The Prairie Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) held their Honor & Awards Ceremony on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at Places Restaurant in John Knox Village. That day, Prairie Chapter recognized Master Sergeant Vic Ziliani as their Patriot of the month for January 2025.
Vic Ziliani enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during his junior-senior year of high school. He left Florida for boot camp in October 1989 attending a 13 weeks of training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina, graduating in January 1990. He then went to Camp Geiger, North Carolina, for Marine Corps Infantry training and on to the Field Radio Operators course in Twentynine Palms, California.
In 1990, Vic was deployed to the 3rd Marine Division at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, while spending time in the Philippines and Korea. In 1992, he went to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, as part of the 2nd Air-Navel Gunfire Liaison. In 2003, Vic was deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During the invasion, his most notable battle was in Nasiriyah where the Task Force secured the highways.
Upon his return to the United States, Vic returned to Virginia he spent three years as the Director of Parachute Rigger School at the Marine Corps Detachment Fort Lee, Virginia. Thinking he would returned to Air Delivery Platoon at Camp Lejeune.
He spent 18 months working on the V22 Osprey Tilt Helicopter working on a low cost air delivery system standard operating system procedure to support the combat operations in Afghanistan. He retired in 2009 with the rank of Master Sergeant.
Among his many medals and ribbons are the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, United Nations Medal, as well as numerous service awards.
In his Civilian Life, Vic returned to school, earning a Bachelor of Science in Health Services from UMKC. Having worked in corporate America he left there in 2020 and began doing public relations for the federal government, a position he currently holds.
In 2010, he began fundraising for the Marine Raider Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting the Marine Special Operations Forces. These activities include Iron Man triathlons and cross-country mountain biking.
He adds the best advice he received was “never volunteer,” but he ignored that advice and volunteered for everything he could.
Although a native of New York, he resides in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
