Janet Santeramo

Janet Santeramo | Legislator Dominick Thorne’s Honoree | Branch of Service: Marines

I was raised in Queens, New York.  I am a Marine and served in the Persian Gulf and participated in Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm and Operation Cease Fire. I was meritoriously promoted to Corporal and only two years later attained the rank of Sergeant.   My Military Occupational Specialty was Metal Worker/Welder (1316) I am the recipient of a Navy Achievement Medal, Southwest Asia Medal (3 stars), Good Conduct Medal, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation, Navy Unit Citation, National Defense Ribbon,  Overseas Ribbon (2 stars), Cold War Ribbon; and 2 letters of Appreciation.   During my active duty tour, I served with 8th Engineers Support Battalion and the First Marine Air Wing.  I then served as an active reservist with 2nd Battalion 25th Marines where I functioned as a Welder and took on a secondary Military Occupational Specialty of Administration/Legal. Thereafter, I served two years as an active Navy Reservist as a Hull Tech.  

As a veteran, attorney, and partner at Turley, Redmond and Rosasco I have been instrumental in assisting veterans and in some cases the widows and widowers of veterans file and obtain veterans’ benefits and Social Security benefits.  Additionally, I have provided workshops to veterans and their families regarding filing benefits and some of the benefits that may be available to them.  Moreover, I explore and utilize all available avenues to get the word out to veterans regarding changes in veterans’ law and veterans’ community.  

I have been an active member of Post 6249 for over 20 years and currently function as the post’s Service Officer.  I continue to participate in various activities in support of veterans and the local community.  For example, I participate in Living History Day, along with the other veterans in my  post where we are afforded the opportunity to discuss what we did in service and answer questions the children may have about the time we served.  In addition, I continue to act as a liaison between veterans and various local agencies to assist veterans and their families in getting the counseling, housing; and financial services they need.  Moreover, I continue to support the veterans’ community by participating in activities that raise awareness of veterans’ suicide and its prevention.