Sustainers recognize volunteers

By SFC Gary J. CooperFebruary 10, 2015

Sustainers recognize volunteers
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Donnie Walker Jr., commanding general of the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), gives Salena Morris a certificate of achievement during a volunteer appreciation ceremony, Feb. 6, in Fort Knox, Ky. Volunteers were recognized for the ha... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sustainers recognize volunteers
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Donnie Walker Jr., commanding general of the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and Command Sgt. Maj. Edward A. Bell, 3d ESC Command Sergeant Major, give Michelle P. O'Rourke the Silver Wahatchee Award during a volunteer appreciation... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT KNOX, Ky. - The 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) hosted a volunteer recognition ceremony to recognize the selfless service, time, and energy volunteers donated to the unit Feb. 6, at Fort Knox.

The awards honored the volunteers' contributions, which brought Families together, improved morale, created a positive atmosphere for the Sustainers and enhanced the Fort Knox community.

Each volunteer took time out of their busy schedule to donate as much time as possible, not because they had to, but because they wanted to support the unit and each other over the course of the recent deployment.

"Our strength is our families," said Brig. Gen. Donnie Walker Jr., commanding general of the 3d ESC. He continued to explain that the volunteers are an integral part of the Sustainer team and were critical to the success of the deployment.

Third ESC Master Chaplain Assistant Noncommissioned officer, Master Sgt. James Morris II, narrated the event, while his wife Pamela received a Certificate of Appreciation for Patriotic Civilian Service, for contributing more than 20 hours of civilian service, while their children, Salena, 14, Jasmine 13 and James III, 12, were among 12 others who each received certificates of achievement for volunteering.

"We helped out at the [Lord's Supper] Soup Kitchen, and babysat kids at family readiness meetings," said James III, "and also babysat at marriage retreats."

"Recognition is not really important to me," said Jasmine, "but volunteering for the Army is my pleasure."

Third ESC FRG leader, Michelle O'Rourke, received the Silver Wahatchee Award, which recognizes individuals who have voluntarily contributed in a significant long-term service to the improvement of the Signal Corps community.

"I'm just thankful that we got to recognize some of our volunteers, especially these Morris kids," O'Rourke said.

"Not many teenagers want to help out with FRG things, but these kids came to every event we had, set up food, entertained the kids, and gave the moms a little bit of a break," added O'Rourke. "That's invaluable, especially in the middle of a tough deployment."

We wanted to recognize the tremendous job that the volunteers did in supporting us, which allowed us to perform our mission, explained Walker. The Soldiers and the 3rd ESC are grateful for their unwavering support.

Certificate of Appreciation: Salena Morris, Jasmine Morris, James Morris III, Abraham Guerra, Hannah Min, Jessica Andreano, Melissa Hansen, Michelle Steuer, Sonya Umstead, Tammy Perez-Keen, Tara Howes, Teresa Sherrill, Cody Benson-Houck.

Certificate of Appreciation for Patriotic Civilian Service: Sara Reinstatler, Pam Morris, Queta Bell.

Commander's Award for Public Service: Alexa Barth, Amber Rustad, Stacie Jablonski, Wendy Adam, Alexandria Sims.

Silver Wahatchee Award: Michelle O'Rourke.

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