Lt. Gen. Douglas Gabram, commanding general of U.S. Army Installation Management Command, Melanie Reagin, chief of garrison support branch, business and recreation division of IMCOM G9, and Paul Burk, director of IMCOM G9, Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. Gabram awarded Reagin the Order of Aaron and Hur for her accomplishment of assisting in the creation of the online Digital Giving system for the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps.

Melanie Reagin, chief of garrison support branch, business and recreation division of IMCOM G9, and Master Sgt. Andrew Hagemann, master religious affairs noncommissioned officer for IMCOM. Reagin received the Order of Aaron and Hur for her assistance in the creation of the online Digital Giving system for the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps. Reagin worked with Hagemann to complete the project. 

Army Chief of Chaplains, Maj. Gen. Thomas Solhjem, who approved the Order of Aaron and Hur for Melanie Reagin, attended the award ceremony through MS Teams

Melanie Reagin, chief of garrison support branch, business and recreation division of the Installation Management Command G9, received the Order of Aaron and Hur Dec. 10 from IMCOM’s commanding general, Lt. Gen. Douglas Gabram, for her assistance in the creation of the Online Digital Giving System for the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps.

“To say that we are proud of Melanie is an understatement,” said Paul Burk, IMCOM G9, Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation director. “The IMCOM Chaplain came to G9 when the COVID-19 pandemic started and told us they had congregants who wanted to donate but could not due to the cancelation of in-person services. I knew Melanie was the perfect person to field this online giving program.”

IMCOM G9 already had an online donation application set up for their operations, said Burk. Reagin worked with Master Sgt. Andrew Hagemann, master religious affairs noncommissioned officer for IMCOM, on the development of the giving platform for congregants to use globally.

Among the attendees of the awards ceremony was the Army Chief of Chaplains, Maj. Gen. Thomas Solhjem, who approved the order for Reagin to receive.

“On behalf of the entire Chaplin Corps of the Army, I want to say thank you for going above and beyond and being committed to those we serve and their Families,” said Solhjem. “We are honored to be able to bestow this award to you. This award has been given out guardedly.”

The Order of Aaron and Hur is the oldest Chief of Chaplains award, created in 1974, and Reagin is the first IMCOM professional to receive it.

“The Chief of Chaplains said it and it resonates; this award is really special,” said Gabram. “It is about a lifelong time of giving. I want to thank you and your family for your service and dedication of over 20 years at IMCOM.”

Reagin said she was shocked at the level of the award and that she is honored. She also said she wouldn’t have been able to get the job done without Hagemann’s driving force.

“Taking care of Soldiers and their Families is a passion of mine,” said Reagin. “It is a pleasure to serve the Army community.”

The Order of Aaron and Hur is based on the account recorded in Exodus where warriors of Amalek came to fight against the people of Israel and Rephidim.

Moses instructed Joshua to issue a call to arms to the Israelites, to fight the army of Amalek. Meanwhile Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up the rod in his hands, Israel prevailed: but whenever he rested his arms at his sides the soldiers of Amalek prevailed. Moses’ arms finally became too tired to hold up the rod any longer; so Aaron and Hur rolled a stone for him to sit on, and they stood on each side holding up his hands until sunset. As a result, Joshua and his troops overcame the army of Amalek.

The Order affords special recognition to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the spiritual welfare of the men and women of the US Army and have supported the work of the Chaplains through their own humble service.

LINKS:

Army FMWR www.armymwr.com

Digital Giving https://webtrac.mwr.army.mil/digitalgiving/