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honoring Philly’s hometown heroes

“there is more to this world than taking care of yourself”--2019 hometown hero, master sergeant terrez anita frames

Here in Philly, we don’t call our sandwiches heroes. (They’re hoagies. End of debate.) Instead, we reserve the word “hero” for those rare individuals who selflessly devote themselves to the greater good. Since 2015, we’ve been proud presenters of Hometown Heroes, a program honoring a standout member of the U.S. Armed Forces at each Philadelphia Eagles home game. These extraordinary individuals have answered the call, each going above and beyond, whether that’s on base, overseas or right here in the community. This year we’re continuing to recognize our local vets’ unique stories the best way we know how — with food and football.

army staff sergeant earl granville's--story

If there's anyone that embodies a Hometown Hero, its Army Staff Sergeant Earl Granville. After losing his leg while deployed to Afghanistan, and later, his twin brother Staff Sgt. Joseph Granville, to suicide, SSG Earl Granville found that staying physically active was crucial to overcoming the mental hardships of returning to civilian life.

Today, when he’s not racing or competing in endurance challenges, SSG Earl Granville speaks out on the importance of combating mental health adversity in the armed forces and everyday life. He shares his family’s story in hopes that other soldiers will be more vigilant and take steps to identify the potential signs of suicide.

Staff Sergeant Granville's story continues to inspire our Hometown Heroes program and we're proud to give vets like SSG Earl Granville the recognition they deserve.

Introducing 2019’s Hometown Heroes

Last season, we were excited to honor a new collection of service members that embody the very best of our community. If you see them, thank them for their service and sacrifice and maybe even offer to buy them a hoagie. Here are some of their stories.