09/10/2026
Congratulations to our dear friend, Sergeant Fred G. Gould Jr., USMC, on being named the 2026 Great Allentown Fair Hometown Hero! 🇺🇸
We could not be prouder to see Fred receive this well-deserved recognition. His commitment to service did not end when he took off the uniform—it continues today through the countless ways he supports fellow veterans and gives back to our Lehigh Valley community.
Fred continues that mission of service as Adjutant of Marine Corps League Bethlehem Detachment #284 and through his involvement with the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (LVMAC), joining fellow veterans and community partners in supporting and honoring those who served.
Fred and his wonderful wife, Tammey, also hold a very special place in our DeSales University Veterans & Military Services family. They generously share their time with our veterans, military-connected students, and their families, including volunteering during our Friday Drop-In Clinics. They also share their incredible artistic talents, creating beautiful works that help raise funds for the DeSales Veterans Endowed Scholarship and local nonprofit organizations serving our veteran and military-connected community.
It was also wonderful to see our friend and 2025 Hometown Hero, Freddie Reed, return to help welcome this year's honoree—a beautiful continuation of this tradition of service.
A special thank-you to Staci Lynn Horvath and The Great Allentown Fair for the care and commitment they bring to Red, White & THANK YOU! Military Appreciation Day and the Hometown Hero program, and to Kitchen Magic for its support as presenting partner. Programs like this provide a meaningful opportunity to recognize the veterans in our community whose service and impact continue long after their time in uniform.
Fred, congratulations on this tremendous honor. And to Fred and Tammey—thank you both for your friendship, generosity, and the many ways you continue to serve others. We are truly fortunate to have you as part of our DeSales family. 🇺🇸❤️
On Sunday, September 6, during Red, White & THANK YOU! Military Appreciation Day, The Great Allentown Fair had the honor of presenting the 2026 Hometown Hero Award to United States Marine Corps veteran Sergeant Fred G. Gould Jr.
Fred's story is a remarkable example of a lifetime of service. During the Carter administration, he served on Presidential Detail, standing post at the White House and serving in the ceremonial role of saluting the President as he arrived and departed aboard the presidential Marine helicopter.
That commitment to service continued long after his time in uniform.
Today, Fred serves as Adjutant of Marine Corps League Bethlehem Detachment #284 and remains actively involved in supporting veterans throughout the Lehigh Valley. Along with his wife, Tammey, he also gives his time to DeSales Veterans and Military Services , helping support veterans, military-connected families, and scholarship efforts.
That is what the Hometown Hero Award is all about; recognizing someone whose service did not end when the uniform came off, but continued through the way they live, serve, and give back to others.
We are especially grateful to Kitchen Magic, our presenting partner of Red, White & THANK YOU! Military Appreciation Day, for helping make this important recognition possible. We were also pleased to have Joey Piazza, Marketing Director of Kitchen Magic, with us for the ceremony and the presentation of this year's Hometown Hero Award.
And to Wendy Badman of DeSales University, thank you for the incredible care, time, and dedication she gave to this year's Hometown Hero program and to connecting us with our military community.
It was also a very special honor to welcome back our 2025 Hometown Hero Award recipient, Frederic Albert Reed Jr., who led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to begin this year's ceremony. Having last year's Hometown Hero return to help us recognize the next was a meaningful way to continue what this award represents.
We are so grateful to Lisa-Jon Lepeta for leading us in the National Anthem and helping make the ceremony even more memorable.
Congratulations once again to Sergeant Fred G. Gould Jr., our 2026 Great Allentown Fair Hometown Hero. 🇺🇸
Pictured from left: Staci Horvath, representing The Great Allentown Fair; 2025 Hometown Hero Frederic Albert Reed Jr.; 2026 Hometown Hero Sergeant Fred G. Gould Jr.; Tammey Gould; Joey Piazza, representing Kitchen Magic; and Wendy Badman of DeSales University.
