web1_irem2tljpg.jpg

Anybody want to help restore the Irem Temple building in Wilkes-Barre?

web1_elvisfan02.jpg

Woman’s apartment is dedicated to ‘The King’

<p>SCRANTON &#8212; Thomas Jerome &#8220;T.J.&#8221; Hromisin has come a long way.</p><p>The Pittston native was a 1st lieutenant in the U.S. Army and has undergone years of rehab to better himself after being shot in the head in 2007 while serving in Iraq &#8212; a shot that cost him his eyesight and one third of his brain.</p><p>Hromisin&#8217;s services continue to be recognized as he was honored during a special ceremony at the Center for Independent Living Thursday.</p><p>The center, which the 33-year-old Hromisin visits twice a month, provides service to disabled people within the community.</p><p>&#8220;After I came back home and got settled, they kind of rolled out for me lists of things to do and places to go, and this place was on the list,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I came up here and got established up here. They found a group for me to go in and I&#8217;m still in it now.&#8221;</p><p>Hromisin was given a certificate for his services overseas and with the Center for Independent Living by District 118 Rep. Mike Carroll and a plaque by friend Casey Walters.</p><p>Carroll, D-Avoca, said it&#8217;s impossible not to be familiar with Hromisin and his heroics.</p><p>&#8220;In Greater Pittston, T.J. is a noteworthy hero,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The community is fully aware of his sacrifice on behalf of this nation. If you say T.J. in Pittston, you don&#8217;t need to say the last name. The letters T.J. are enough in Pittston to know exactly who you&#8217;re talking about; you don&#8217;t need to say anything more.&#8221;</p><p>Hromisin has also received a Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He was also promoted to Army Captain upon receiving his Purple Heart.</p><p>The Purple Heart is awarded to soldiers injured or killed in battle; the Bronze Star is awarded for heroic action during combat; the Army Commendation Medal is awarded to soldiers for heroic service; and the Combat Infantryman Badge is awarded to infantry soldiers involved in hostile combat.</p><p>Hromisin graduated in 2005 from The University of Scranton with a degree in Criminal Justice and hopes to put that to use one day.</p><p>&#8220;I want to find a family, a job and just kind of settle down,&#8221; he said.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_tjhromisin01-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">State Rep. Mike Carroll, left, hands Capt. T.J. Hromisin an award at The Center for Independent Living in Scranton during a special ceremony Thursday honoring Hromisin for his military service in Iraq in 2007. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_tjhromisin01-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>State Rep. Mike Carroll, left, hands Capt. T.J. Hromisin an award at The Center for Independent Living in Scranton during a special ceremony Thursday honoring Hromisin for his military service in Iraq in 2007. </caption0><photoCredit0>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_tjhromisin02-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">T.J. Hromisin, shown with his parents Mary Ellen and Jerry and guide dog Liberty, was honored at The Center for Independent Living in Scranton Thursday for his military service in Iraq in 2007 and his work at the center. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_tjhromisin02-2.jpg</photo1><caption1>T.J. Hromisin, shown with his parents Mary Ellen and Jerry and guide dog Liberty, was honored at The Center for Independent Living in Scranton Thursday for his military service in Iraq in 2007 and his work at the center. </caption1><photoCredit1>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta></subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jimmy Fisher</p><p>jfisher@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jimmy Fisher at 570-704-3972 or on Twitter @SD_JimmyFisher</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Pittston war hero T.J. Hromisin honored for services both locally and abroad