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
Hometown Hero: Jay Knight
United States Army Captain (Promotable) Jay Knight hails from Huntsville, Alabama. He completed his bachelor’s degree in 2000 at the University of Alabama – Birmingham and enlisted into the United States Army in 2005 as an 11 Bravo – Infantryman.
Hometown Hero: Felicia Showers
Syracuse University Army ROTC Cadet and New York Army National Guard Sergeant, Felicia Showers, hails from Waterloo, New York. She enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 2014 as Geospatial Intelligence Imagery Analyst and served in the 152nd Brigade Engineer Battalion.
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.
Hometown Hero: Amanda Sullivan
United States Army Veteran Amanda Sullivan was born and raised in the Chicago suburb of Aurora, IL. In 2014, she enlisted in the Army and attended basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and received military occupation training as a supply specialist at Fort Lee, Virginia.
Hometown Hero: Kent Redmond
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Kent Redmond hails from Minneapolis, Minnesota and enlisted in the United States Army in 2007 as a broadcast journalist. In 2008, he married his wonderful wife, Tara.
Hometown Hero: Greg Baird
United States Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Greg Baird hails from Baldwinsville, New York, and he enlisted in the Air Force in December 1987. He married his wife, Deanna, in 1992 and they have two children: son Sean, and daughter Lauren.
Hometown Hero: Elton Fairbank
Elton Fairbank was born in Jamestown, New York and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1944 as a Seaman First Class, Gunner’s Mate Striker. Elton’s father served in World War I, and his four brothers also served in the Armed Forces.