AFMC Command News

Base children honored for their battle, bravery

  • Published
  • By Joel Fortner
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio --  Heroes are defined by their brave actions. For the children honored by the Wright-Patt Young Heroes Association, heroic acts are a part of daily life as they battle potentially life-threatening illnesses.

The Wright-Patt Young Heroes Association paid tribute to two children of base employees and another child during a military-style ceremony April 27 at Young's Dairy in Yellow Springs.

During the ceremony, complete with Heroes' Certificates of Recognition and Medals of Honor, Elizabeth Koerner, 3, granddaughter of Ronald Koerner, and Jalen Willis, 6, son of Master Sgt. Robert Jr. and Jacqueline Willis, were honored.

Elizabeth was diagnosed with spina bifida and lipomyelomeningocele at birth, said Lt. Col. Kelley Moore, master of ceremonies. She endured three surgeries by the time she was 1 year old. One was to remove a mass on her back, and another was to correct the ball and socket in her hip at which time she was in a body cast for several months. The third surgery was to fix the skin on her back where her spine was visible.

Jalen was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in September after spells of not eating, falling asleep at unusual times, digestive irregularities and other abnormalities, Colonel Moore said.

"I think it's amazing," said Hannah Koerner, Elizabeth's mother of the awards program. "I think it's great that they honor kids who have been through a lot. Elizabeth has been through so much, and I think it's great to just have one day to just say, 'Hey, Elizabeth, we're happy for you, we're proud of you and you've done a great job.'"

Jalen's mother said she was equally as proud.

"I'm just happy that this award is presented to the young people who are struggling or going through stuff because it's letting them know to keep going, keep going, don't give up," said Mrs. Willis.

"I'm very proud because my little boy is 6 years old, and he has been through a lot since September when (he was) diagnosed - and for all the shots that he has gotten, and all the pricking, and all the little points in his fingers where we prick him all the time, and all the needles that he gets - he's a brave little boy."

The Young Heroes Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization devoted to honoring children 2-17 years of age by recognizing them for their courage and bravery in battling chronic or terminal illnesses, injuries or birth defects.

The Young Heroes Association was brought to Wright-Patterson in 1989. Since its first award was presented here in July 1989 , Wright-Patt Young Heroes Association has presented awards to more than 600 children throughout the Miami Valley.

(No federal endorsement of this organization is implied or intended.)