New York Air National Guard
(Feb. 2014) Members of the New York Air National Guard received recognition for their service in a combat zone Sunday, Feb. 9, during the 174th Attack Wing Hometown Heroes Salute ceremony for all units on the Air National Guard Base in Syracuse.
135 members of the wing received a Hometown Heroes Salute at the ceremony.
Recognized Airmen for supporting overseas contingency operations as part of the 174th Attack Wing included:
Master Sgt. Kevin Mckillip from Bridgeport
Tech. Sgt. Timothy Cullipher from Bridgeport
Senior Airman Jedidiah Boswell from Canastota
Senior Airman Pierce Relyea from Canastota
Chief Master Sgt. James Boswell from Chittenango
Senior Airman Robert Relyea from Clockville
Tech. Sgt. Carl Wolicki from Earlville
Staff Sgt. Philip Netzband from Erieville
Tech. Sgt. Stephanie Barnes from Hubbardsville
Lt. Col. Ronald Berzins from Kirkville
Senior Airman Stephen Boswell from Kirkville
Staff Sgt. Nicholas Guilbeault from Kirkville
Master Sgt. Matthew Warner from Waterville
The Hometown Heroes program recognizes Airmen who mobilized and supported contingency operations such as Operations Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan for 30 or more consecutive days either serving overseas or here in the U.S. since Sept. 11, 2001.
“We recognize the tremendous service and sacrifice of our Airmen and their families supporting the wide variety of missions here in the wing,” said Col. Greg Semmel, 174th Attack Wing Commander. “Our Hometown Heroes salute is a great opportunity to thank them for that service.”
Airmen receive a framed letter from the Chief of the National Guard Bureau containing a Hometown Heroes salute challenge coin. Children of the deployed Airmen will also receive unique Hometown Heroes Salute dog tags.
The Air National Guard initiated the program in August 2008 to celebrate and honor our Airmen, families, communities and those special supporters who have significantly contributed to supporting our Airmen and the Air National Guard mission.
The 174th Attack Wing was established in 1947 as the first Air National Guard flying unit in New York State. It currently flies the state-of-the-art MQ-9 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The wing conducts its combat mission as well as its multiple training missions, including operating the Field Training Detachment (FTD) which trains all Air Force personnel on MQ-9 maintenance procedures, and the Formal Training Unit (FTU) which provides initial qualification training to MQ-9 aircrews.