Staff Reports
More than 550 members of the New York Air National Guard received recognition for their service in a combat zone Sunday during the 107th Airlift Wing Hometown Heroes Salute ceremony for all units on the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.
The Hometown Heroes program recognizes airmen who deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (operations in Afghanistan) since Sept. 11, 2001. Those recognized included those who deployed for more than 30 consecutive days in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Noble Eagle or other contingency operations across the globe from September 11, 2001, through December 31, 2008.
The airmen received a framed letter from the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, General Craig R. McKinley, containing a Hometown Heroes salute challenge coin. Children of the deployed airmen also received unique Hometown Heroes Salute dog tags.
“Since September 11, 2001, the 107th has been called upon to respond to contingencies around the world and without hesitation, the men and women of the 107th have put their civilian lives on hold, answering the calls of our nation,” said Col. Patrick Ginavan, the 107th Airlift Wing Commander, in a release. “This is a small token of our appreciation for the sacrifices they and their families have endured.”
The Air National Guard initiated the program in August 2008 to celebrate and honor airmen, families, communities and those special supporters who have significantly contributed to supporting our Airmen and the Air National Guard mission.
Area recipients of the Hometown Heroes Salute included:
Niagara Falls
• Technical Sgt. Aliza Adanza, Technical Sgt. William Adkins, Senior Airman Michael Badolato, Staff Sgt. Richard Brautman, Master Sgt. Carol Bright, Master Sgt. Paul Brundage, Senior Master Sgt. Michael Bugay, Master Sgt. Ralph Burow, Technical Sgt. Willis Burtch, Staff Sgt. Edwin Castro, Technical Sgt. Leonard Cheff, Master Sgt. Ronald Cirrito, Master Sgt. William Correa, Capt. Ectore Dalporto, Technical Sgt. Daniel Dixon, Master Sgt. Scott Dixon, Technical Sgt. William Dixon, Master Sgt. Keith Dodge, Senior Airman Rick Dumas, Master Sgt. Joseph Elder, Staff Sgt. Angelina Fischer, Technical Sgt. John Givan, Technical Sgt. Bryan Harrington, Technical Sgt. Adam Harvey, Master Sgt. Anthony Hester, Technical Sgt. Robert Hull, Master Sgt. Daniel Jones, Staff Sgt. Jason Kirchner, Master Sgt. Shawn Larrabee, Technical Sgt. Stacey Lewis, Master Sgt. Gregory London, Staff Sgt. Ryan Mang, Senior Airman Mary Martin, Technical Sgt. Patrick Mcdonough, Captain Peter Nowak, Technical Sgt. Christopher Nuhfer, Senior Airman Erin Oakey, Staff Sgt. Aldo Orsi, Master Sgt. Jeffrey Pries, Technical Sgt. David Rendina, Capt. Shawn Reynolds, Senior Airman Jesse Schmidt, Senior Master Sgt. Dale Selbert, Master Sgt. Melissa Shenefiel, Master Sgt. Randall Shenefiel, Capt. Craig Smith, Capt. Kevin Smith, Technical Sgt. Matthew Szczepaniec, Technical Sgt. Jennifer Weerheim, Technical Sgt. Nghia Truong and Staff Sgt. Tad Wesser.
Lewiston
• Senior Airman Kristian Alex, Senior Airman Robert Argy, Senior Airman Dana Borget, Staff Sgt. Sean Buth, Lt. Colonel Douglas Eoute, Master Sgt. Ricardo Flores, Senior Airman Seth Higley, Technical Sgt. Richard James, Master Sgt. Stephen Linza, Lt. Colonel Thomas Litz, Master Sgt. Daniel Kilmer, Technical Sgt. Thomas Martin, Lt. Colonel Patrick Roemer and Master Sgt. James Zeames.
Ransomville
• Senior Airman Matthew Burns, Staff Sgt. Patrick Burns, Capt. Bettina Cameron, Senior Master Sgt. Roger Gaines, Senior Master Sgt. Gary Henning, Senior Master Sgt. Randy Johnston, Chief Master Sgt. Dennis Pollow, Technical Sgt. Wendy Pollow and Master Sgt. Eric Wisor.
Sanborn
• Technical Sgt. Jeffrey Carter, Technical Sgt. Kenneth Devole, Master Sgt. Sean Equils, Senior Master Sgt. Jeffrey Kasper, Master Sgt. Thomas Larson, Staff Sgt. Percy Patterson, Chief Master Sgt. Phillip Tavenier, Master Sgt. Billy Trichel, Lt. Colonel David Warnic and Master Sgt. Christopher Zastrow.
Youngstown
• Senior Master Sgt. Theodore Cassick, Senior Airman Brian Kelley, Lt. Colonel Deanna Miller, Major Gregory Miller, Senior Master Sgt. Richard Parson and Senior Master Sgt. Gary Piatt.
Wheatfield
• Technical Sgt. Nicholas Dodge, Staff Sgt. Rachelle Galipeau, Master Sgt. Joel Micoli, Major John Patterson and Technical Sgt. Daniel Weiser.
Wilson
• Master Sgt. Clyde Doty, Master Sgt. Jean Francescutti and Senior Airman Sean Furey.
