Jaimie Ames Honored as Lancaster Inferno’s Hometown Hero of 2026

On May 24, during Lancaster Inferno’s 2026 home opener, the club proudly recognized Jaimie Ames as a Hometown Hero – honoring a lifetime dedicated to service, advocacy, and healing.

Jaimie is the Founder and President of Operation Host, a nonprofit organization committed to supporting active-duty military members and veterans who have experienced military and non-military related sexual assault. Through compassion, resources, and peer support, Operation Host has already helped nearly 500 service members and veterans begin their recovery journeys since its founding in 2024.

But Jaimie’s story of service began long before Operation Host.

At just 15 years old, she served as a rope rescue master for Wilderness Emergency Strike Team, a local search and rescue organization. One year later, she became the youngest female certified EMT in Pennsylvania and went on to assist the Manheim Township Ambulance Association before joining the Army Reserves as a Military Police Officer.

Following the events of September 11, Jaimie was deployed to active duty in October 2001 under Operation Noble Eagle.

After her military service, Jaimie focused on building a life with her family – earning a degree in business and accounting, getting married, and raising two sons alongside her service dog. Years later, she turned her focus toward healing from PTSD related to military sexual trauma, a deeply personal journey that ultimately inspired the creation of Operation Host.

Recognizing how many service members shared similar experiences, Jaimie transformed her own recovery into a mission to help others heal.

Operation Host’s mission is to “hear, heal, comfort, and protect” soldiers and veterans impacted by Military Sexual Trauma (MST). The organization connects veterans and active-duty personnel with volunteers and professionals tailored to their individual needs, ensuring survivors have access to meaningful support systems and resources.

Jaimie’s work has also gained the support of Richard Paul Evans, the New York Times bestselling author she met during a writer’s retreat. Evans became inspired by Operation Host’s mission and now serves on the organization’s board of directors, hosts veteran retreats, and helped edit and publish Jaimie’s workbook, The Healing Journey: A Guide to PTSD Workbook & Journal.

The workbook is designed to help individuals affected by PTSD from sexual trauma take the first steps toward healing and recovery and is available through the Operation Host website.

As part of the on-field ceremony, Jaimie was presented with the Lancaster Inferno Hometown Hero Award by Howard Kramer, a Vietnam veteran and the inaugural recipient of the club’s Hometown Hero recognition in 2024.

Lancaster Inferno is proud to honor individuals like Jaimie Ames, whose courage, resilience, and commitment to serving others continue to make a lasting impact throughout the community and beyond.