captain Phillip Esposito of Suffern,  and that they heard him making threats to fragg Esposito.  So far the prosecution has been able to make the case that Martinez is the only person who had the motive, the ability and the opportunity to carry out the murders.

Martinez was the supply sergeant of the 42nd Infantry Division’s headquarter support company in Tikrit, Iraq, in 2005, and has access to all kinds of ammunition and explosives. Esposito was his company commander. 1st Lt. Louis Allen of Milford, Pa, the new second-in-command, had just arrived in Iraq, and was in esposito’s room when a claymore mine exploded and killed them both. Martinez is charged with planting the mine.

The defense seems have have had a shaky start. It was supposed to bring forth its witnessess on Tuesday, but asked for a delay because all its witnesses hadn’t arrived at Fort Bragg where the trial is being held. Defense witnesses started their testimony on Wednesday, but broke early today because some witnesses hadn’t arrived. The defense blamed the government for dragging its feet in bringing the witnesses, most of whom are posted overseas or are at locations across the country.

I’ve been following the trial from West Point, where a live video feed has been provided for family members and the media. Several of Allen’s relatives who live in the area come to watch the trial. Relatives of Esposito’s wife, Siobhan, also occasionally come.

Aboard the USS Intrepid yesterday for a Veterans Day ceremony, Gov. David Paterson signed an Executive Order establishing the New York State Council on Returning Veterans and Their Families. The Council will develop recommendations for a comprehensive strategy to address the multiple needs of returning veterans and their families in adjusting to post-service life through a collaboration of federal, state and local benefits.

Click here to read the entire press release.

The military judge presiding over the court-martial of Alberto Martinez delayed the defense case for a day after attorneys told him that they didn’t have witnesses ready to testify on the first day. They will bring witnesses to the stand tomorrow.

The prosecution presented its last witness yesterday. Staff Sgt. Amy Harlan testified that she gave Alberto Martinez three claymore mines, the weapon that investigators say he used to murder Capt. Phillip Esposito of Suffern and 1st Lt. Louis Allen of Milford, Penn. The two officers died after a series of explosions in Saddam Hussein’s Water Palace in Tikrit, Iraq, which served as Forward Operating Base Danger.

So far the prosecution has presented witnesses who have testified that they were aware Martinez hated Esposito and had publicly spoken about fragging him. Witnesses have also said they saw him close to the blast site in suspicious circumstances after the explosions. As the supply sergeant of his unit, Martinez had access to all kinds of ammunition. In short, the prosecution has made the case that no one but Martinez had the motive, the ability and the opportunity to kill the two men.

Now its the defense’ turn. Witnesses have been called from across the country and from overseas to testify in the first fragging trial since the war in Iraq began. I’ll be waiting to see what they have to offer.

It’s great to see so many local events planned for tomorrow as the nation observes Veterans Day.  I hope most of you have the day off and can make it to whatever ceremony takes place in your town. If you have to work, at least spend a minute or two remembering your time in the military, whenever you might have served.

I remember that when I was discharged one of the sergeants handling my out processing told me that no matter what I did with the rest of my life, I should be proud that I answered our country’s call and did my bit for Uncle Sam. It sounded pretty corny at the time, but as the years of gone by I’ve thought about my days as a “cold warrior’’ more than I ever thought I would. I’ve kept in touch with a few old buddies and we laugh about our days in the Army’s “green machine.’’

When I first started working here, there were still a few World War I veterans around and I had the chance to do stories about them. In the 23 years since, I’ve met and written stories about hundreds of veterans and I can’t remember one that I didn’t enjoy. It’s great to swap stories about the military with men and women who actually understand what you’re talking about. What I’ve learned is that no matter when you served, or whether it was during war or peace, you share at least a small bond with everyone else who has ever sweated their way through basic training and worn a uniform.

Here’s hoping we all enjoy the bond tomorrow.

And by the way, happy birthday Marines!

For all of you who’ve been reading my stories about the court-martial of Staff Sgt. Alberto Martinez in the murder of two officers in Iraq, the trial is expected to run until he end of the year. As you know, the 41-year-old Troy, NY, native is being tried for the premeditated murders of Capt. Phillip Esposito of Suffern and 1st Lt. Louis Allen of Milford, Pa. in 2005. Prosecutors say Martinez planted a claymore mine on the window ledge of Esposito’s office in Saddam Hussein’s Water Palace in Tikrit, Iraq, and also detonated grenades to simulate an enemy mortar attack, which was very common. He has pleaded not guilty.

Several witnesses have testifed that Martinez was openly hostile toward Esposito and had made threats against him. One witness told the jury that Martinez had sought her help in tracking Esposito’s movements and finding a key to his office. So it’s surprising that no one informed the Army top brass that Martinez was talking about fragging Esposito.

This has been a particularly disturbing issue with the family members of the deceased men. One wonders that with the history of fragging during the Vietnam war, the armed forces would have some rules in place that make it mandatory for soldiers to report threats against members of the armed forces.

With so many witnesses testifying that they heard Martinez using expletives against Esposito and making threats, the defense is finding it hard to deny it. It is arguing that Martinez was just venting because he was upset with disciplinary action that Esposito was contemplating against him because of his poor job performance.

Let’s see how it goes. The prosecution has a couple of dozen more witnesses to bring to the stand, and the defense has several dozen. Stay tuned.

P.S. The court-martial is taking place at Fort Bragg, NC. A live video feed has been made available to family members and the media at West Point. The widows and parents of the victims are attending the trial at Fort Bragg.

The Yonkers Pops Band and the city Parks Department will present musical “Salute to Veterans” at 2 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 9) at Saunders High School.

