COLUMBIA: Those Who Honorably Served is a product of more than twenty years of inquiry. I say inquiry because when peering into the lives of fellow veterans I am curious as to what compels them to do the things they do. This book is made up of biographies of veterans from Columbia County, NY, who served in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam, and details their faithful service to their country, family and communities. Mark A. Clarke was born and raised in Upstate New York. Enlisting in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, he volunteered and served in an Airborne Infantry Regiment in Europe. Mark earned a Bachelor's Degree in English Education at SUNY Oswego, a Master's Degree at Saint Rose and post graduate studies in a PHD program at Syracuse University. Mark taught for more than thirty years in a public school in Columbia County where he met his wife. He is a member of the American Legion, 509th Parachute Infantry Association and the 82nd Airborne Association and has served with numerous civic organizations that pertain to veteran issues as a member, lector and in leadership positions.Mark and his wife of 40 years have two children and make their home in Ghent, New York, while enjoying winters in Florida. He stays active in his community and in his spare time writes. Cindy Casey is an independent book editor and publisher, beginning this second career in 2020 after an award-winning 43 years in newspapers, magazines and specialty publications. She graduated from SUNY Morrisville with an associate's degree in Journalism and Syracuse University College with a bachelor's degree in Communications and Media Studies. Cindy's independent publishing business is under the name CCE Publishing. She is a member of the Florida Authors & Publishers Association and the Independent Book Publishers Association. Her email is cindycaseyediting@gmail.com. Visit her website at ccepublishing.com.