“We crossed the Channel at night,” says World War One veteran and Ballston Spa resident Edward Dechants of his arrival in Europe to begin his eight month tour with the Coast Artillery. Dechants, pictures here today and during his military service, celebrated his 100th birthday on Veteran’s Day . . . The veteran was photographed in his home, then a loaned family snapshot was scanned and combined with a backlit photo of the American flag flying in front of the newspaper building.