August 19, 2026

By Mary Beth Bracy,
consecrated virgin
North Country Catholic

This is our first story in the “Heritage and Heroes,” a series featuring the stained-glass windows at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg depicting American history and interviews with faithful veterans or active-duty military who serve God and country.

For Dave and Cathy Witkowski, members of Holy Cross Parish in Plattsburgh, service runs in their blood. After decades in the Air Force, they actively volunteer in their parish, community, throughout the diocese and beyond.

Curiosity inspired Dave Witkowski to enlist in the Air Force. “I enrolled in college in 1969, another turbulent period in American history. The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program for college students was subjected to significant criticism on campuses and the media, and I wanted to understand what all the fuss was about.”

“So I joined,” explained Dave, “What better way to understand an organization than being part of it? After graduation and commissioning as a second lieutenant, I entered Air Force active duty intending to learn what I could about the military, serve my four-year commitment and then pursue postgraduate education with the GI Bill.”

His wife Cathy shared, “I joined the Air Force right out of high school, graduating in January of my senior year. I joined because I had an older sister who had joined two years prior, and she said she felt like she was on a continual vacation.”

Cathy served in several different roles during her service.

“I began my enlisted Air Force career as a vehicle operator/dispatcher – bus driver/truck driver –and later cross-trained into the Personnel career field,” she said. “In my eighth year of enlistment, I got off active duty to finish a college degree and was commissioned as a second lieutenant two years later through the Air Force ROTC program, and became an Aircraft Maintenance officer, and a few years later a transportation/logistics officer.”

Dave added, “I didn’t qualify to fly, but the Air Force, unlike the other military services, commissioned officers in non-operational careers. I served as a Human Resources officer for most of my 24-year career, with a few deviations along the way.”

Dave said being in the military impacted his faith journey.

“I was raised in a Catholic family and attended Catholic school from first grade through high school,” he said. “Like many young Catholics, I drifted away from practicing my faith for a number of years, but I found fervent Catholics in the Air Force who helped guide me back for which I’m grateful. Contrary to what many who have never served in the military might think, senior military leaders do not advocate war, but they are committed to being prepared should diplomacy falter. I found that paradox eye opening but their faith strong.”

Cathy’s faith also remained central throughout her time in the service.

“Being raised a cradle Catholic, I continued to practice my faith throughout my military career,” she said. “While stationed overseas in both Guam and Japan, the on-base Chapels provided an anchor for stability and familiarity in foreign places. Dave and I met while we were stationed in Spokane, Washington, but chose to come back to New York to be married in my childhood parish, St. Mary’s, in Washingtonville.”

Along their journey Dave and Cathy traveled “from sea to shining sea” and beyond.

“The most memorable assignment we had was our assignment at Yokota AB Japan,” reflected Cathy. “Dave was promoted to lieutenant colonel there, but more importantly we came back to the U.S. with a baby boy, who we adopted, and we gave him the middle name, Matthew, a gift from God. I was also five months pregnant with our second child when we returned.”

“Thanks to the Air Force, Cathy and I traveled extensively,” added Dave. “Seeing places that are significant to Western Civilization and the Catholic Church – Notre Dame in Paris, for example – were moving experiences. But I agree with Cathy, our assignment to Japan was the most significant. I was able to observe firsthand and participate in the operation of a parish as parish council president. Eye-opening – what burdens your parish pastor and parochial vicars experience!”

Military life also prepared Cathy and Dave for their active roles in our diocese today.

“My military service was service to our nation, where attention to details, promptness, loyalty, courage, was needed, along with empathy, compassion and leadership to those who I supervised,” said Cathy. “All of which contributes to my lay service to the church and dioceses, when I serve as a Eucharist minister, lector, altar server, assistant sacristan and coordinator of the Eastern Area Commissioned Lay Ministry.”

“The military encourages active participation in unit off-duty activities as leaders and followers; successful organizations need both,” noted Dave. “That sense of service and commitment carried over to post Air Force activities. Currently I’m an active member of the Knights of Columbus, with its emphasis on charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. I serve as a lector and Eucharistic minister. In the community, I volunteer with AARP Foundation, TaxAide and as a docent at the Plattsburgh Air Force Base Museum.”

Dave and Cathy commented on the significance of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” line which says “As He died to make men holy, let us die to make them free.”

“Jesus died on the cross to save us all,” emphasized Cathy. “As a member of the military service, I had to have the faith that our political leaders were putting us into military conflicts that were helping to eradicate or at least reduce oppression in our country and other nations that are democratic, free nations, saving us all free of tyranny and oppression. I was blessed during my 21 years of service to never have been directly placed in harm’s way, though several of the enlisted personnel I supervised were deployed to Kuwait, during the First Gulf War.”

“Seeking salvation in the afterlife, like democracy and freedom on Earth, isn’t a spectator sport,” advised Dave. “Both require faith, study, discipline and commitment to God first and country.”