Hometown Hero: Retired U.S. Army Pilot Barry Root

Barry Root was drafted to serve in Vietnam and was one of the lucky pilots to come back alive from the largest helicopter battle in history.

Dr. Galen Shi started the WeGo Foundation to help pediatric inpatients to have virtual experiences to escape their hospital rooms.

Col. Bruce Lynch is the director of the Air Force C-Stars Baltimore Program, which brings Air Force medics to train before going overseas to treat trauma patients.

Dominic Nell launched City Weeds & Be More Green to renovate vacant lots in Baltimore and provide free produce twice weekly.

Army veteran Danny Farrar was a first responder in the military and on 9/11 at the Pentagon. After a tough transition, he has founded SOLDIERFIT and Platoon 22 to reduce veteran suicides.

Floral Fetes owner Victoria Clausen has raised more than $100,000 with her business to help those struggling through the war in her home country of Ukraine.

Local high school friends, Andrew and Brandon started TeamoTherapy to help cancer patients by streaming video games and buying consoles for hospitals.

Truck driver Ron Hill handed out 400-500 loaves of bread, with the approval of H&S Owner Chuck Paterakis, to people stranded on I-95 by ice.

Noel Acton is the founder of the Baltimore inner-city Tender Bridge Foundation and Baltimore Banners hockey team that helps at-risk youth.

The 2022 International United Miss Maryland Preteen volunteers with different organizations across the state and started her own "Art From The Heart."

Stanley Snacks provides snacks to public schools for kids who suffer from food insecurity and hunger.

A lifelong Maryland resident, Kathleen Gelman helped people in her community get appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations and arranged their rides. She helped get 302 people vaccinated.

Shawn Coho has completed 18 years of active duty time, including four tours of deployment, as a member of the Delaware Army National Guard.

On May 2, 2021, the Ocean City Fire Department was dispatched to a serious motor vehicle accident on the Ocean City Expressway, where a bystander stepped up to save a baby in the water.

Richard Presberry was the first African-American firefighter in the Bel Air company and went on to have a decorated career with more than 35,000 calls.

The CEO & Founder of the Ruth M. Kirk Recreation and Learning Center is honoring the legacy of his mother by helping people in need in Baltimore.

A Baltimore native, Kintira Barbour is the President of the Mount Claire Community Council, helping to turn around the neighborhood.

D.J. Kopec raised more than $1 million for charity by streaming dance parties from his basement during COVID-19.

Joseph Wice has been an environmental care associate for five years at Johns Hopkins Hospital. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he has chipped in to help as much as possible.

After retiring from the Marine Corps in 2012, Cpl. Marburger developed an alcohol addiction. He found treatment got sober, and has now started a charity in Maryland called the Veterans Addiction Foundation.

Val Jenkins is the founder of Hug Don't Shoot, a non-profit that is working to bring love to everybody in our community.

Dwayne Jackson spent 13 years in the Army before moving into the fire department to continue serving others.

The Pasadena Boat Works owner and his business partner came up with the idea of Kenzie-Covers to make an N95 mask more fun for kids and medical personnel.

Claude Boushey was a helicopter pilot who suffered major injuries in a crash in Iraq, leaned to walk again, then redeployed.

Mike Sofinowski became an officer and led troops into combat operations over the past 19 years, including most recently in Iraq.