SANDSTON, Va. –
Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers honored John Paul Macri, 9, with a ceremonial promotion to the rank of staff sergeant during a visit to the Army Aviation Support Facility in Sandston, Virginia. Earlier this year, Macri began to experience balance issues and double vision. In March, doctors discovered a rapidly growing brain tumor and diagnosed him with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma.
During Macri’s visit with the Virginia Army National Guard, he was able to experience the rush of power during the start-up of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and assist with the start-up of a UH-72 Lakota helicopter. Then, Macri was ceremonially promoted to the rank of staff sergeant and presented with the Army Aviator Badge by Col. Craig Lewis, the state aviation support officer.
The Macri family attends a Mechanicsville-area church with Staff Sgt. Julian Houchins, a Virginia Army National Guard recruiter, who assisted in facilitating John Paul’s visit. Initially, the plan was simply to provide a tour to the Macri family, but, with the help of Maj. Chuck Cavender, who works full-time at the AASF, it became a full-fledged ceremony to honor the young man, with dozens of full-time National Guard Soldiers supporting and attending the event.
“Kids are the best thing on the planet,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Darrell Busquets, who helped to showcase the capabilities of the UH-60 to the Macri family. “To be able to fulfill his wish of becoming a [noncommissioned officer] and aircrew member […] is life-changing. It is one of the top honors of my military career.”
After his honorary promotion, Macri stood at the front of the formation alongside Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Hawley, the state command sergeant major and a fellow congregant at the Macri’s church. Together, they recited the Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer. Then, with the help of Hawley, Macri took charge of the formation.
“It is a day we will remember forever,” said Katie Macri, John Paul’s mother.