Rockland County Ancient Order Of Hibernians

2008 Pearl River St. Patrick's Day Parade Commander Major Francis J. Farrelly, Jr.

Frank was raised in Pearl River, NY, the son of Frank (Division 3 member) and Patricia Farrelly. He graduated from Pearl River High School in 1994 and earned an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Upon graduation from the
Major Francis J. Farrelly, Jr.
2008 Parade Commander Academy, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and was selected to attend Pilot Training. He attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin AFB and then completed various forms of graduate level pilot training when he was selected to fly the B-52H Stratofortress, the backbone of America's heavy bomber force capable of employing nearly all forms of conventional and nuclear weapons.

Frank began his service as a B-52 pilot at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana in June of 2000. Shortly after the attacks of 9/11 he was deployed to fight in Afghanistan, logging nearly 300 combat flight hours and employing over 100,000 pounds of munitions against al Qaeda targets, most notably in support of Operation Anaconda.
In May 2003 he was assigned to Wheeler Army Air Field, Hawaii as an Air Liaison Officer to the Army's 25th Infantry Division (light). In this capacity, he was deployed yet again to Afghanistan, commanding a unit of forward air controllers throughout 167,000 square miles of the eastern section of the country. After completion of his tour as an Air Liaison Officer to the Army, he returned to flying the B-52H attaining the position of Instructor Pilot at Minot AFB, North Dakota. His current rank is Major and his duties include instructing service members on the flying and combat employment of the B-52H and serving as the Chief of Flight Safety for the 5th Bomb Wing.

During his time in the Air Force he has served multiple tours in Afghanistan, Korea, and Guam (and throughout the Pacific Area of Operations). He has been awarded the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Medals (Expeditionary and Support), and the Humanitarian Service Medal. He has also been awarded badges that include Senior Pilot Wings, Parachutist Badge, and the Army Combat Action Badge.

His wife, Carrie, is from Mondovi, WI and they have one son named Francis III (Frankie).