The band will play marches, a medley of tunes from Bob Hope movies and popular songs from the 1940s in a salute to the armed forces. Vocalist Kathy Hart will join the band for a number of songs, including “I’ll be Seeing You,” “White Cliffs of Dover,” and Boodie Woodie Bugle Boy of Company B.”

The free concert is being funded by a grant from the New York State office of Parks and Historic Preservation.

Saunders High School is located at 183 Palmer Road, just east of the Saw Mill River Parkway.

Military veterans and their families are invited to the Westchester County Center in White Plains tomorrow for the county’s Veterans Town Hall Meeting.

The meeting will feature a discussion about the effects and treatment of post traumatic stress disorder by Larry Winters, a psychotherapist and coordinator of veterans treatment at Four Winds Hospital in Katonah.

Also on tap is an update from County Executive Andrew Spano on efforts to create a Veterans Village on the grounds of the VA hospital in Montrose.

As always, at the twice-yearly meetings, former service members can meet with experts with info on veterans housing, health care and education benefits.

Representatives from the county clerk’s office will also be on hand to help veterans file their DD-214 discharge papers if they haven’t already done so.

For your convenience, there are two sessions scheduled. The first starts and 3 p.m. and runs until  5 p.m. The second is from 6 to 8 p.m. Parking for both meetings is free.

Westchester County Executive Andy Spano is in Washington, D.C. today to discuss the fate of the Montrose campus with officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

As many of you know, the county, most local officials and virtually all of the local veterans organizations have been pushing a plan to create a “Veteran’s Village’’ on the 184-acre Hudson River property. The idea is to renovate the facilities already there and to build affordable housing, a continuing care retirement community, temporary housing for the families of vets receiving medical care and other amenities.

Instead of embracing a plan that would benefit local veterans, the VA announced last month that it has decided to lease 100 acres to private developers who will almost certainly build luxury housing. They’re planning to hold an “industry forum” next week where developers will have a chance to pitch their bids for the project.

I’m hoping to talk to Spano after the meeting to find out if he made any progress in changing their minds. Look for my story Monday on Lohud.com and in The Journal News.

 The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) is reaching out to veterans with mobility impairments caused by spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries.

Joe Kaliany, a consultant with the foundation, tells me that its military outreach program “can be incredibly helpful to veterans,’’ and offers a number of resources.

“Becoming paralyzed raises an unthinkable number of questions and this campaign hopes to help veterans answer as many of those as possible,” Kiliany said.

The PRC military campaign is a one-of-a-kind effort that puts veterans with mobility impairments into one-on-one contact with specialists trained to assist them work through any confusion resulting from paralysis. Click here to check out their website and find out more. Those interested in speaking to an expert can do make arrangements on the website to have someone call them, or call  the PRC’s military and veterans hotline at 866-962-8387.

Hey Flyboys!

The “Wings of Freedom’’ tour, an educational display of vintage WWII aircraft, lands at the Westchester County Airport tomorrow and will be here through Monday.

Sponsored by the Collings Foundation, a non-profit “living history” organization, the display gives the public a chance to check out a B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, B-25 Mitchell and P-51 Mustang inside and out. They’re asking for a $12 donation for adults and $6 for kids under 12.

The planes are scheduled to land at 2 p.m. tomorrow and will be on display until 5 p.m. at Million Air, 136 Tower Road, Hangar M. Hours for the rest of the week are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They leave on Monday at noon.

I’ll be there when they land tomorrow to do a story for lohud.com and The Journal News. Drop by if you have the time – especially if you’re a WWII vet. I’ll interview you and make you famous.

Check out the Collings Foundation’s website here to see some photos of the planes and find out more about the exhibit.

Members of Pelham American Legion Post 50 and the Sons of the American Legion are gathering tomorrow (Friday) to observe National POW/MIA Day in a service that is open to the public.

During the 7 p.m. service at Pelham Veteran’s Plaza on Fifth Avenue, the veterans will remember the 12 Pelham residents designated as missing in action since World War II.

The Hudson Valley chapter of Nam Knights, a motorcycle club comprised of veterans and police officers, will remember POW/MIAs Saturday in an annual event at Central Avenue Field in Pearl River.

“The whole idea is just to remember these kids who never came home and to urge our government officials not to stop trying to locate them,’’ said Russ Williams, a Marine Corps veteran and secretary of the Tappan-based chapter.

The event kicks off at 7 p.m. and will feature a parade of colors feature color guards from local police and fire departments, VFW and American Legion posts and other local organizations. Speakers will include Rockland Count Legislator John Murphy, a Marine Corps vet and a number of Gold Star mothers from the lower Hudson Valley.

The Nam Knights’ annual POW/MIA Recognition Day is just one of the great things this group does around here. Just a few weeks ago they donated $1,000 and 5,000 lbs. of food to the Veterans Food Pantry at Montrose VA hospital.

I hope they get a great turn out.  If you want to find out more about the Knights, here’s a link to their website.

The worst things that happened to me when I was in the Army in the late 1970s were probably getting KP for a week for ticking off the first sergeant and pulling overnight guard duty during a blizzard in the field.

When Joe Cohen was in the Army in 1955, he had to duck into a trench in Nevada while they detonated an atomic bomb 1,000 yards away.

“They kept telling us not to worry, that it was perfectly safe,’’ Cohen, of Hastings, told me during an interview at his house today. “We never thought they would put us in harm’s way.  What did I know? I was just a dumb 20-year-0ld kid, doing what he was told.’’

Cohen’s company commander volunteered his unit for “Operation Teapot,’’ a series of tests conducted to study the effects of atomic blasts on military operations.

You can read the full story about Cohen and his experiences, and see a video interview this weekend on lohud.com and in The Journal News.