United States Marine Corps Anthony Joseph Ruscitto was born in Syracuse, New York and graduated from Bishop Grimes high school in 2013. Tony enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2013 at the age of 17 and would serve a total of five years on active duty. He completed Marine Corps Recruit Training and earned the title of United States Marine at Parris Island, South Carolina in February of 2014. He then completed Marine and Naval Aircrew flight training as a CH-53E Helicopter Crew Chief at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, North Carolina in 2015.
Hometown Hero
Hometown Hero: Ryan Yon
Carolina. In August 2017, he enlisted in the United States Army after reading the book Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. A passage from the book inspired Ryan to enlist which reads: “Deep in his heart, every man longs for a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and something to rescue.” Ryan finished the book on his break, immediately drove to the recruiter’s office and enlisted, and told his supervisor he will be leaving and never coming back.
Hometown Hero: Nadia Morris-Mitchell
United States Navy veteran, currently serving New York State Air National Guardsman, and Syracuse University undergraduate student veteran Nadia Morris-Mitchell hails from Syracuse, New York. She enlisted in the United States Navy in 2004 as a heavy equipment operator, Seabee. Also in 2004, Nadia married her high school sweetheart, Cody Stasko.
Home Town Hero: Trayvon Wynn
U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Trayvon Wynn enlisted into the New York Air National Guard on May 14, 2015, as an Operations Manager and was assigned to the 174th Civil Engineering Squadron at Hancock Field in Syracuse, New York. Staff Sergeant Wynn provided support to the entire base ensuring the Hancock Field flight line and all facilities were always fully operational.
Home Town Hero: Janina Rios
United States Army veteran and Syracuse University undergraduate student Janina Rios enlisted into the U.S. Army in October 2010, and three days after her high school graduation she shipped out to Basic Training
Hometown Hero: Kristin Hughes
United States Army Sergeant First Class and Syracuse Police Officer Kristin Hughes hails from Syracuse, New York. Kristin attended Bishop Grimes High School where she played soccer and graduated in 2012. She later became the Bishop Grimes girls assistant head soccer coach in 2017 for one year.
Hometown Hero: Charlie Poag
United States Marine Corps veteran and Syracuse University senior Charlie Poag enlisted in the Marine Corps in the summer of 2001 and completed boot camp two weeks prior to the tragic events of 9/11.
Hometown Hero: Kirsten Brandes
Staff Sergeant Kirsten Brandes enlisted in the Air Force in January of 2015. During her nearly six years of service as a Broadcast Journalist, she has served at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama; Incirlik Air Base, Turkey; and Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Syracuse University Tillman Scholar and Air Force Veteran, Laura Buys, honored as Hometown Hero vs. Georgia Tech
United States Air Force veteran Laura Buys of Saint Paul, Minnesota, enlisted in the Air Force and became an operations intelligence analyst in 2012. In 2014, she deployed to Qatar in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Inherent Resolve. She later joined the prestigious Cobra Ball in Alaska and Japan while supporting international treaty verification.
Hometown Hero: J-R Williams
United States Army Master Sergeant (Retired) Jennifer-Rebeccah “J-R” Williams hails from Pulaski, New York and enlisted in the Army in 1996 as a Broadcast Journalist and Public Affairs Specialist. J-R served 22 and a half years in the Army before retiring from active duty in 2018.