Awardees recognized for selfless service, more than 82,000 volunteer hours

The Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall community showed its gratitude April 12 for a group of people who keep the installation running -- its volunteers.

Leaders, family members and friends gathered in Spates Community Club on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base for the Installation Volunteer Recognition Ceremony, where the joint base's many volunteers were commended and given certificates of appreciation for their service.

The ceremony coincided with National Volunteer Week and Army Volunteer Week, noted JBM-HH Commander Col. Mike Henderson.

"National Volunteer Week is mostly about taking action, and encouraging individuals to be at the center of social change," Henderson said in his remarks.

Henderson and Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and the Military District of Washington Commanding General Maj. Gen. Bradley A. Becker recognized volunteers from 18 organizations, who over the last year donated more than 82,000 hours to joint base programs.

That's an equivalent dollar amount of more than $2 million, according to Army Community Service volunteer records for 2015.

"Today we are here to pay tribute to you, our dedicated volunteer corps and to reaffirm the importance of volunteerism in our joint base programs and services," Henderson said. "I realize that many of our organizations here at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall could not function without all the hours of volunteer work from our dedicated military spouses, service members, civilians, retirees and military kids. You all do so much."

Volunteers from the American Red Cross, ACS, Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS), Fort Myer Legal Assistance Tax Center and many more received certificates.

Awards were also given to those community members who had hit significant milestones in their volunteer careers.

Larry Skummer received a Department of the Army Certificate of Achievement for his 40 years of service. His acceptance of the award was accompanied by a standing ovation from ceremony attendees.

The Military District of Washington Helping Hand Award was presented to Dr. Neal Collins, a volunteer at Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic, for his service to both the American Red Cross Arlington Chapter at the clinic and the Old Post Chapel.

The JBM-HH Volunteer of the Year Awards were presented to retired Navy Cmdr. Lowell Fisher in the retiree category and to Marcia O'Connor in the family member category. Fisher has volunteered at Rader Clinic for more than 25 years and O'Connor contributed 455 hours to ACS in 2015.

Finally, the Emma Marie Baird Award was presented to retired Army Lt. Col. C.J. Buche for contributing 3,758 hours to ACS over a five year period.

Henderson urged the joint base's volunteers to continue their service and gave advice to those thinking about volunteering.

"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 and make a difference," he said.

Pentagram Staff Writer Guv Callahan can be reached at wcallahan@dcmilitary.com.