SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- The Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation's Army Community Service hosted the 2012 Installation Volunteer Ceremony at the Nehelani, here, April 19.
Each year, during National Volunteer Week, military communities around the world take time to honor their volunteers.
In 2011, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii volunteers offered time and commitments worth more than $4.43 million, as estimated by independent sector quotes about the average value of a volunteer hour.
Each year, the people of ACS and the installation devote thousands of man-hours holding and staging events and activities for the Army-Hawaii community. This awards ceremony recognized the people who live a life of service to others, both inside and outside USAG-HI's gates.
This year's theme was "Volunteers: The Force Behind the Force.
Volunteers received awards in eight categories, including Soldier Volunteer of the Year; Spouse Volunteer of the Year; Youth/Young Adult Volunteer of the Year; Civilian Volunteer of the Year; Family Volunteer of the Year; Retiree Volunteer of the Year; Purple Volunteer of the Year, for volunteers from sister services like the American Red Cross; and the Volunteer Ambassador of the Year, for those who go the extra mile to extend their volunteer partnership outside the installation's gates.
Each brigade, community and volunteer agency was asked to submit one volunteer for each category, bringing 59 nominations to the table this year. Nominees received certificates for their selfless sacrifice and valuable volunteer service.
"If I can touch one Soldier and let them know there is still hope for them, then I have done my job," said Jessica Lockhart, volunteer at the Soldier Family Assistance Center and Spouse Volunteer of the Year. "Volunteering my time to these wounded warriors is better than any pay check I could earn at the end of the week."
"It's a real honor, and I am very humbled that someone felt I deserved to be recognized," said Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Malone, U.S. Army Replacement Detachment, U.S. Army-Pacific, who received the Soldier Volunteer of the Year award. "I volunteer because it's the right thing to do, and volunteering goes hand in hand with the Army's values."
This past year, Hawaii-Army volunteers numbered 1,762, and they logged 207,493 volunteer hours.
"Each of you here tonight are truly 'the force,' and you have contributed your time and talents to help build our strong communities, both on and off post, and improved the quality of life for our Soldiers and their families," said Maj. Gen. Gary Beard, commander, U..S Army Reserves, USARPAC, during his remarks. "Please know it would be difficult, if not impossible, for our many Army family programs to offer the variety and quality services that they provide without our dedicated volunteers."
Exemplary Volunteers
Family: The Lesh Family
Civilian: Deborah Albu
Youth/Young Adult: Chali Alexis Hindbaugh
Retiree: Florence Gordon (not pictured)
Purple: Senior Airman Steven Montgomery, 647th Civil Engineer Squadron, U.S. Airforce
Volunteer Ambassador: Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Malone (not pictured)
Spouse: Jessica Lockhart
Soldier: 1st Sgt. Raymond Myers
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