Our family’s story is rooted in service, commitment, and gratitude — values that have guided us through many chapters and ultimately led us home to this community. My name is Brice Sanders, and I am 46 years old. I’ve been blessed to share my life for the past 11 years with my wife, Krissi, who is 41. Together, we are raising our two children, Ella, age 10, and Tucker, age 7. Like many military families, our early years were marked by movement, adaptability, and learning how to make home wherever we were together.

     I served for 20 years in the United States Marine Corps, an experience that shaped both my professional life and the values I carry into every role I hold today. During my time in the Marine Corps, I was honored to serve our country both overseas and stateside, flying both rotary and fixed‑wing aircraft. That journey began on the famed yellow footprints at MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina, and carried me to the white sand beaches of NAS Pensacola, Florida, the diverse landscapes of Afghanistan and Djibouti, the South Lawn of the White House, and many locations around the world.

     One of the most humbling assignments of my career was flying the President and Vice President of the United States while stationed at Marine Corps Base Quantico with Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX‑1). It was there that Krissi and I met — she was teaching at a local elementray school and I was navigating one of the most demanding roles of my military career. From the beginning, we shared a commitment to service, education, faith, and family.

     Being a military family meant frequent moves. I was born in York, PA while Krissi was born in Wadsworth, Ohio, and grew up in Western New York. Our children were born in different states — Ella in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Tucker in Pensacola, Florida — each place marking a different chapter in our family’s journey. After living in Navarre, Florida, Stafford, Virginia, and briefly in Camp Hill, we eventually settled locally in 2022.

     As my Marine Corps service came to a close, our family faced an important crossroads: where to plant roots after a life of transitions. It was essential to us to continue serving society while also giving our children stability, family connections, and a wholesome environment in which to grow. Returning to South Central Pennsylvania felt like a natural fit.

     I had grown up familiar with the iconic blue Life Lion aircraft and its unmistakable sound — a symbol of life‑saving care across Pennsylvania. When the rare opportunity arose to join Penn State Health Life Lion Critical Care, everything aligned. In 2020, I was fortunate to be hired, beginning a new chapter of service while bringing our family back home.

     Today, I serve as Director of Flight Operations at Life Lion in Hershey. After four years as a line pilot, I was honored to assume this role from a local resident and 26‑year Life Lion veteran, Randy Emory. Life Lion has been serving the Commonwealth since 1986 in partnership with the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and remains Pennsylvania’s preeminent single‑pilot IFR program. Leading a team of highly experienced pilots — retired Marines, Coast Guard, and Army aviators — totaling nearly 50,000 flight hours and centuries of military service is both humbling and deeply meaningful.

     While service defines much of our professional lives, family defines everything else. Krissi continues to inspire as a gifted program teacher at Derry Township Elementary School, where she has spent over 18 years nurturing curiosity and learning. At home, she brings the same passion — whether tending her gardens, serving on the St. Joan of Arc School Board, or leading the annual Math Kangaroo competition for local students.

     Ella and Tucker both play the piano, and each is discovering their own interests. Ella enjoys track, basketball, and Girl Scouts, while Tucker has taken up ice hockey and loves building and creating anything he can imagine. We also share our home with two senior Siberian huskies, Kai and Mila, a pet bunny named Rosie, and chickens and bees that supply eggs and honey for our small roadside farm stand, Liberty Blooms and Hive.

     Giving back remains central to our lives. I serve as a lector at St. Joan of Arc, and through Life Lion’s partnership with the Children’s Miracle Network and Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital, I actively work to raise awareness for pediatric care, frequently hosting visitors at our Hershey base to share the mission.

     We spend as much time outdoors as possible and love exploring all that the community has to offer. Walks around the Milton Hershey School campus and visits to Hershey Gardens are favorites, especially for Krissi, who enjoys taking in the landscaping and plantings.When it’s time to eat, Chocolate Avenue Grill is high on Krissi’s list, the kids never turn down tacos from El Rodeo, and Simply Greek is always a favorite for me. 

     The simple moments matter to our family most: Krissi walking the kids to school, me picking them up each afternoon, and spending time together enjoying all that this community offers. After a lifetime of service and travel, we are grateful every day for the opportunity to build memories right here — together.