Canastota Residents Honored For Combat Service

174th Fighter Wing Commander Presents ‘Hometown Hero Awards’

More than 600 members of the New York Air National Guard received recognition for their service in a combat zone on Saturday, Oct. 13 during the 174th Fighter Wing Hometown Heroes Salute ceremony for all units on the Air National Guard Base in Syracuse.

Area recipients of the Hometown Heroes Salute included:

Technical Sergeant Albert Franklin, part of the 152d Air Operations Group from Canastota, NY.

Captain Anthony Bucci, part of the 174th Fighter Wing from Canastota, NY.

Staff Sergeant Gary Fugitt, part of the Eastern Air Defense Sector from Canastota, NY.

The program recognizes airmen who deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (operations in Afghanistan) since Sept. 11, 2001.

The awards recognize all Hancock Field members, both geographically separated units and tenant units, that deployed from 11 September 2001 to 31 December 2008. The awards were distributed to 12 different section leaders, who in-turn will present the awards to individual members and their families at a later date. There were 642 New York Air National Guard Hometown Heroes Salute awards distributed.

Onondaga County Executive Joanne M. Mahoney, Congressman Dan Maffei, and Col. Kevin W. Bradley, the 174th Fighter Wing Commander officiated at the ceremony.

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.

Canastota Residents Honored For Combat Service

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