Valyou family stresses support for all

MILLERTON — "He’s in good spirits," Stephanie Valyou said of her older brother Stephen, who was shot in the shoulder while overseas in Iraq three weeks ago.

"He has a lot of support from his military family and from his regular family," she continued, adding that the soldier is still recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Soon Valyou, 31, a Millerton native, will be on his way to a rehabilitation center in Tampa, Fla. His wife, Melissa Totman Valyou, will accompany him.

Valyou was shot in the shoulder while conducting post IED (Improvised Explosive Device) EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) operations. He was first treated in a field hospital in Iraq, and then taken to Germany before being taken to Walter Reed.

His sister said she was sure he would do it all over again if he had to.

"Definitely. Without a doubt. We come from a military family and fighting for our country in whatever way, shape or form is very important to all of us," she said. "He’s following in my father’s footsteps. My father was also in the Army."

When asked what the community could do to help Valyou through his recovery, Stephanie said to support the troops.

"Whether people like the war and don’t like the war, my brother and other soldiers, male and female, are just doing their jobs, and we need to support them any way we can," she said. "The most important thing is to support the troops and their families in whatever way they need. Right now the most important thing is to give to the people still over there, because they’re in war time and to get anything from home is extremely important to them, whether they know the people or don’t, it’s just a matter of support."

Donations can be dropped off locally at the American Legion Post 178 in Millerton, which will be sent to the troops overseas.