HONOREE'S

2023 Honoree

SPC Marissa strock

  SPC Marissa Strock Joined the Army in 2004 as a Military Police officer, after basic training she was stationed at Fort Lewis WA, where she joined the 170th MP Co known as the “Dragon Slayers”.  Specialist Strock deployed to Baghdad to meet up with her deployed unit in 2005. Once there Specialist Strock began working alongside Iraqi Police and Iraqi Army, pulling security at checkpoints and doing routine patrols to show a presence in Southern Baghdad.  This was an area known to locals as "The Triangle of Death".  On 24 Nov 2005, while en route to a mission an IED (Improvised explosive device)  would detonate beneath Specialist Strocks vehicle. The blast killed her team leader, her driver and the Iraqi police colonel in the back seat.  Specialist Strock was Med-Evaced to Baghdad, then to Germany and finally to Walter Reed Hospital in Maryland.  After 18 months in the hospital she returned home to Upstate NY as a Purple Heart Recipient and double amputee.  

2022 Honoree

SGT Jeffrey combs

SGT Jeffrey Combs was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines in 2004 and deployed to Iraq for Operation Phantom Fury also known as the “Second Battle of Fallujah”.  Returning without injury Sgt. Combs took part in his second deployment in 2006 with the 2nd Scout Platoon. In his first 6 months in the country on his second deployment Sgt Combs was injured twice receiving two purple hearts. On April 8th 2006 he was injured by an IED receiving shrapnel injuries to his head and face, taking little time to recover Sgt, Combs returned to his platoon and on August 31st he was struck by a pressure plate IED that cost him his left arm above the elbow and gave him a traumatic brain injury, he was also shot in his left calf on the same mission. 

2021 Honoree

SPC Antonio torre

SPC Torre served in the United States Army from 2004 to 2008 as a Combat Engineer. He deployed to Iraq in 2006. While on a mission providing security for locals to pass along a route, SPC Torre was shot in the face by an enemy sniper. From there SPC Torre spent a lot of time in and out of hospitals. If that wasn't enough SPC Torre was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He continues to fight everyday to get healthy for himself and his family. 


2020 CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19



2019 Honoree

LCPL IAN Delaney

LCPL Delaney served with 3/6 Kilo Company from 2004 to 2008. He was deployed to Iraq in 2005-06 and again in 2007. During that time, he suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury from indirect fire and was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress. After Ian returned home, he continued his service as a Volunteer Firefighter for the J.W. Hoydradt Chemical and Hose Company of the Hudson Fire Dept. On July 15, 2015 Ian and a friend were the victims of a home invasion. During the home invasion Ian attempted to disarm one of the assailants and was shot in the chest as a result of protecting himself and his friend. The resulted injury left Ian paralyzed from the waist down. Ian is currently working hard through rigorous physical therapy to regain some of the use of his legs.

2018 Honoree

PFC Paul Miosek

PFC Miosek proudly served during Operation Desert Shield where he became permanently disabled after coming in contact with a high voltage power cable. Upon waking from a six week coma, Paul learned that 15 thousand volts of electricity had shot through his entire body. This tragedy left Paul with a traumatic brain injury, severe burns from his dog tags, eye problems, as well as both legs amputated. In spite of all this, Paul has been able to regain some independence. He is a college graduate and happily married with a wife of 20 years and has three children. All three of Paul’s children have autism and ADHD.

2017 Honoree

SPC ANGIE LUPE

SPC Lupe Served in the United States Army  from 1999 to 2005 where she participated in the initial push into Iraq in 2003.  She worked as a convoy security gunner and a combat life saver with the Quick Reaction Force (QRF).  During her deployment, a mortar landed ten feet from her causing traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and hearing loss.  She has also been diagnosed with progressive neurological conditions from chemical exposures slowly paralyzing her.