CHIÈVRES, Belgium (July 25, 2017) -- During his tour of the U.S. Army Garrison Benelux communities, Lt. Gen. Kenneth R. Dahl, commanding general for U.S. Army Installation Management Command, held a special ceremony here to present his Commander's Coin of Excellence to four garrison employees. Dahl and Col. Kurt Connell, garrison commander, recognized each recipient for exemplifying a culture of service within the Benelux communities.
The recipients were Marie-Lise Baneton, public affairs officer for USAG Benelux, Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Shambo, provost sergeant for USAG Benelux -- Schinnen, Barbara Hunsberger, S3/5/7 plans specialist for USAG Benelux, and Cathy Blumental, Army Relocation Assistance program manager for USAG Benelux -- Brussels.
"This garrison is full of heroes," said Connell. "I will tell you that the four folks that we are going to celebrate and recognize today are examples of what we are all doing in this community." During the ceremony, Connell explained how each individual went above and beyond their daily duties so the garrison continued to accomplish its ongoing mission.
After the coin presentation, Dahl addressed the audience about the importance of their work in the community. His visit brought back memories as he was previously stationed in Belgium from March 2001 to June 2003, where he served as the deputy director of staff operations at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.
"When my family was growing up here, I didn't appreciate who was doing all the things that were making our quality of life so high," said Dahl. "I didn't appreciate that until I became the IMCOM commanding general and began looking behind the curtain to see how this magic happens."
Dahl concluded the ceremony by personally expressing his gratitude to the audience members.
"Don't underestimate the impact you have on people, their Families, their careers and their futures. It really is something to be proud of," he said. "I want to ask you to continue the magic that you have going here. The magic is a combination of Department of the Army civilians, the local national workforce, the community and the volunteers. Pulling all of that [work] together is what really makes things happen."
Dahl visited the Benelux areas July 24 to 26. Accompanied by Connell and Michael Formica, the director of IMCOM Directorate Europe, he toured the garrison's three communities in addition to Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, two Army Prepositioned Stocks sites and SHAPE. Before he traveled to Germany, Dahl was able to assess the garrison support to NATO, the APS mission and transformation progress in all three communities.
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