GENESEO, N.Y., March 12, 2025 - The Board of Supervisors today recognized retired Army Chaplain Patrick Van Durme as the Livingston County Veteran of the Month.
Born and raised in Dansville, N.Y., Van Durme graduated from Dansville Central School in 1983 and then attended St. John Fisher College in Rochester. While there he entered the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester’s seminary to become a priest.
Van Durme joined the U.S. Army Reserves as a private first class in 1989. After many changes in jobs and careers, he returned to the seminary in 1996. He studied at the KU Leuven Catholic research university in Leuven, Belgium, and was ordained in June of 2000. He returned to active duty military service in August 2008.
After training in Ft. Jackson, S.C., Van Durme was commissioned as a captain and assigned to Second Brigade, 1-3 Attack Helicopter Battalion, Hunter Army Airfield, in Savannah, Ga. In 2010, he transferred to 1-9 Field Artillery at Ft. Stewart, Ga. He deployed in 2009 to Mosul, Iraq, where he served as the only Roman Catholic priest in the local area of operations.
While deployed, Van Durme received a Bronze Star for his efforts, which included more than 250 flights to serve all service men and women as well civilian contractors. In 2014, Van Durme was medically discharged with after a hard helicopter landing.
For his military service, Van Durme was awarded the Iraq Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal (3rd award), Meritorious Unit Commendation, American Defense Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Sharpshooter (Rifle).
Since retirement, Van Durme moved back to Dansville. He currently volunteers the Community Answers Needs Network founded by his sister, Clare Van Durme. His hobbies include bee keeping and woodworking.
Those interested in nominating a deserving former member of the armed forces to lead the board of supervisors in the Pledge of Allegiance can visit the County’s Veteran Services page. To learn more about local veteran-specific events, please visit the LivCo Vets website.
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About Livingston County:
Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is home to more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.