Fallen Hilton soldier honored

A Hilton soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving his country was honored in Syracuse Friday. The Military Entrance Processing Station dedicated its ceremony room to 21-year-old, Jason Hasenauer who was killed in Afghanistan. Today, his brother was sworn into the military, in that same room.

It's been more than two years since Jason Hasenauer stepped inside the ceremony room where every person who enlists in the Armed Forces from Central New York is sworn in. In a room filled with family and fellow soldiers, Hasenauer was honored. His death in December of 2005 while on a patrol in Afghanistan, prompted the Army National Guard to remember him in a fitting way. But what could be more fitting than Hasenauer's brother being one of the first to take the oath of service in the room dedicated to Jason's ultimate sacrifice.

Hasenauer's daughter Kayla may not know the significance of Friday's dedication now, but this is where the stories of her father's heroic efforts will begin.

"I think he'd be very, very proud. He'd probably give me a light handshake and a hug. That's one thing we always talked about when we were younger joining the military together. If anything happened to him, to keep this thing going," said Daniel Hasenauer, Jason’s brother.

"He's never going to be forgotten. This will always be here. There's no words for how this would feel, it's so great," said Dan Hasenauer, Jason’s father.

Hasenauer's brother Daniel vowed to continue Jason's mission, while a younger brother joined the Air Force after high school.