USAG Humphreys wins top prize in 2008 Army Community Relations awards

By Mr. Robert H Mcelroy (IMCOM)April 1, 2009

USAG Humphreys wins top prize in 2008 Army Community Relations awards
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – More than 200 American and Korean volunteers filled Deog Dong San Park in Pyeongtaek, South Korea on Oct. 25, 2008 for the first-ever Make a Difference Day in Korea sponsored by USAG Humprheys. For its efforts in setting up and running the event, the... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
USAG Humphreys wins top prize in 2008 Army Community Relations awards
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – More than 200 American and Korean volunteers filled Deog Dong San Park in Pyeongtaek, South Korea on Oct. 25, 2008, for the first-ever Make a Difference Day in Korea. Following the event, USAG Humphreys Garrison commander Col. John E. Dumoulin Jr. (c... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

USAG HUMPHREYS, South Korea Aca,!" Army Public Affairs announced last week that U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys won first place in the Special Events category of the 2008 Department of Army Community Relations Awards for its Oct. 2008 Make a Difference Day.

Humphreys Garrison captured the top prize out of a field of eight nominees from around the Army. Army Public Affairs officials will present the award on May 5 at the annual Worldwide Public Affairs Symposium in Crystal City, Va.

Garrison commander Col. John E. Dumoulin Jr. said he was proud of the efforts of all who had a hand in winning the award.

This award recognizes the hard work and generous spirits of all of the fine people who live, work, serve, train and play here, Dumoulin said. I couldn't be more proud of them. Make a Difference Day was a wonderful community event that we were happy to share with our Korean friends.

This marks the third year in a row that Humphreys Garrison has won a top prize in the Army Community Relations awards.

In 2006 Chang, Sang-hyon, the garrison's community relations officer for Camps Long and Eagle in Wonju won first place in the Individual category. In 2007, Peter Yu, the garrison's community relations officer at Humphreys won first place in the same category.

The Individual Achievement category recognizes the achievements of a Soldier or Civilian who demonstrated superior support for the Army's public outreach mission and who went above and beyond to respond to the call to duty.

The Special Events category recognizes a single public outreach special event, tactic, technique, or procedure that accomplishes Army public outreach goals and objectives in a superior manner.

The garrison sponsored the first-ever Make a Difference Day in Korea at Deog Dong San Park in Pyeongtaek on Oct. 25, 2008.

USA Weekend Magazine created Make a Difference Day about 18 years ago as national day of helping others Aca,!" a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors, according to their website, http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/aboutmadd.html. Make a Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October.

Denise Chappell, Humphreys Army Community Service Volunteer Coordinator planned, organized and set-up the event with Peter Yu of the garrison Public Affairs Office.

The vision for Make a Difference Day was to introduce an American community service event that would become an annual or semi-annual tradition, strengthen the bonds between the garrison and the community and provide future volunteer opportunities for those who participated.

More than 200 American and Korean volunteers filled the park, picked up trash, cleaned out storm drains and ditches and performed beautification projects under the supervision of the park staff.

The Humphreys volunteers included Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, Soldiers from the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers chapter, members of the Retiree Council and unit representatives and other community members.

The Korean volunteers came from the Pyeongtaek Joongang Chapter Goodwill, Cooperation and Service organization, also known in Korean as the Bright Society.

The Army Community Relations Awards also include a category for On-going community relations programs and the Kathy Canham-Ross Award of Distinction, a separate discretionary award presented to an Army organization or individual to recognize extraordinary Community Relations contributions.