Army National Guard Sgt.

Aaron Bender participated in the presidential inauguration Jan. 20.Bender, a supply sergeant with seven years of military service, is a member of the 1st Battalion, 107th Field Artillery, New Castle.He is the son of Eugene and Linda Bender of Butler.The sergeant graduated in 2002 from Butler High School.———Air Force Reserve

Lt. Col. Bryan Bly has been appointed as vice wing commander of the 911th Airlift Wing based at the Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station in Coraopolis.The vice commander is responsible for assisting the commander in maintaining the combat capability and readiness of a 1,275-member wing, whose mission is to support eight transport aircraft.Bly was commissioned as an Air Force officer in 1981. Afterward, he completed undergraduate pilot training and served nine years of active duty flying rescue helicopters.He joined the Air Force Reserve in 1990 and served as an Air Reserve technician performing helicopter evaluator duties. The colonel completed the fixed wing qualification course and in 1996 was assigned as a cargo aircraft pilot.In 1991, he was recalled to active duty to fly helicopter combat missions during Operation Desert Storm from Saudi Arabia and served in Turkey in support of Operation Provide Comfort.Bly trained to pilot C-130 aircraft and was assigned to the Pittsburgh International Airport, Air Reserve Station.The colonel led numerous deployment and exercises before being recalled to active duty in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He served as an operations officer in Kuwait, a squadron commander at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as squadron commander in Pittsburgh and in Youngstown, Ohio, prior to being assigned as vice commander of the 911th Airlift Wing. Bly is a rated command pilot with 7,500 flight hours.He has won numerous major military awards and decorations, including four Meritorious Service Medals and two Air Medals.He is the son of Roland and Joan Bly of Karns City.His wife, Susan, is the daughter of Carl D. and Shirley J. King of East Brady.Bly graduated in 1977 from Karns City High School and received a bachelor's degree in 1981 from the U.S. Air Force Academy.He earned a master's degree in 1987 from Webster University while assigned at Keflavik Naval Air Station, Iceland.———Army National Guard Maj.

David Reesman participated in the presidential inauguration Jan. 20.Reesman, a civil affairs officer, is a member of the 78th Infantry Division in Washington, Washington County. The guard member has served in the military for 20 years.He is the son of Dalores Reesman of Sarver.The major graduated in 1984 from Freeport High School and received a degree in 1988 from Indiana (Pa.)University.———Army National Guard Spec.

Wayne Geib participated in the presidential Inauguration Jan. 20.Geib, an infantryman with five years of military service, is a member of the 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry, Waynesburg.He is the son of Wayne and Cheryl Geib of Aliquippa.His wife, Brianna, is the daughter of Michelle Love of Portersville and Mike Clancy of Aliquippa.The specialist graduated in 2005 from Hopewell High School, Aliquippa.———On Jan. 20, Army National Guard Spec.

Christopher Murray participated in presidential inauguration.Murray, a power-generation equipment repairer, is a member of the 128th Support Battalion, Ford City and has been in the military for 12 years.He is the nephew of Catherine Murray of Fenelton.The specialist is a 1996 graduate of Karns City High School.———Air National Guard Staff Sgt.

Evan Christon participated in the presidential inauguration Jan. 20.Christon, a plumbing systems craftsman, is a member of the 171st Air Refueling Wing, Coraopolis and has served in the military for 12 years.His wife, Theresa, is the daughter of Genie Thompson of Butler.The guardsman graduated in 1987 from Rochester High School and received a bachelor's degree from Edinboro University in 1992.