FORT RILEY, Kan. – Thirty-five outstanding individuals were recognized for their selflessness during the Order of the Dragon Volunteer Recognition ceremony at Riley’s Conference Center Sept. 21.
Second Lt. Spencer Hergert, the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s assistant operations officer, said that this was the second Order of the Dragon for the brigade and it’s very important to hold this type of event to show the individual that their contributions were appreciated and weren’t overlooked.
“We’re honoring the volunteers for the last month and recognizing them for their volunteer efforts while the unit has been deployed,” said the Lingle, Wy., native.
“I think (this type of ceremony) is great,” said Natasha Berton, awardee and wife of Sgt. 1st Class Christian Berton, a Soldier with 701st Brigade Support Battalion. “It’s rewarding in the end, even though you don’t look for a reward. Overall, it makes you feel good. To be a good person and know that you’ve been doing good for someone else.”
During the ceremony, Col. Hank Arnold and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael S. McCoy, the Dragon brigade’s commander and top noncommissioned officer, presented each volunteer with a plaque and pendent.
Arnold also thanked the volunteers for what they did for the brigade while deployed and for what they continue to do for the unit during redeployment.
“There’s no one more special than someone who gives of their time for someone else,” said Arnold, during the ceremony.
“It’s so very important what those of you who volunteer for us do,” he said. “There’s so much that the Army and the organization relies on, that we just couldn’t get done if we didn’t have the volunteers to do it … We really appreciate deeply the time that you spend and the support that you give us because we simply couldn’t do our jobs without it.”
The ceremony was concluded with a drawing to give a few more tokens of appreciation to some very special individuals who have given so much to the Fort Riley community and the unit.