HOHENFELS, Germany -- U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria -- Hohenfels celebrated "Hands that serve; hearts that care" with a Volunteer Recognition Ceremony and luncheon here, recently.
A total of 175 registered volunteers donated more than 22,000 hours in 2014, effectively saving the community approximately $454,000.
"Volunteers are essential to our local communities," said Col. Mark Colbrook, USAG Bavaria commander. "They are the fabric that holds everybody together. In the times we are in right now with decreasing budgets and sequestration, the value of volunteers just becomes that much more important."
Certificates were awarded to volunteers who donated 250 hours or more, and for those who donated 1,000 hours or more.
Units and organizations across Hohenfels nominated various candidates for volunteer of the year in various categories, and the winners included:
Youth: Tyler Grover
Civilian or Retiree: Priscilla Knierierm
Active Duty: Sgt. 1st Class Brett Meadows
Military Family Member: Shannon Smith
Military Family: The Jacobs-Schmid Family
The Jacobs-Schmid Family, Brad, Kristin, Montgomery and Bennett, volunteer across the community, logging hours with the Boy Scouts, the Red Cross, Hohenfels Community Spouses Club and more. Kristin said getting their children involved in volunteering is just good modeling as parents.
"Honestly, service builds a better self," she said.
"And it's important for them to know that as part of our community, if we don't volunteer a lot of things aren't going to happen," Brad added.
This year, Hohenfels also added an Overall Hohenfels Community Volunteer of the Year category, and Sgt. 1st Class Brett Meadows said he was humbled to be the first recipient.
"You don't earn this award without a hundred different people to support you," Meadows said. "As a Soldier volunteer, without a supportive chain of command and the support of your peers at work, you couldn't give this much time to the community."
Meadows coaches high school softball, runs the women's softball league, and volunteers with the Boy Scouts, the Booster Club, and the Child, Youth and School Services youth sports programs.
"You get into this community and volunteerism, and you start building friendships and bonds, and you start helping out other groups. We support each other. I can stand up here and accept this award, but really it's on behalf of the hundreds of other people that support me," Meadows said.
With Volunteer Recognition Week corresponding with Month of the Military Child, Army Community Service held an essay contest to highlight the military kids who positively affect the community. Emily Lyon took the top spot in the 6th grade category while Trinity Sager won in the 9th grade category.
The celebration felt like a party, with volunteers enjoying musical numbers by Hohenfels Elementary third graders and musicians Wynne Nuernberg and Sahn Medrano, as well as a hearty lunch cooked up by the Hohenfels FMWR staff. Volunteers of the Year also received gift bags courtesy of the Community Bank.
"It's always been important to have volunteers in our community, and I think it's going to become even more important in the future," said Colbrook.
Social Sharing