Local veterans Mike Poore and Shane Hatlee were recently awarded proclamations from the United States Congress represented by Chris Gibson, the New York State Senate by Kathleen Marchione, Jake Ashby of the New York State Assembly, and the Rensselaer County Executive Steven McLaughlin.
The presentation of the awards took place at the Big Moose Deli in Hoosick. Both Poore and Hatlee are employed at the store by owner Emil Baker. Mr. Baker is proud to have these men working at his store and after becoming aware of their service, long after they began working there, wanted them to be recognized.
Shane Hatlee enlisted in the United States Army in 2005 when he was seventeen years old. He was in the New York National Guard 42nd Infantry Division where he was trained and certified by the U.S. Army Airborne School.
In 2007, Hatlee was deployed to Afghanistan. He earned a Combat Infantry Badge and Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Gold Star. After his return from overseas, he served for two years in Recruiting and Retention at the New York National Guard.
He is now attending college to become a medical professional.
Mike Poore enlisted in the Vermont National Guard in 2009 and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 as a Cav Scout. During one of his missions his entire platoon was pinned down under enemy fire and was unable to move to safety.
Poore directed machine gun fire on the enemy to attract the attention to himself, with enemy fire striking all around him. Unable to move, he kept the enemy concentrating on his position while eighty of his fellow American and Afghanistan soldiers were able to escape from the area and take shelter from the enemy fire.
For his heroism, Poore was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. Today, Poore is General Manager of the Big Moose Deli. He volunteers with the Department of Defense ESGR Program, which assists U.S. troops currently deploying to combat zones around the world.