United States Army Captain Devon Hubbard hails from Chicago, Illinois. In 2016, Captain Hubbard was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Corps from Mercyhurst University.
Continue Readinghometown hero
Hometown Hero: Mackenzie Kirsch
U.S. Army Second Lieutenant Mackenzie Kirsch was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. In 2024, she graduated as the valedictorian of The New Mexico Military Institute. Mackenzie was commissioned from the Early Commissioning Program as a Second Lieutenant in the Vermont Army National Guard, where she is currently serving in the Judge Advocate General Corps office. As a cadet at the New Mexico Military Institute, she served as the Regimental Provost Marshal, Battalion Operations Officer, Battalion Adjutant, and was on the Ranger Challenge Team. Her proudest achievements in the Army include completing the Norwegian Ruck march with her unit and being honored as a Distinguished Military Graduate.
Continue ReadingHometown Hero: Leonel Aviles ’26
United States Marine Corps veteran and Syracuse University student veterans Leonel Aviles was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. Leo joined the United States Marine Corps in 2017, just two weeks after graduating high school. He attended boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina and completed Supply and Warehouse Specialist training at Camp Gilbert H. Johnson, North Carolina. As a Supply and Warehouse Specialist, Leo was responsible for keeping Marines equipped with all their equipment required to train and operate each day.
Continue ReadingHometown Hero: Alexis Stanley
United States Air Force Technical Sergeant Alexis Stanley is from Idaho Falls, Idaho, and she enlisted in the United States Air Force in March 2015.
Hometown Hero: Tania Gonzalez
After four years on active duty at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, she joined the U.S. Army Reserves as a 37F Psychological Operations Sergeant.
Hometown Hero: Uma Lama
Uma Lama was born in Nepal and has been a resident of New York City since 2013. In 2018, she earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in Counseling from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Continue ReadingHometown Hero: Alexa Hernandez
United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Alexa Hernandez was born and raised in Miami, Florida. Staff Sergeant Hernandez enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in November 2016, and she completed Marine Recruit Training at Parris Island, South Carolina in 2017.
Continue ReadingHometown Hero – Joseph Creager
United States Army Staff Sergeant Joseph Creager was born in Chicago, and hails from Land in Lakes, Illinois. He enlisted in the Army in 2013 as an Infantryman and served as a Scout/Sniper for 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry (Airborne) at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska from 2013-2017. Staff Sergeant Creager later served as a Stryker Commander and Fire Team Leader at 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry, Fort Carson, Colorado.
Continue ReadingHometown Hero: Mykala Keckeisen
United States Navy Mass Communications Specialist 2nd (MC2) Class Mykala Keckeisen was born and raised in the city of Madison, Wisconsin. She enlisted in the United States Navy and attended Recruit Training Command (RTC), Great Lakes, Illinois in December 2020. Following RTC, MC2 Keckeisen spent seven months at the Defense Information School in Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. MC2 Keckeisen graduated in the top five in her class and after completing “A” school, she arrived at her first duty station on the USS Nimitz (CVN 68).
Continue ReadingHometown Hero: Rolondo “Jun” Mari
United States Army Sergeant First Class Rolando “Jun” Mari was born in the Philippines and calls Bel Air, Maryland home. Sergeant First Class Mari entered the U.S. Army in 2011, completing Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, SC, and became a 36 Bravo, Financial Management Technician.
Continue Reading