You see them in offices and facilities all around Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and may not even realize that it was a volunteer who was helping you make a purchase at the Thrift Shop, handing you your prescription at Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic or offering a smile and warm welcome at the USO lounge.
Volunteers and the organizations they represent were honored during a ceremony April 15 at Spates Community Club on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base in conjunction with National Volunteer Week and Army Volunteer Week. Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps Henderson Hall recognized its volunteers during a ceremony April 16 in Bldg. 21 on the Henderson Hall portion of the joint base.
Fort Myer recognizes volunteers
JBM-HH Commander Col. Mike Henderson said this year's recognition theme, Army Volunteers: Hands that Serve, Hearts that Care, captures what it means to be an Army volunteer.
"I realize that many of our joint base organizations could not function without all the hours of volunteer work from our dedicated military spouses, service members, civilians, retirees and military kids," he said. "You all do so much."
Henderson said the recognition ceremony provided the joint base with an opportunity to pay tribute to a special group of individuals who over the past year donated more than 93,000 hours of service to the community.
"I challenge those of you who are volunteers to continue your service, and I call on all of you who are considering volunteering in your community to take action," he said.
Henderson was presented a check for $2 990,44.20, which represented the amount of money the volunteers saved the joint base.
James Goodwin, the event's master of ceremonies, said that volunteers accomplish work which would have not been done otherwise due to time and financial constraints.
"Without their work, our mission would not be fulfilled," he said.
Among the organizations recognized at the ceremony were: The American Red Cross, Arlington County Chapter at the Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic; The Army Officers Wives Club of the Greater Washington Area; The Army Officers Wives Club of the Greater Washington Area, Fort Myer Thrift Shop; The Armed Forces Hostess Association; The Army Arlington Ladies; Army Community Service; Army Ten-Miler; Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers; Child, Youth and School Services; Experienced Based Career Education and Professional Related Intern/Membership Experience at Arlington Career Center; Fort Myer Chapel congregations; Fort Myer library; Fort Myer Legal Assistance Tax Center; The Old Guard Family Readiness Group; Program for Employment Preparedness; "Pershing's Own" Family Association; Retiree Services Council; and the USO.
Volunteers with five years of service, including retired Army Lt. Col. C.J. Buche, Barbara Coffey, Miriam Doehnert, Ellen McAllister, Brittney Rice, Judy Spector, Nancy Stevenson, retired Army Col. Albert Willner and retired Command Sgt. Maj. Andrew Winfree were presented a certificate of appreciation by Henderson and Military District of Washington Deputy Commander Egon Hawrylak during the ceremony.
Buche was also named volunteer of the year in the retiree category for her work at ACS as its volunteer association president and volunteer supervisor.
"There is no way I could have done all I did without the people who helped me," she said.
Volunteers with 10 years of service were also presented with a certificate of appreciation. They included Rita and Seymour Cooperman, Mary Crowder and Rosemarie Nemeth. Carol D'Andrea was presented a certificate for 15 years of volunteer service and Ruth Baratto and Ivan Pierce were recognized for 20 years of service. Nancy Foscue and Margaret Thomas were honored for 25 years of volunteerism. And although she could not be at the ceremony, Patsy Skidmore was recognized for 66 years of volunteer service to JBM-HH.
Army Spc. John Marrero, a military policeman with the 289th MP detachment here, was named volunteer of the year in the active duty category by impacting the military community through his service at the USO and played an integral part in keeping its lounge open during the holiday season.
"This is my unit," he said as he gestured to a large number of Soldiers who gathered around him following the ceremony. "They are always pushing me, motivating me to do more for the community."
Jon Shibusawa was named volunteer of the year in the family category for his work with the Armed Forces Hostess Association. He could not attend the event, but in a letter wrote, "my head bows, or I should say I take off my hat to those volunteers who has to travel so far to get to our office and those mothers who try hard to find time between their busy daily activities and work as a volunteer."
Henderson Hall honors volunteers
The Henderson Hall volunteer program was recognized with the American Spirit award, a national award from the Department of Veterans Affairs during an April 16 ceremony. Stephanie Burns, the chief of voluntary and recreation therapy services at the D.C. VA Medical center presented the award to Col. Anthony S. Barnes, commanding officer of Headquarters & Service Battalion during the event.
"The Washington, D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center created a partnership with Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Marine Corps Community Service office, offering active duty Marine personnel volunteer opportunities throughout the medical center," Burns wrote. "Marines from Headquarters and Service Battalion Henderson Hall, along with DCVAMC staff, have collaborated for over two years, providing innovative programs for Marine volunteers to support various events and activities at the medical center."
The Henderson Hall volunteer program had over 200 volunteers during 2014 who donated more than 2,000 hours for an economic impact of over $45,000 to the base and surrounding community, said Kellye Layne, Family Readiness Program Trainer and volunteer opportunities program manager for Marine Corps Family Team Building.
Marines, civilians and even one Soldier were presented with certificates of appreciation during the event. Master Sgt. Jason Surrat and Master Sgt. Michael Octavio received the bronze level Presidential Service Award for having over 100 volunteer hours last year and retired Staff Sgt. Michael Moss received the gold level Presidential Service Award for having over 500 hours of volunteer service in 2014.
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