Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers and law enforcement officers from the Illinois State Police and the Williamson County Sheriff's Office pose for a photo with 7-year-old Jamir Gibbs of Marion, Illinois, after Jamir's "promotion" ceremony.
240608-A-OH563-2947.JPG Photo By: Lt. Col. Bradford Leighton

Marion, Ill. - Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers and law enforcement officers from the Illinois State Police and the Williamson County Sheriff's Office pose for a photo with 7-year-old Jamir Gibbs of Marion, Illinois, after Jamir's "promotion" ceremony. Jamir was promoted to "Honorary First Sergeant" of the Illinois Army National Guard's November Company, Recruit Sustainment Program, Recruiting and Retention Battalion during a ceremony on June 8 at the Illinois Army National Guard's Marion Readiness Center in honor of his courageous fight against cancer. Local and state first responders also participated in Jamir's "First Sergeant for a Day" event at the readiness center. Several months ago, 1st Sgt. Beau Detrick, then a sergeant first class, heard from Jamir's Longfellow Elementary School teacher Cayenne Hasseker that Jamir was struggling physically and spiritually and needed encouragement. Detrick made a video where he encouraged Jamir to keep fighting and promised the next time he saw him they would promote him to first sergeant. Detrick kept that promise on June 8, the same day as 1st Sgt. (retired) Graham Young's retirement ceremony and Detrick officially took responsibility for November company.


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