Honorary Game Day Captains

SFC Scott R. Smith

United States Army · In memoriam

Hometown: Punxsutawney, PA.
Birth: April 1972
Died: July 17, 2006
Unit/Branch: Army, 737th Explosive Ordnance Detachment, 52nd Ordnance Group, Fort Belvoir, VA.
Age: 34

Sgt. 1st Class Smith of Punxsutawney, PA, graduated from Jeff Tech and Punxsutawney Area High School in 1990, joining the U.S. Army in January 1991.

He attended Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, where he was trained as a Military Policeman. SFC Smith served as a Military Policeman in companies in Alaska and Italy.

SFC Smith volunteered for and completed Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and Indian Head, Maryland. Upon completing training, SFC Smith was assigned to the 707 Ordnance Company (EOD), Ft Lewis, Washington where, through his professionalism and dedication, he made the transition from EOD Sergeant to EOD Team Leader.

As a EOD Team Leader, SFC Smith was assigned to the USA Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, and later to the 737th Ordnance Company (EOD), Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He was instrumental in the development and testing of new weapons systems and ordnance, including the SWORDS program.

He put his experience with robotics to use after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

He and other soldiers from the weapons research and development facility, spent 10 days at the rubble-strewn World Trade Center site, directing a small camera-mounted robot that assisted in the recovery of victims.

In April 2006, SFC Smith deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Combined Joint Task Force Troy, 3rd Ordnance Battalion (EOD), 2nd Brigade Combat Team 4th Infantry Division, and the 1st Battalion 67th Armored Regiment as a EOD Section Sergeant and Team Leader with the 737th Ordnance Company (EOD).

He served in Alabama, Arkansas, Italy, Maryland, Florida, Washington, New Jersey, Alaska, Virginia, Afghanistan, Kuwait and five tours in Iraq, specializing in law enforcement and explosive ordnance disposal.

His awards and decorations during his years of service, including: the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (3rd award), the Army Superior Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal (5th award), the National Defense Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service and Expeditionary Medals, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge, and the Combat Action Badge.

Maj Christopher R. Knarr USMC (Ret.)

United States Marine Corps

Major Knarr enlisted in the Marine Corps in spring 1990 and attended recruit training at Parris Island, SC. Following Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, Private First Class Knarr attended the Basic Helicopter Course at Memphis, TN; Naval Aircrew Candidate School at Pensacola, FL and the CH-46E Crew Chief Training Course at Tustin, CA. Lance Corporal Knarr reported to New River, NC in January 1992 for duty with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 365, the “Blue Knights”. Lance Corporal Knarr deployed with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Mediterranean Sea aboard the USS Iwo Jima. In 1994, Sergeant Knarr was selected for the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program and reported to San Diego, CA for Preparatory School.

Major Knarr graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in May 1998. Upon graduation from The Basic School in December 1998, Second Lieutenant Knarr reported to Pensacola for flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in September 2000. In April 2001, First Lieutenant Knarr reported to New River for duty with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 365. After a near fatal mishap, he reported to Marine Aircraft Group 29, the “War Eagles”. After returning to flight status, Captain Knarr reported back to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 365. Captain Knarr deployed with the Blue Knights in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM in February 2003 and again in 2004-2005 in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM II. In the spring and fall of 2005, Captain Knarr attended the Aviation Safety Officer and the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Instructor Courses. He deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Mediterranean Sea aboard the USS Iwo Jima. During this deployment, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit participated in the Beirut, Lebanon Noncombatant Evacuation Operation of nearly 15,000 U.S. citizens and foreign nationals.

Captain Knarr was selected for Marine Helicopter Squadron One and reported for duty in July 2007. He flew 6 times as a Marine One copilot for the President and 17 times on Marine Two missions for the Vice President. Major Knarr served on 37 trips in support of the President of the United States, three as a Detachment Officer- In-Charge.

Major Knarr retired from the Marine Corps in July 2011. Since retiring, he has been working as a HAA Pilot, initially for STAT MedEvac, and currently for Metro Aviation, Inc. as a Lead Pilot at Allegheny LifeFlight. In his spare time, he volunteers as a Blue & Gold Officer for the U.S. Naval Academy and plays guitar for his church’s worship team.

Major Knarr is married to the former Danielle Shaffer. They have two sons, Noah and Ethan, and two daughters-in-law, Lizzie and Chloe.

