CASEY GARRISON, South Korea - Nearly 100 residents embarked on a simulated treasure hunt through Warrior Country during the 2nd Infantry Division and U.S. Army Red Cloud Volunteer Recognition Awards Ceremony at the Warrior's Club May 18.
Called "true treasures" by Charles Lyons, Army Community Services volunteer program coordinator during his welcome, Red Cloud Garrison, Soldiers, civilian employees and family members gathered to recognize and thank the volunteers. Those who were recognized gave more than 150 hours of their personal time between October 2009 and April 2010 to help organizations meet the needs of the growing community.
Culturally appropriate to the theme - "treasures" - the decorations included mock treasure maps hung from the walls and a specially created cove with a pirate's treasure chest and reduced-size cutouts of the offbeat, eccentric Capt. Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean film series played by Johnny Depp.
However, the treasures being hunted this day weren't material possessions. They were people, many of whom are spouses, who give their time to make Warrior Country a better place to live. Under tour normalization, many command-sponsored families are expected to move here and the need for volunteers to support the community is projected to increase.
"There is nothing more urgent, nothing more necessary and nothing more special than to have a good mentor and role model [for the volunteers]," said Col. Larry "Pepper" Jackson, commander, Red Cloud Garrison, while introducing guest speaker, Roberta Ferrell, who is the spouse of Brig. Gen. Terry R. Ferrell, assistant division commander (maneuver), 2nd Infantry Division.
The retired Army colonel told the audience that while she served as an officer in the all volunteer Army she is relatively new to volunteerism. She did, however, say she's learned from research that volunteerism pays health benefits by keeping people active, and giving them a purpose and new network of friends.
"I discovered some of you are very healthy. You have given a lot of hours to the community," she said, alluding to the 7,560 hours that have been recorded in the Army's Volunteer Information Management System in the past six months.
Ferrell said that "it takes someone special to be a volunteer" because the job comes without a paycheck and personal satisfaction must be derived from making life better for others. "A treasure is a concentration of riches and volunteers are truly treasures," she said.
"With the love and concern they share, they are more precious than silver or gold."
Not content to merely mention where they donate their time, Ferrell took the audience on a visual treasure hunt through Warrior Country - mentioning each volunteer and the organization they serve.
The estimated 220 registered volunteers donate their time at the chapel, community activity centers and Pear Blossom Cottages, for recreation programs, Army Community Services, the Army Family Action Plan program, family readiness groups, American Red Cross and Kka Chi Community Association, and as English teachers at Casey Garrison, Red Cloud Garrison and Camps Hovey and Stanley.
"All of these are the treasures we know about. How many more are there who make a difference every day for the community'" Ferrell asked rhetorically.She didn't mince words about their importance to the community. "You do so much to make life better for Soldiers, civilians and family members living and serving in this area," said the self-professed recruiter of volunteers.
At the conclusion of her remarks, Jackson and Col. Thomas Graves, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, presented Commander's Certificates of Recognition to the volunteers. Suk Harper, who volunteers at Casey Garrison's American Red Cross, led the way with 537 hours.
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