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Hometown Hero – John DeGorge

United States Army ROTC Cadet John DeGeorge was born in New York City and calls Middletown, New York home. John enlisted in the Army in 2019 completing basic and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Georgia, becoming an 11 Charlie, Indirect Fire Infantryman. He served on active duty from 2019 to 2024, achieving the rank of Sergeant.

His first duty assignment was with the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment – The Wolfhounds – located in Schofield Barracks Hawaii. He deployed on several multinational military exercises to the Philippines, working alongside partner forces from New Zealand and Thailand. While stationed in Hawaii, John met and married his wife, Sara, in Honolulu on August 20th, 2022, and they recently welcomed their first son, JJ, on June 14th of this year.

In 2024, John was selected for a three-year Green to Gold Scholarship, chose to attend Syracuse University, and join the university’s Stalwart Battalion Army ROTC program. Today, John is a senior studying Information Management and Technology with a Minor in History. He is on track to graduate in the spring of 2027 and earn his commission as an Army Second Lieutenant.

His proudest moment in the military was earning his Expert Infantryman Badge, a special skills badge in the U.S. Army awarded to personnel who demonstrate mastery of critical infantry and warfighting fundamentals.

Campus Community Invited to Celebrate Veterans Day at the NVRC

Syracuse University Chancellor and President J. Michale Haynie, a U.S. Air Force veteran and founder of the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, will deliver the keynote address.

The Syracuse University Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) invites the campus community to the National Veterans Resource Center (NVRC) at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building for the annual observance of Syracuse University’s Veterans Day ceremony.

The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, and will be held in the K.G. Tan Auditorium, followed by a reception in the Bisignano Grand Hall inside the NVRC.

Hosted by the OVMA, the Veterans Day observance reflects Syracuse University’s longstanding commitment to serving military-connected students, veterans and their families. The tradition dates back to World War I, when the University established the Student Army Training Corps, the precursor to today’s Reserve Officer Training Corps.

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Hometown Hero: Brittany Taylor

From May 2015 to June 2019, Brittany served onboard USS PEAR HARBOR LSD 52 as a Personnel Specialist maintaining critical operational readiness for over 350 sailors.

Hometown Hero – Alisha Milligan

U.S. Navy veteran Alisha Milligan was born Colorado and hails from Venice, Florida. Alisha enlisted in the Navy in February 2012 and attended boot camp two months later at Recruit Training Command, Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois. After completing boot camp, she attended and completed Navy Air Traffic Controller “A” School training at the Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC on Naval Air Station Pensacola (Florida).

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Hometown Hero: Mariah Carter

United States Army Second Lieutenant Maria Carter was born in Nashville, Tennessee and grew up in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. In 2023, Maria graduated from Abington Senior High School in 2023 and attended Valley Forge Military College in Wayne, Pennsylvania.

Hometown Hero: Joshua Carabajal

Joshua attended and graduated from Kenwood High School in Clarksville, Tennessee in 2003. He enlisted in the Army in 2009 and attended basic and advanced individual training at Fort Knox, Kentucky to become an M1A1 Abrams Armor Crewman or Tanker.

Hometown Hero: AJ Florkowski

AJ graduated from Pennridge High School, excelling in soccer and playing on the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team and was also recognized as a Parade All-American after his senior year of high school.

Hometown Hero – Scott Wegener

United States Army Sergeant First Class (SFC) Scott Wegener was born in Lexington, Missouri, and he enlisted in the Army in July 2009. He completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and the 44 Charlie, Financial Management Technician course which is known today as the 36 Bravo Finance and Comptroller.  

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