Army Veteran First Honored in 50 States Hero Program

After serving her country for 22 years, Mary Autrey never expected a national honor for simply helping her neighbors.

The retired Army Sergeant Major from Indianapolis just became the first person recognized in HeroByApp's "50 Heroes, 50 States" campaign, which celebrates veterans, first responders, teachers, and everyday volunteers making their communities better. Autrey will be among 50 people honored across America this year.

"This is the first award given by HeroByApp, and I'm the first one to receive it in Indiana, the first in the country," Autrey told Military.com. "It's just incredible."

The 70-something veteran's military career spanned the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm eras. But she says her most rewarding work came after she hung up her uniform.

Autrey now serves as chaplain at American Legion Women's Post 438 and stays active with multiple veteran organizations. She focuses heavily on helping homeless veterans find housing and get back on their feet through Indianapolis programs.

"We find these fellow veterans a place to live and a helping hand," she explained. "We provide meals to veterans in their later years, plus clothing and hygiene items."

The recognition came with more than just a certificate. CityByApp, the civic platform behind the award, created a verified digital record of Autrey's lifetime of service, documenting her decades in uniform and the many organizations she's led.

Jerome Mark Mikulich, CityByApp's founder, says Autrey embodies exactly the kind of hero they want to spotlight. "Her footprint reaches outward in circles: her neighborhood, her city, her state, and through Indianapolis's international sister cities, the world."

The Ripple Effect

Autrey's recognition does more than honor one volunteer. The award highlights 20 organizations she works with, giving them verified profiles on CityByApp's platform where they can share trusted information at no cost.

"One veteran's record becomes the seed," Mikulich noted. Every group Autrey supports now has a space to connect with community members who want to help.

For Autrey, the connections have always been the point. "I love people. I love helping people and educating people about community groups making a difference," she said. "I learn so much by volunteering and giving back, especially to veterans, because I am a veteran."

Her husband, stepdaughter, and some of her five grandchildren attended her official recognition ceremony on July 29 at Indianapolis's Julia Carson Government Center. After decades of mentoring young people and fellow veterans, Autrey finally got to see her own impact reflected back.

"When I mentor young people or other veterans, I get as much as I give," she said. "It's so rewarding."