Eleven people were honored in a parade of heroes Monday in Centre County.
These people have done so much for the community, the country. While some of them are war veterans and first responders, others have played a big role locally to help and inspire others.
The list of those honored during the “America’s Got Heroes” parade include:
Christopher Hawn – Chris served in the U.S. Army for six years. He currently attends Penn State Altoona for a marketing and management degree and is active with the Enactus Program.
Jerry Helsel – Jerry served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Jerry was newly married and left his wife to serve for one year. After returning from the war, he started a family, having two children, Wanda and Bradley. Jerry was a sheet metal worker and retired from S.P. McCarl’s in Altoona.
Isaac Messner – Isaac, a senior at State College High School, was diagnosed in April 2014 with Hodgkin Lymphoma. He arranged with the Make-a-Wish Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia to provide new uniforms for the State High Track and Field team, of which he was a member.
Patrick Boab – Patrick was born in Penns Valley and after being accepted to Penn State, he joined the ROTC program. After graduating in 1958 with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, he was commissioned in the Air Force. For the past 10 years, Patrick has volunteered for the Central PA’s 4th pyro team constructing the firing tube infrastructure.
Mel Curtis – Mel is the Moshannon Valley YMCA Branch Director. Mel’s belief and mission is to make sure every child that is hungry gets fed. He started the free summer lunch program in Philipsburg in 2004. He started the BackPack Program there in 2014, before expanding the program to Bellefonte, serving Bald Eagle, Bellefonte and Penns Valley School Districts.
Stewart Neff – Stewart is a Lieutenant with the Penn State Police Department, where he has been employed for more than 50 years. For the past 30 years, Stew has been a member of the Board of Supervisors for Warriors Mark Township. He has been president of Lodge 51, Fraternal Order of Police.
Donald Boller – Donald served in the U.S. Air National Guard and was deployed to Germany during the Berlin Crisis in 1960. He is a founding member of the Patton Township Business Association and was a board member for the Patton Township Police Selection Board, Planning Commission and Centre LifeLink EMS.
Ernest Harpster – Ernie served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1956 to 1998. He has served on the Council of the Gatesburg Lutheran Church for many years and is Chairman of the Gatesburg Historical Committee. Ernie served on the Ferguson Township Home Rule committee. He has five children, nine grandchildren and has been married for 56 years.
Boyd Spicher – Boyd retired from the U.S. Navy after serving 23 years, attaining the rank of Chief Petty Officer and serving during hostage crises in Iran and Cuba, three tours in Beirut and Operation Desert Shield. Boyd currently works with Centre County’s VITA program, coordinated through the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. He volunteers more than 700 hours annually with RSVP and has compiled more than 6,000 hours since joining in 2009.
Virginia “Ginny” Poorman – For the past nine years, Ginny has focused on helping those who are homeless in the Centre County and Pittsburgh communities. She founded Hearts for the Homeless in February 2014. H4H and the volunteer staff guide clients through resume building and job searches, how to interview for jobs, clothing needs, transportation to medical appointments, court appearances and transitional housing.
Samar Almarzooqi -Samar is a volunteer EMT with Centre LifeLink EMS. She is a graduate of State High and a recent Penn State graduate. She joined LifeLink in January of 2015. Over the course of her first year, Samar volunteered 1,524 hours and responded to 496 EMS calls. She was recognized by her peers as Ambulance Attendant of the Year. So far in 2016, she has responded to 204 calls and volunteered over 660 hours.
