PHOTO INFORMATION: State Rep. Greg Alexander (left) welcomed Joshua Carlson for a special ceremony at the state Capitol on Wednesday in remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The ceremony honors first responders and members of the military from communities throughout the state, including those who have died in the line of duty.

Carlson, who is originally from Croswell, was an Eleventh Series Infantry Sergeant and first joined the United States Army as an infantryman in 2009. He deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq in 2010 and spent a year with the first infantry division Alpha Company 1-16. After returning home and spending time at Fort Hood in Texas, Carlson deployed to Afghanistan to Forward Operating Base Shank and served six months with the 3^rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. Upon returning home from Afghanistan, Carlson transitioned to the civilian sector.