Volunteers recognized at annual ceremony

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Justin Shelton
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Team McConnell celebrated and awarded base volunteers for their selfless efforts during the 18th Annual Volunteer Appreciation Ceremony at the Robert J. Dole Community Center, April 16.

The Airman and Family Readiness Center, hosts the event each year and this year's event was organized by Master Sgt. Forrest Benedict. The ceremony kicked off National Volunteer Week which ran April 19 to 25.

The ceremony recognizes the people who give their time to help McConnell and the surrounding communities. More than 195 people attended the ceremony.

Volunteers were nominated by their chain of command for the Volunteer Excellence Award. The winners received a certificate of volunteer excellence signed by the Air Force Chief of Staff, as well as a military outstanding volunteer service medal. Individuals can only receive this award once in their lifetime.

No more than four volunteers can receive the Volunteer Excellence Award on each base per year. The entrants are judged on the amount of volunteer work done and its affect on the community. They are also evaluated on the tangible results obtained from the work, its significance and how the work reflects on the Air Force. The nominees can be servicemembers, family members, or Department of Defense civilians.

Wichita Police Chief Norman Williams spoke about the importance of volunteering, both on personal lives and the community. Sergeant Benedict presented Police Chief Williams with a token of appreciation for his time.

Col. James C. Vechery, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander, presented certificates and plaques to the four winners of the Volunteer Excellence Award: Terri Lehman, Janene Haynie, William Reece, and Peggy Bassford. Colonel Vechery also presented the recipients with military outstanding volunteer service medals.

Millie Suer, a volunteer from the American Red Cross presented Colonel Vechery with a check representing $636,073 the base saved because of the volunteer's hard work. McConnell has 1,095 volunteers across the base, and accumulated 32,602 volunteer work hours. The volunteers contributed their time at organizations across the base such as the Airman and Family Readiness Center, the Retiree Activity office, the thrift shop, chapel and more.