FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Soldiers, Family Members and volunteers from across post received recognition for their time and efforts during Fort Drum's Annual Volunteer and Man / Woman of the Mountain appreciation ceremony April 19 at the Commons.
Since last April, 885 volunteers donated 173,925 hours, representing a savings of nearly $4 million if the time had been paid. Included in the number of volunteers were 132 active-duty Soldiers, who also donated their time and talents to the post community.
The event paid tribute to 53 "phenomenal volunteers" who were nominated for the Volunteer of the Year award, as well as three individuals who were selected as this year's Man and Woman of the Mountain awardees, explained Jane Bresko, Fort Drum Army Volunteer Corps program manager.
"The strength of the Army lies within its Soldiers, and the strength of Army community lies within the talents, the dedication and the commitment of volunteers," Bresko said. "Through their dedication and service, volunteers have transformed military installations into communities."
"Volunteering … increases self-reliance and enhances the well-being of our Soldiers and our Families," she continued. "Without (volunteers), Fort Drum would be just like any other installation in the Army -- but we are not. As Fort Drum adage states, we are the Army's best-kept secret, and -- in part -- we have our volunteers to thank for that."
Maj. Gen. Mark A. Milley, Fort Drum and 10th Mountain Division (LI) commander and guest speaker, spoke highly of the recipients and thanked them for their hard work.
The theme of this year's National Volunteer Week, April 15-21, is "the force behind the force," Milley explained.
"We, being the 10th Mountain Division (LI), are the force, but the force behind the force is clearly the volunteers. All of the volunteers have distinguished themselves by volunteering," he continued.
Without the volunteers, he explained, Fort Drum would not be the great post that it is today.
"On behalf of all of us in uniform, (we) thank all of the great volunteers," Milley said. "The awards tonight are a mere representation of the great effort of by literally thousands of people and hundreds of thousands of hours."
After speaking, Milley invited his wife, Hollyanne; Col. Noel T. Nicole, Fort Drum garrison commander; and Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Oldroyd, Fort Drum garrison senior enlisted adviser, to help present the Man and Woman of the Mountain Awards, which recognize individuals from the community for their contributions to Fort Drum.
"Fort Drum is fortunate to have many volunteers and leaders from the North Country who contribute their time, effort and resources to our military community," Bresko said. "The Man / Woman of the Mountain Award is designed to recognize the great achievements of these individuals."
First to be recognized as this year's Woman of the Mountain was Dawn Esposito.
Esposito's son was deployed with 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, in 2004, when he was killed in Afghanistan.
"This tragic event was the beginning of Dawn's relationship with the 10th Mountain Division (LI)," Bresko said. "Her support has continued to grow stronger over the years, despite the changing of names and faces in the division."
Esposito, who resides on Long Island, travels to Fort Drum routinely for the annual remembrance ceremony, as well as welcome home and deployment ceremonies.
She also is an active member of the Gold Star Mothers organization and serves as a beacon for the division's Gold Star Families.
"(Esposito) is a strong advocate of the active-duty service member, veterans and -- in particular -- wounded Soldiers," Bresko noted.
Next, Art Loran, a North Country businessman, was recognized as one of this year's Man of the Mountain award recipients.
Loran has volunteered time, finances and organizational know-how to countless Association of the United States Army, Yellow Ribbon, 10th Mountain Division (LI) Association and other community events for more than 10 years. He is often seen showing his support for Soldiers and Families at events such as Riverfest and welcome home ceremonies.
"(He) has touched almost every North Country activity that supports Soldiers and their Families," Bresko noted.
Loran is the founder and program manager of the Northern New York Chapter of the AUSA's Salute a Unit program. He also has served on the chapter's board of directors for more than 10 years, helping board members to keep their focus on Soldiers and their Family Members, Bresko explained.
He has been an Adopt a 10th Mountain Platoon sponsor many times and is a supporter of the 10th Mountain Division (LI) scholarship and Wounded Warrior funds.
"(Loran) can be seen at every major and most small events, manning the counters, flipping burgers, distributing water (and) selling tickets -- all those other things that don't get noticed much, but is the backbone of any successful event," Bresko said. "He is truly a representative of the large number of volunteers who turn great ideas into hands-on action that make the North Country the warmest place you'll ever live."
Then, Alfred Weissman, a New York businessman, was recognized with as the second Man of the Mountain Award recipient.
Weissman, a veteran who has an original drawing of himself that the USO sent to his parents 65 years ago when he was in World War II, has been donating money to the organization since 2007.
"Alfred has been a true friend of the 10th Mountain Division (LI). (He) repeatedly donates to (improve) Soldiers' and Families' quality of life on Fort Drum," Bresko explained.
Weissman donated a 15-passenger van to the USO Fort Drum., which transports Soldiers and Family Members to events, and 20 laptop computers to the organization.
He also has assisted in festivities such as Welcome Home to the USO, Trevor Romain events, Super Bowl parties and holiday feasts for Fort Drum Soldiers and Families.
Bresko then turned the spotlight on Soldiers, Family Members, civilians and youths who helped lend a hand to the Fort Drum community over the past year.
"Volunteers truly make the Fort Drum community a better place to live," Bresko said. "Tonight we are here to honor those individuals for their contributions."
Volunteers were nominated by commanders, chiefs, program managers and directors from across post.
The following groups of volunteers received recognition:
Family Readiness Group volunteers
Kathy Antepara, Cathryn Beckage, Cora Leigh Clark, Patricia Downey, Michelle Frondorf, Emily Goodknecht, Allison Green, Katie Groff, Casey Huber, Katherine Jackson, Melissa Kaiser, Chrystyna Kestler, Jennifer Limerick, Julie Maciag, Dana Mann, Molly Manning, Raeann McLean, Suzanne McKernan, Gabrielle Morel, Amber Orr, Danielle Parsons, Adeline Prince, Dawn Rast, Paige Richey, Melissa Stiller, Laura Thompson, Michelle Turner, Stephanie Utter, Toni Wagenbrenner, Laura Wendt and Heather Wilkinson
Large Community Group volunteers
Jenna Brehm, Tracie Duckett, Annette Ghiz, Fred Ghiz, Isobel Lafary, Christina Peach, Shannon Poe, Jamie Terry, Dave Waters and Shae Williamson
Small Community Group volunteers
Terri Adam, George Barton, Erica Boyle, Lori Hickman, Lyndsey Hodkinson and Marta Napolitano
Child and Youth Group volunteers
Ron Dumas, Cory McCray, Rhonda Pitts and Chel-Ana Shupp
Youth volunteers
Nicholas Wendt and Heather Williams
Officials then presented additional awards to volunteers who have gone above and beyond their peers.
Volunteer of the Year Awards were presented to individuals who have shown outstanding support for the Fort Drum community.
Recognized as Volunteers of the Year from their respective groups were George Barton, Ron Dumas, Chrystyna Kestler, Heather Will-iams and Shae Williamson.
George Barton also was recognized as the 2011 Installation Volunteer of the Year.
Barton, who has been volunteering with the USO for more than two years, said the award was "totally unexpected."
As a retired airman, he used the USO services during his 21 years of service and after retirement while he was working as a military contractor.
Barton is heavily involved with the USO's weekly "Hump Day Hot Dogs" event. He also spends as much time as he can at the Rapid Deployment Facility, welcoming home redeploying troops.
"It just humbled me, and caught me by surprise," Barton said of the recognition.
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