WAHIAWA, Hawaii -- Members of Pacific Regional Medical Command's Sergeant Audie Murphy Club, or SAMC, pride themselves on their personal concern for the needs and welfare of Soldiers and their families. Because of this pride, club members spend a great deal of time volunteering.
For the second year, the club assisted with recruiting volunteers from PRMC to participate and support the annual Oahu Hershey Track and Field Meet that took place June 30 at Leilehua High School, here.
SAMC is a private U.S. Army organization for enlisted non-commissioned officers, who display leadership, professionalism, and overall general military knowledge.
The national Hershey games include the largest youth sports program of its kind in North America, with hundreds of thousands of children competing every year. The meets are held across the country at the local and state level.
According to Sgt. 1st Class Erin Trudden, who is president of PRMC's SAMC and noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Core Lab, Department Of Pathology and Area Laboratory Services, TAMC, the club agreed to volunteer and assist with organizing additional volunteers because they believe in the mission of the event.
"They are teaching kids to be healthy, active and disciplined all while creating a team and teaching them to care about their teammates and to support each other," Trudden said.
SAMC rallied 55 volunteers, military and civilian, from the different units and departments within PRMC to support the worthwhile event.
"I (volunteered) because, as a SAMC member, we support any activities to promote teamwork, motivation, and improving the morale of the community," said Master Sgt. Delores Kiyoshi, SAMC member and NCOIC of Inpatients, Department of Medicine, Tripler Army Medical Center. "When (the) community asks for our support, we as SAMC members, provide that support."
"(I enjoyed) seeing the kids drive and determination to win and how they supported each other and cheered each other on," Trudden added.
Other key coordinators for the event also work at Tripler Army Medical Centers; Joe Washington, Patient Education, Department of Health Education and Training, and Jennifer King, Fusion Cell, Department of Psychology, TAMC.
SAMC members assisted with the broad jump and softball throw events, as well as providing support to security.
Trudden said at the end of the day the consensus amongst the PRMC volunteers was that "this is a truly amazing event that was not only rewarding to the heart and soul, but a lot of fun too."
Social Sharing