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Maxwell recognizes selfless service with Volunteer Recognition Ceremony

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alexa Culbert
  • 42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala --  To honor the efforts of volunteers, Maxwell held its second annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony luncheon at the Maxwell Club, April 21, 2015.

The ceremony recognized the volunteer service of retirees, active duty military, Department of Defense employees and family members.

Col. Andrea Tullos, 42nd Air Base Wing commander, presented the Air Force Volunteer Excellence Award and the President's Volunteer Service Award, which had bronze, silver and gold categories, to those being honored.  Tullos also spoke about the impact volunteering has on the community and the individuals themselves.

"We tend to talk about selfless service a lot because it is one of our core values. But when we talk about it, we are usually thinking of what we do when we have the uniform on, or for our civilians, what we do in the workplaces, but I think one of the things that makes our country uniquely strong is the fact that our volunteerism extends beyond selfless service on the job and out into the communities," said Tullos. "For everyone in this room, you have given an unbelievable amount of your time outside the uniform, coming to someone's help in need.

"There may be a fence around the installation, but that doesn't stop us from getting outside and getting to know our neighbors," she said. "I thank you for your service. It's a small token for the hours you have given, and I ask you to please bring someone with you the next time you volunteer, because it is truly a wonderful feeling to give rather than receive."

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Tommie Pruitt received the Certificate of Volunteer Excellence, the highest award, for his 15 years of volunteer services at the Gunter pharmacy.

"I went in to pick up some medicine one day, and they were just covered in work," said Pruitt. "I asked what I could do to help, and I have been doing it since. The award is a great show of appreciation that I never expected, and I'm glad for it." 

David McCaughtry, 42nd Security Forces Squadron police officer, spent approximately 275 hours since last summer volunteering with the Boy Scouts and his church's youth ministry.

"It's something that needs to be done and there are a lot of things that need to be accomplished that, if we had to pay people to do, would never get done," said McCaughtry. "The Scouts and the children at the church are worthwhile. I volunteer so those things that wouldn't normally get done are accomplished."

"One thing that people don't really realize is how much these individuals give," said Ruben Aguilar, Airman and Family Readiness Center volunteer resource coordinator. "They're not asking for anything in return; they're not being compensated in anyway whatsoever. They do it because they want to volunteer. This is just a small way to show our appreciation; it's just a small token for the things that they do."

Recipients of the President's Volunteer Service Award, Bronze category are:
2nd Lt. Angel Torres, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center
Maj. Ann Graham, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps
Maj. David Dawson, Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development
Senior Airman Calvin Myrick, Air War College
David Graham, Spouse of Maj. Ann Graham, AFROTC
Deborah Root, Air War College
Doris Lindsey, 42nd Force Support Squadron
Judith May, 42nd Medical Group
Sarah Smelser, Airman's Attic

Recipients of the President's Volunteer Service Award, Silver category are:
Christine Bushby, 42nd Force Support Squadron
David Bartlett, 42nd Medical Group
David McCaughtry, 42nd Security Forces Squadron
Diana Bain, 42nd Medical Group
Gloria Simons, 42nd Medical Group
Ilse Mears, 42nd Medical Group
Staff Sgt. Jessica Carroll, Community College of the Air Force

Recipients of the President's Volunteer Service Award, Gold category are:
Master Sgt. Susan Glover, Air University
Senior Airman Crystal Ward, Squadron Officer College
Senior Airman Dalton Kirby, 26th Network Operations Squadron
John Hudak, Officer Training School
Maj. Marian Heningburg, 908th Airlift Wing
Tech. Sgt. Stephen Burris, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center
Staff Sgt. Taylor Philpot, Community College of the Air Force
Lt. Col. Melanie Friedman, Curtis E. LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education
Richard Taylor, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center

Recipient of the Certificate of Volunteer Excellence
Tommie Pruitt, 42nd Medical Group