Kevin M. Young

United States Air Force

Before graduating from Punxsutawney Area High School in 1990, Kevin Young committed to serving his country through the United States Air Force’s Delayed Enlistment Program. He entered Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and then completed technical training at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Kevin’s first assignment was with Detachment 11, 39th Communications Squadron, United States Air Forces in Europe, Karataş, Turkey. Arriving at the onset of Operation Desert Storm, he supported the air campaign over northern Iraq and provided communications to Joint Task Force-Proven Force and the 82nd Airborne Division during Operations Desert Storm and Provide Comfort.

After completing the 12-month remote assignment, Kevin joined the 45th Civil Engineer Squadron at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. As a member of a PRIME BEEF (Base Engineer Emergency Force) unit, he supported Kennedy Space Center operations, global nuclear test monitoring, and flightline aircraft arresting systems. He was also deployed to South Florida providing rescue and recovery operations following Hurricane Andrew.

Kevin next served with the 604th Air Support Operations Squadron at Camp Red Cloud in Uijeongbu, South Korea, where he directly provided close air support to the U.S. Army’s 2nd Infantry Division. Following that remote tour, he was assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. During this assignment, highlights included providing arresting gear support for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds during an air show at Hanscom Air Force Base, in Massachusetts, and later deploying to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in support of Operation Southern Watch.

Kevin continued his service at Lajes Field in the Azores, Portugal, where he served for 15 months as a primary power plant operator. While there, he directly supported rescue and recovery operations after a Russian transport aircraft crashed during takeoff. He later deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, where he provided primary power for U.S. Air Force operations across the installation.

After returning to South Carolina, Kevin married Julie Pierquet, whom he had met and served with at Shaw Air Force Base. The couple received a joint-assignment to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington, where they completed their active-duty Air Force careers.

Kevin and Julie separated from the United States Air Force in 2000 and now reside in Jacksonville, Florida. Kevin works for Johnson & Johnson Vision, while Julie continues her service as a civilian employee of the United States Navy at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.

They are the proud parents of two children: Kennedy, a pediatric registered nurse in Atlanta, Georgia, and Keaton, a United Airlines flight attendant based in Newark, New Jersey. Kevin and Julie remain deeply proud of their joint Air Force service and continue to embrace the spirit of friendly inter-service rivalry: Go Air Force—beat Navy and Army!

James Richard Boozer Jr.

United States Navy

Dick graduated from Brookville Area High School with the class of 1962. Following graduation he joined the US Navy, completing basic training in San Diego, California. After boot camp, he was sent to San Francisco, California (Treasure Island) for fire control radar school. While stationed in San Francisco, he had the pleasure to meet and talk with Prince Philip of England.

After radar school, he was sent to Long Beach, California where he was stationed aboard the air craft carrier, USS Bennington CVS-20. While in Long Beach his carrier was deployed to Northern California to assist in the evacuation of people affected by a disastrous flood. The Bennington was then deployed to Seattle, Washington for the World’s Fair and then on to Juneau and Kodiak, Alaska. The Bennington then went to Hawaii, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Kobe and Yokosuka, Japan. The carrier was sent to the South China Seas for patrol duty (Viet Nam) where he spent 2 different tours of duty on the South China Sea. He was discharged in Long Beach in 1966.

Dick was a veteran of the Viet Nam War, a lifetime member and all state Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2573 in Wilmington, NC, a member of the American Legion, the Viet Nam Veterans of America, and the Brookville Eagles Aries #983.

Avary Powell

United States Naval Academy

Avary Powell is a graduate of the Punxsutawney Area High School class of 2025. She is currently a Midshipman class of 2029 at the United States Naval Academy where she is studying to obtain a Bachelor Degree of Science in English. Her extracurriculars on the Yard include being a Future Operations sergeant and Fire Team Leader for the ARES team. The Adaptive Rapid Engagement Squadron (ARES) is a selective, high-performance unit composed of Midshipmen who demonstrate initiative, leadership, and a strong interest in small-unit tactics, unmanned systems, and modern irregular warfare. The squadron is designed to bridge academic learning with real-world operational application, preparing future officers for increasingly technology-driven and distributed battlefields. Its members routinely support brigade operations and are frequently requested for fleet engagement events due to their technical proficiency and tactical adaptability.

Avary also serves on the Baptist Collegiate ministries (BCM) core team group where she enjoys serving and bringing the Lord to the Brigade all while doing it with her best friends. She plans to commission, Lord willing, as a Marine Aviator following in the footsteps of her second father and Blue and Gold officer, Major Knarr, after she receives her degree. Go Navy Beat Army!!

Military & First Responder Appreciation Night

September 11, 2026 · Chucks vs. Karns City · 7:00 PM

Recognition sponsored by Elk Run Fire Department.